The Bookshelf discussion

I'm on page 212 and Dolores has just gotten off of the phone with Dottie. When the two first met, I really liked Dottie, but as the story continues I like her less. I feel like Dottie is intentionally trying to make Dolores feel bad for not hanging out with her. Dolores should feel bad for her horrible behavior and Dottie is just lashing out. I just feel like everyone in this book behaves poorly but I think that's part of its charm because people aren't saints in real life.

I was starting to like Dottie again, but then Dolores had to pull that crazy stunt and leave! What the hell?! Where's PETA? Those poor fishies.
I'm also trying to work out the metaphor and/or the foreshadowing of the beached whales. The whale represents Dolores, but does the beaching represent her intentions to commit suicide? How the news is always reporting the beached whales also represents the way we make a spectacle out of horrible events.