Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

The Loved One by Evelyn Waugh is our October 2023 Short Story/Novella Read.

This discussion will open on October 1

Beware Short Story Discussions will have Spoilers

This is a very cynical, satirical piece, but it does have a nice humorous tone that keeps it from feeling heavy. I will be interested in seeing what opinions are on this one.

I thought it was so funny. I liked it a lot!

I liked it, but not a lot. :-)

My interest waned a little in the middle, but unless I missed it, we never got to (view spoiler)[the funeral for Sir Francis? I wanted to know if Dennis delivered the poem. (hide spoiler)]

I loved the idea of this so much and really wanted to like it better. Would love to hear what worked for others!

Maybe I just read too much into it, but underneath all that humor Waugh seemed to be saying we care little for one another. Not one person truly cared about anyone else. The "caring" at the cemetery was all pomp and show, the animals received equal regard in reality. Sir Frances killed himself because he was discarded but there was a grand show from his "friends" after, our cosmetician (whose name I have already forgotten) bounced between the two men with little true feeling for either and certainly neither of them loved her--look how easily she was disposed of and forgotten.

Of course, the cynical setting in Hollywood was perfect. The center of plastic faces and sham relationships, and the world where money and fame are the gods worshipped by most. Exactly where you would expect to find the themed cemetery in which minor writers can be buried in "Poet's Corner".

(must be tired this morning--three tries to get the grammar right in one sentence).

Sara wrote: "This is a very cynical, satirical piece, but it does have a nice humorous tone that keeps it from feeling heavy. I will be interested in seeing what opinions are on this one."

Yes, I can feel the humour and the satire. I read only a few pages, until his first visit to the necropolis. I can't stop laughing at the cemetery jargon; 'Loved One', 'Waiting One', 'Leave-taking', 'Before Need Provision' etc.
So far loving it.

I like their selling statement:

"The leave-taking is a very, very great source of consolation. Often the Waiting Ones last saw their Loved One on a bed of pain surrounded by all the gruesome concomitants of the sick room or the hospital. Here they see them as they knew them in buoyant life, transfigured with peace and happiness. At the funeral they have time only for a last look as they file past. Here in the Slumber Room, they can stand as long as they like photographing a last beautiful memory on the mind.”

Sara wrote: "Maybe I just read too much into it, but underneath all that humor Waugh seemed to be saying we care little for one another. Not one person truly cared about anyone else. The "caring" at the cemeter..."

You are right on point Sara.

Just finished it. I quite like the ending! Aimee who despised the pet cemetery finally ends up cremated there.

I also felt the humor, cynicism and satire. All of the characters were self-absorbed, which is probably why I didn’t enjoy the book that much.