June/July 2011 Group Read: The Onion Field

[Ammar]

I would be the discussion leader. I have a Kindle version of the book. It is my 1st time as a discussion leader.











Those are some of the editions one can find of the book. I hope you would enjoy this true crime classic.

[Patricia]

I can't wait to read this one, I love true crime books, one of my favorite genres.

[Jan C]

I read this years ago - probably about the same time as the movie. I saw it, too.

Not sure if I will re-read it or not. I am mostly past Joseph Wambaugh now.

[Suzanne]

I've never read this book, but I remember hearing about it years ago. I haven't read true crime in quite some time, so I'm looking forward to this!

[Ammar]

Suzanne wrote: "I've never read this book, but I remember hearing about it years ago. I haven't read true crime in quite some time, so I'm looking forward to this!"

I assure you Suzanne you wouldn't feel like its a true crime books it flows like a novel.

[Ammar]

Jan C wrote: "I read this years ago - probably about the same time as the movie. I saw it, too.

Not sure if I will re-read it or not. I am mostly past Joseph Wambaugh now."

Do you remember the plot? and main events in the book?

[Jan C]

I guess I'll find out if we have any kind of discussion. But, as I think about it now, I have some memory of it. Probably reinforced by the movie, especially James Woods. He was still a young actor then.

[Tammy]

I have started reading it. Right now I'm at the start of the book. Like chapter 5,6,7ish. Right now it is a bit interesting.

The one thing that is intreging (spelling?) me is the little synopsis of the gardener. I can't wait to figure out who it is right now I don't have a clue, well, I think it might be Karl since he likes that kind of stuff but I remember reading about him that after he got caught shoplifting at Sears he vowed never to do anything like that again. So, I really want to figure it out LoL!

[Ammar]

Tammy wrote: "I have started reading it. Right now I'm at the start of the book. Like chapter 5,6,7ish. Right now it is a bit interesting.

The one thing that is intreging (spelling?) me is the little synopsis ..."

I am as intrigued as you are. Or it may be some other character ... a symbolic character. We shall know as we read more. I like how the bagpipes was important in the first few chapters.

[Tammy]

AmmarMajali wrote: "Tammy wrote: "I have started reading it. Right now I'm at the start of the book. Like chapter 5,6,7ish. Right now it is a bit interesting.

The one thing that is intreging (spelling?) me is the li..."

Yes, I do like the bagpipes. I just wonder if those first few chapters was for us and giving us background into the 4 characters, or will some of those things (like the bagpipes) come out and be important. I like background information don't get me wrong. Right now I'm on chapter 5 and reading about Jimmy (Youngblood). Very interesting character overall, I just didn't see Greg and Jimmy really together doing the crimes they were doing. Jimmy had such a great idea of not going back into the "life" anymore. I really wanted to see him succeed but alas I guess sometimes it is really hard to get out of a life that you know. I was hoping he would.

[Robin]

Believe it was Wambaugh's first major book - very impressive. My classmate at acting school, Ted Danson, was in the film version. Having worked with many cops, I found the book to be very powerful and truthful.

[Melki]

Read this one in the 70s. Vaguely remember something about bagpipes...and not much else. Perhaps I should reread before the discussion?

[Tammy]

When do we start having a discussion about the book? I've been trying to lead it to that way but seems it's not going that way LoL!

[Jan C]

Melki wrote: "Read this one in the 70s. Vaguely remember something about bagpipes...and not much else. Perhaps I should reread before the discussion?"

That's what I'm wondering, too. I have no memory of bagpipes.

[Melki]

Yeah. . . I already added it to my stack. But I'm pretty sure there was a bagpipe. (It could have been the murder weapon...Mr. MacDougall did it, in the conservatory, with...A BAGPIPE!)
It could happen.!

[Ammar]

Tammy wrote: "When do we start having a discussion about the book? I've been trying to lead it to that way but seems it's not going that way LoL!"

How would u like to start? Its my 1st time to lead a discussion?

[Melki]

I have to lead a discussion in the Liberal Politics Group in July - so I'm going to learn from you.
Not to put pressure on you or anything...
:)

[[deleted user]]

AmmarMajali wrote: "Tammy wrote: "When do we start having a discussion about the book? I've been trying to lead it to that way but seems it's not going that way LoL!"

How would u like to start? Its my 1st time to lea..."

Tammy wrote: "When do we start having a discussion about the book? I've been trying to lead it to that way but seems it's not going that way LoL!"

Hi... you can start anyway you'd like. Sometimes the discussion leader asks a few questions to get the ball rolling. Other times people jump in with comments and the conversations takes off from there.

So if you'd like to start with something Ammar, go ahead. And Tammy, if you have some observations you can leap in whenever you want.

[Melki]

Wait - I'm confused...I thought the discussion started on 7/14. I haven't even started reading it yet! (Or rereading it, in my case.)

[Ammar]

Melki wrote: "Wait - I'm confused...I thought the discussion started on 7/14. I haven't even started reading it yet! (Or rereading it, in my case.)"

The reading started on June 14th.. and will continue till mid July. So we are just 6 days into the book, so people may just have started reading a few days ago.

[Ammar]

Which characters do you like so far from the 1st few chapters? which ones can you sympathise with?

[Suzanne]

The first few chapters seem to be setting up the two policemen as very normal people. I don't know if I sympathize with anyone yet except Ian's mother who wanted him to grow up to be a doctor - I like how she handled his choice to be a policeman by just basically supporting him.

[Melki]

Aaaa! Looks like I'd better take some No-Doze and get busy!

[Ammar]

It's okay Melki :) you're not that late :)

[Tammy]

AmmarMajali wrote: "Which characters do you like so far from the 1st few chapters? which ones can you sympathise with?"

I can't say that I like anyone yet. I guess who I kinda sympathize with would be Jimmy's Nana (who is his actualy aunt). The reason why I synpathize with her is because 1. She took him in after his mother couldn't take care of him and she was in jail. 2. She was not married and tried her best with him. 3. Also, he took care of her. When she was gettin beat by her boyfriend he stepped in and tried to help, the person that was beating her turned on Jimmy and then she left him. No matter what she tried with him. And she knows he would NEVER turn on her, no matter what he did!

The other chapters just introduced the characters and gave a bit of a background. Right now they are giving a great history on Jimmy and Greg!

[Tammy]

Suzanne wrote: "The first few chapters seem to be setting up the two policemen as very normal people. I don't know if I sympathize with anyone yet except Ian's mother who wanted him to grow up to be a doctor - I ..."

I don't know if I could really sympathize with Ian's mother. I know that she lost her husband and that part I can sympathize with. But, she automatically thought just because her husband became a doctor that her son was going to. It seems to me she never gave him the choice of what he wanted to do. I know that she takes each of his decisions well after he has made them, but it seems to me, he never got a choice. She wanted him to play paino, he wanted bagpipes instead and she was upset about that. She tried to talk him out of that, stuff like that.

[Ammar]

Tammy from what you read would you justify any future event by Greg and Jimmy?

[Patricia]

I'm about 1/4 into this book, started last night, so far very good. Can't wait to see what happens.

[Ammar]

Patricia wrote: "I'm about 1/4 into this book, started last night, so far very good. Can't wait to see what happens."

What do you think of what you have read so far?

[Patricia]

I'm at about 40% now, really enjoying it. Just building up to the big event at this time, getting to know the characters. It's always amazing to me how these people get caught up in this life of crime and seem to see no other way of living, but really their life circumstances almost force them into it and they don't have the knowledge to make another choice. Always thinking if they could do one big "job" they could get out of this life of crime.

[Ammar]

What do you think of the car scene in chapter 6?

[Patricia]

It's hard for me to discuss a specific Chapter like that. I read this on my Nook as a borrowed library book and I've already returned it. I loved this book, except for the very last part with all the legal talk. The part leading up to the crime was engrossing to me, how he described what they were all thinking and all that, great writing, I thought.

[Suzanne]

The car scene has been my favorite part so far - I think it helped illustrate how random the crime really was. (view spoiler)[Greg going back and forth between "it'll be ok" and sheer craziness seemed consistent with what we've learned of him in the earlier chapters. I felt like Ian handled things very well - staying calm, talking rationally, etc. (hide spoiler)]

[Kathy]

Hi everyone!

I'm a new member to this group and was thrilled to see you're reading the Onion Field. I'm a retired LAPD officer, and I read the book many years ago before I was a cop. I'll hurry and catch up!

[Patricia]

Hi Kathy, and welcome to Goodreads! (view spoiler)[I thought it was so sad in the book how they blamed the surviving officer and made him feel full of doubt and he lost all his self-esteem because he thought everybody blamed him. I guess back then they didn't offer any kind of trauma counseling for officers, he just had to deal with it himself and he didn't do it very well.
(hide spoiler)]

[Ammar]

Hey Kathy and welcome on board

[Kathy]

Thanks a lot! I'm anxious to see if my perception of the book has changed having done the job. Of course, times were certainly different when this event took place.

[[deleted user]]

Hi Kathy, welcome to the group. And I'm glad you're jumping into the discussion this month. I'm sure you can give an interesting perspective to the situation.

[Kathy]

Thanks Hayes!

[Robert]

Just got my second hand copy through the post. On page 450 ish of The girl who kicked the Hornets nest so hope to start it next and join discussion

[Ammar]

That is great Robert... hope u will join us and share ur experience with us here.

[Marja]

Robin wrote: "Believe it was Wambaugh's first major book - very impressive. My classmate at acting school, Ted Danson, was in the film version. Having worked with many cops, I found the book to be very powerful..."

I'm new to this group, but I thought I'd jump right in. I read this book years ago, when it first came out. I did want to mention that The New Centurions came out first. I was working in law enforcement at the time and took more of an interest in the book than I might have if I'd worked somewhere else. Even after all those years, as I recall the story left me feeling sad. I may have to reread it.

[Ammar]

Welcome Marja,

It's nice to have new members.

[Marja]

Thank you, and I'm glad to be here. There's nothing I enjoy more than talking about books.

[Ammar]

How is your progress... would anyone like to share their thoughts about their readings so far? any parts you thought were boring or just too long?

[Patricia]

The only part I found boring or too long was at the end. And I think that's to be expected when you are reading a true crime story and it gets to the "legal" part. I thought the beginning and the middle, especially when he was retelling what actually happened, was captivating.

[Suzanne]

I agree with Patricia - my favorite part was the middle when the crime happened. I thought the tension was built very well, and it was easy to see the senseless and somewhat impulsive nature of the crime, and feel the fear.

[[deleted user]]

Thanks to AmmarMajali for leading the discussion last month.

The thread will remain open so feel free to continue or join the discussion whenever you want.

[Kathy]

I'm still reading guys...sorry. Where does the time go?

[Gayle]

Hi everyone, I'm new here, and imagine my surprise when I saw Joseph Wambaugh's name. I know Joe. Not well, but I consider him one of those responsible for my first desire to start writing books. What a great guy.

I read this when it first came out, and while it is not my fave of Wambaugh's work, it's very good. Billy Bright was my fave, I think, although I loved them all.

I'm just going to love this site. Anyone here ever heard of a writing site called FanStory?

Gayle Farmer