Rating: 
Summary: Enchanting
Review: The world in which this novel takes place is very real - the not too distant streets of New York - and yet with this fantastic element of genetically and mechanically engineered dogs that appear from nowhere, the gritty reality is transformed into something ethereal and exciting. The characters are likable and believable, and the novel leaves one longing for the monster dogs to descend upon our own world. This book is an excellent exploration of the world, and the effect the fantastic has upon it. These animals (or are they people?) transform the world from a melancholy and mundane habitat into something augmented - the greatest gift of this novel is the taste of the impossible. An excellent book - filled with ethical questions and philosophical quandries as well as an enchanting tale that lets one believe, if only for a little while.
Rating:
Summary: A charming first novel
Review: A mad scientist's vision, perilously near, yet gone disastrously awry. A young New Yorker, fresh out of college, smarting from a broken relationship and the sting of the unfeeling city. Discrimination and taste warring with dissolution and decadence. Here are the setting and characters of "Lives of the Monster Dogs," a charming first novel.It is a good mix; the science fiction veneer diverts with its newness, yet the old themes are touched with the author's young hand. She is exquisitely poignant at best, maudlin at worst. Perhaps best of all, she is painfully aware that a first novel should not attempt too much; the scope of the novel is painstakingly limited, and the resultant microscopic examination of character, style, and personality takes on an Old World atmosphere far removed from the utilitarian clamor of city life - an external contrast that sits well with the novel if you're reading it, say, on the uptown A express. I recommend it. Furthermore, I expect better things from Ms. Bakis in the years to come.
Rating: 
Summary: Intriguing, novel, and unique-but something's missing...
Review: I read this novel nearly a month ago, and this is the longest I have waited before writing a review. I thought that letting some time pass might allow for a more objective review, for immediately after completing the book I found my mind still swirling from the imaginative leap this book forces its readers to take. Certainly, the novel is intriguing. From the first glance of the book cover to the opening lines, the reader realizes that the plot line will take him or her to a mindboggling scene. Indeed, much of what compels the reader to continue reading is the driving force to find out something new about this unique world the author creates for us. Clearly, one of the greatest strengths of the book, then, is the driving idea behind the book--the newness. Ironically, upon closer reading, the "newness" I found so intriguing wasn't entirely "new." The author weaves classic literary themes of humanity, power, harmony, and friendship into the storyline. However, these classic themes do not seem stale, again, because of the novel storyline, creating a "new" angle to "old" themes. There is little need to explore the plot in a review of this book. One, it is nearly impossible to condense, and two, part of the enjoyment of the book comes from the surprises. Similar to other contemporary works, the less you know of the story beforehand, the more enjoyable the discoveries. However, after completing the book, I found something to be missing, and I believe the blame may be attributed to the book's conclusion. Again, I want to avoid giving detail, but the climax and resolution did not satisfy. I certainly wouldn't expect a book to tightly wrap up all lose ends, as I would prefer a book to leave challenging themes and issues to further contemplate. However, the loose ends left over at the end of this novel serve to frustrate instead of motivate. All in all, I found the novel to be an intriguing work. Quite simply, I'm glad to have read it and would recommend it to others. But as with most books, it has its flaws, and some are rather glaring.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't waste your time...
Review: While the idea of dogs acting, feeling, thinking like humans is intriguing and certainly different, the level of writing in the book is unbearable. I have to say though, as a writer myself, it gave me hope. If this awful stuff can get published and get such unbelievable reviews, there's hope for all of us out there. We read it in my book group and the decision was unanimous -- DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME!
Rating:
Summary: I wish we had a chance to know the dogs better
Review: This first novel attacted lots of attention for Kirsten Bakis. And for good reason--it's a well-executed rarity, an unexpectedly moving story about intelligent dogs who, through extensive surgery, are able to speak and walk upright. After slaughtering the doctors who developed them in a remote Canadian village, the dogs descend upon Manhattan in limos, buying up exclusive apartments and becoming media spectacles. They build themselves a palace and invite the whole city to an opening-night party. But all is not well. The secret of transforming ordinary dogs into "monster dogs" is lost with the dead humans, so there will never be another generation to inherit the monsters' wealth and carry on their kind. Worse, a sort of canine Alzheimer's disease is causing many of the dogs to revert to mere canine intelligence, robbing the dogs of their dignity and filling them with fear and dread. Kirsten Bakis gives the dogs courtly manners and accents from 19th Century Europe, a well-thought-out imagery that gives the book depth and flavor. Her language is sure and unerring, and although we never really get to know how these dogs think and who they are, deep down, we come to sympathize with them and care what happens to them. This book is a nice easy read with some images and ideas that you will find hard to shake out of your head.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful read
Review: The author really gives you a good luck at human nature. I love the dogs. The book never gets boring. I highly recomend it to everyone. I think I had everyone I know reading it after I heard it reviewed on NPR.
Rating: 
Summary: A Must Read
Review: "Lives of The Monster Dogs" takes advantage of the best that creative novel writing has to offer...a truly unique idea which is well written and takes you to places you never expect to go. In short, the book is about a clan of half dog/half robot beings who move to New York after living in Canada since being invented by a young German boy in the 1800's. They become the toast of New York society life and live in opulance and grandeur. There. That is all you need to know. Now, read the book. "Lives of The Monster Dogs" is a terrific book, and I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Bizarrely intriguing premise leads to an elegant read
Review: The husky in a dark red smoking jacket standing stoically, w/ hands and a cane caught my eye from the book rack. What an odd sight, I took it down, reading the back I grew very excited about the premise and carted it home. What is the fascination that we humans hold about anthropomorphizing animals, and pets? We long for the further connection to our companions and meeting them on some sort of common ground. This novel endeavors to explore that question through the odd dynamic of 'monster' dogs who have been surgically altered in a remote village and arrive in New York in the early part of 201x. The dogs were bred and engineered as part of a plot by an 19th century scientist to assist the German empire in eventual world conquest, but the project took a considerably longer time than they thought. Part of the century long process was the move to an isolated locale which never progressed socially beyond the Prussia of the 1800's. The final completed dogs, walking on two legs, possessing prosthetic limbs, and voice boxes are sentient; and of course what sentient being wants to be subjugated. Throwing off their shackles they make their way to present-day New York. From there we meet the heroine Cleo who narrates the book, and observe her re-defining herself against the backdrop of the dogs' machinations. She deals alternately w/ Ludwig, their historian, Klaue, their self-appointed mouthpiece and megalomaniac, and Lydia the tragic love interest of a good few of the dogs. Cleo is tapped as their human liaison and bears witness to their slow degeneration at the hands of a mysterious disease. Cleo longs to be part of their world, to be with them always, even as all is falling around her, and the dogs are resigned to accept their departure in their last great fling. The dogs are given an air of mystery and an aloof detachment that prevents delving too deeply into their characters. Only until the final few pages when Ludwig begins to write to Cleo do we see their hopes, dreams, internal strife, and desire to be like us. Their presentation and lives come off as so fleeting, w/ only this small glimpse to help understand.. but as they say, they are after all, just dogs, and there may be nothing deeper than just that. This was a very enjoyable, elegant, philosophical read, which may have suffered had it been drawn out further. In the end, its scope was just right.
Rating:
Summary: Poignant, not without flaws - BUT I WILL REMEMBER IT FOREVER
Review:
it is poignant, haunting.
the end, too soon and too short,
in part because i wished more time with the dogs,
in part because it seemed like a second draft.
more fleshing out was needed toward the latter parts,
but nonetheless, i grieved at the fate of the dogs
and the book's elegy of nostalgia, loss, doom, death and one's purpose in life left me crying at times. it touched me deeply.
more from this author, please
and thank her for her engaging, seemingly effortless style of clear, cold prose.
Rating:
Summary: Doggy Style
Review: This is the tale of a breed of genetically engineered dogs, who converge on 21st century New York. With the help of voice boxes and prosthetic limbs, these dogs walk and talk. Soon, the whole world becomes obsessed by these monsters: where have they come from? And who made them? The dogs seem determined to have a good time, but that may be because time is running out for them... 'Monster Dogs' is a brilliant first novel. Kirsten Bakis tells her story in a whole range of invigorating styles, and well deserved its nomination for the Orange Prize. Even cat lovers will be forced to tears by the tragic ending.
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