The Dead Fathers Club

by Matt Haig

{ 2007 | Viking Adult | 336 pgs }

Several years ago I read a brief description of The Dead Fathers Club that went something like this: “Eleven-year-old Philip Noble receives a visit from the ghost of his father, who died in a car accident. But the ghost says it wasn’t an accident – it was murder. He introduces Philip to the Dead Fathers Club.” It also said something about Hamlet, and somehow I got it in my head that the ghost of Old Hamlet (you know, Hamlet’s murdered father) would be involved.

Actually, the book is a retelling of Hamlet itself, set in modern-day England. And it’s narrated by Philip, written with all the insight and grammatical prowess of an eleven-year-old. It wasn’t what I expected, and I’m not sure whether I liked it or not. Yes, it had a suitably vague ending, and Philip’s hesitation to exact the revenge demanded by his father is believable (maybe even more so than Hamlet’s). But…but. I can’t quite put my finger on it – I wasn’t awed by the book. Maybe it was the narration. I don’t like kids, so reading from a kid’s perspective (particularly when said kid did not use punctuation at all) got old.

That being said, I have been motivated to re-read both Hamlet and Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead. In an interview with Penguin, the author of The Dead Fathers Club said he doesn’t think you need to be familiar with Shakespeare’s Hamlet or to have recently read it. I disagree, based on this review by someone who I’m guessing has never read Hamlet

Anyway, I think it’s worth a go if you like Hamlet. And if you don’t mind odd narration. Then again, if you haven’t read Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, I definitely recommend that before The Dead Fathers Club. Just my preference.

Buy The Dead Fathers Club on Amazon

Catastrophe

Because the Bwun is so fond of the big green blanket, I took it with us when we spent the night at my in-laws’ house last Thursday. We ended up staying an extra night, and leaving in a bit of a rush on Saturday. Guess what I forgot to bring back to our house?

Yeah.

The Bwun fell asleep on the drive home, which meant I was able to tuck him into bed with a different one of my favorite blankets. (I’m a martyr – what can I say?) Everything was fine until jr woke up in the middle of the night. Her crying woke the Bwun up just enough for him to realize that he was under a new blanket.

Much drama ensued.

In fact, only after the Romgi climbed into the Bwun’s bed did the Bwun finally stop sobbing, “I want my big green blanket!” According to the Romgi, several times during the night, the Bwun whimpered about the blanket. That kid is really attached, eh?

So I decided the kids and I had better go retrieve the blanket today. We managed to get it back without incident (thankfully, because Grandpa – the Bwun’s favorite, favorite person – left to run errands, sans Bwun, which would usually be An Incident) and then went to visit Krista. We even got to go out for ice cream! I thought that sounded like a good idea, but apparently the Bwun was under the impression that we were going outside to play on the swings – not go to the ice cream shop.

Much drama ensued.

Correction: the worst tantrum the Bwun has ever thrown ensued.

I’ve seen kids throw tantrums before. The Bwun doesn’t usually get too riled up; when he is upset, we can calm him down most of the time. But this! It was amazing. It was my first wrestling match. I don’t know if you know this, but the Bwun is strong. When I took him to the ER last month, it took me, the doctor, and two nurses to hold him down just to look in his throat. So trying to get him into the carseat during this tantrum when he wasn’t slowed down by sickness – what an experience!

He was still going strong as we headed to the ice cream shop. I’m a thinker, though – I offered him The Blanket. He settled down as soon as I gave it to him. When I looked back he was rubbing it on his lips (I told you he’s obsessed), little trails of tears still on his face.

I guess it’s good to have the blanket back.


Usurper

The Bwun has stolen.

I may have mentioned this before – a few months ago, the Bwun “borrowed” my favorite blanket, and has now officially claimed it as his own.

One night when the Romgi was putting the Bwun to bed, he (the Romgi) showed him (the Bwun) that the blanket was soft on his cheek. Now the Bwun seems to have a mild obsession with rubbing the blanket on his lips and cheek. "Sooooo soft!" he declares.

It started out innocently enough. He thought it would be a fun blanket to bundle up in. He was right: it’s an enormous blanket, easily covering my queen-sized bed. Then he wanted to be tucked into bed with it at night. I figured I’d eventually get it back, but the Bwun formed an attachment to it. When I put it in the wash one day (I made sure to take him with me, have him put the soap in and shut the lid, etc.), he ran through the house sobbing. “Where’s my big blanket?”

This may sound like typical little-kid fare, but the Bwun has never taken an interest in any specific toy, blanket, or other item. The blanket goes all around our house, though, and quite frankly it’s amusing to watch the Bwun struggle to drag it down the hallway. He loves that thing.

I did, too.

Good thing I also love the Bwun.