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How to Wash a CatIn response to a request from a local book club, I've put together a list of discussion points for How to Wash a Cat. Beneath each topic, you'll find either my viewpoint or some related commentary. These are my opinions, so you should feel free to disagree—the purpose of this article is, after all, to generate discussion. You can download a printable pdf of this page by clicking here.
1. The Anonymous Narrator
When I began writing HTWAC back in 2006, I never dreamed the technique of using an anonymous narrator would turn out to be so controversial. Many readers have asked with intense frustration, "Why doesn't she have a name?"
Here's my answer: The Narrator is shy and extremely introverted. If you were to pass her on the street, chances are, you probably wouldn't take any notice of her. She isn't the type of person who would walk up to you and volunteer her name, date of birth, and favorite pizza topping. If she wrote a book, she might submit an author photo like the one to the right.
In addition, I intentionally omitted several specifics of the Narrator's physical description in order to encourage the reader to step into her shoes and see the story through her eyes. If you need to fill in some of these details, please feel free to use your own.
Finally, from the broader storyline perspective, the Narrator's own facelessness in many ways mirrors that of the main antagonist and reflects her ongoing struggle to understand who her Uncle Oscar really was — the man behind the familiar outer shell.
"Well, how am I supposed to discuss her if she doesn't have a name?" the now irate reader demands. For myself, when I talk about the book, I simply call her "the Narrator". Of course, if you reach the end of the book, you'll find a last tidbit related to this issue.
2. The Fate of Uncle Oscar
"What happened to Uncle Oscar" is a question that runs throughout the Cats and Curios series. Without giving away any spoilers, it might provide some insight to tell you that the Uncle Oscar character is based on my grandfather, a man known to everyone, including his six grandchildren, as Bill.
I was lucky to get to spend a great deal of time with Bill, particularly in his later years. (Uncle Oscar's story about WWII is one that Bill related to me.) After his death, I learned additional details about his life - amazing feats of devotion and self sacrifice that I had no inkling of when he was alive. It's been several years now since he passed away, but I still feel as if he's out there, looking out for me.
Note: the photos to the left and below are of Rupert contemplating these discussion points as we wrote this article.
3. The Full Monty
In my interactions with readers, the character of Montgomery Carmichael seems to provoke the most interesting commentary. He's an exaggerated, goofy, over-the-top kind of guy, the polar opposite to the Narrator in personality and, incidentally, one of my favorite characters to write. Many people tell me they find him extraordinarily suspicious. Hmm ... what do you think?
4. The Feasibility of Cats in Costumes
Some readers have questioned the practicality of the scene where Rupert and Isabella put on cat costumes. In the words of one critic, in real life "the costume would be shredded, ripped, and chewed up in no time".
Well, certainly, the endeavor is not one to be entered into without preparation, planning and the proper protective gear. As a rebuttal, I offer into evidence a link to a youtube video showing not one but three cats in costume. And, as an aside, if you're a fan of cat videos, may I also suggest the humorous Advanced Cat Yodeling, by the Engineers Guide to Cats crew.
5. Tweaking History: Fact vs Fiction
William Leidesdorff is one of the central "fictionalized" historical figures in How to Wash a Cat, and a large part of his character in the book is based on my imagination. However, even in unembellished historical references, Leidesdorff comes off as an intriguing, mysterious man.
There are different accounts of his life story, but, according to one version, he was born on the then Danish Virgin Island of St. Croix in the early 1800's. His father was a Danish plantation owner, and his mother was one the plantation's slaves. Leidesdorff reportedly left home at an early age and found work on the ships that plied the Caribbean and Atlantic coastline. He quickly worked his way up in the shipping industry and, by his mid-twenties, ran a successful trade business focused on the shipping routes between New York City and New Orleans, where he had a lavish home.
According to some references, it was in New Orleans that Leidesdorff fell in love with a beautiful French debutante. Unfortunately, her family called off their engagement when they learned of Leidesdorff's mixed parentage. Leidesdorff immediately sold off his shipping business and left New Orleans for the isolated Mexican outpost of Yerba Buena (whose name was later changed to San Francisco).
Leidesdorff became a civic leader in the small town, sitting on the first town council and school board. His home was the designated hosting site for any visiting dignitaries; it was the nicest in town and featured a beautiful flower garden out back.
Leidesdorff died from the sudden onset of encephalitis just as the discovery of gold, some of it on Leidesdorff's land, hit Northern California. Captain Joseph Folsom, a local entrepreneur, traveled to St. Croix to purchase Leidesdorff's land holdings from his mother, who was the presumed heir to Leidesdorff's estate. Litigation over title to Leidesdorff's properties stretched on for years and eventually led to Folsom's bankruptcy. Folsom himself died in his early 30's, also of encephalitis.
For more information, see also, Scenes from Leidesdorff's Alley
In Closing
I hope these discussion points are helpful to individual readers and book clubs alike. If you have questions or issues you'd like me to address in a future post, please send an email to rhale.