Lives of the Monster Dogs : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Monster Dogs tries so hard but accomplishes so little
Review: Like a movie whose trailer is much more satisfying than the actual film, Monster Dogs entices with the superb cover art and interesting premise but leaves the reader disappointed. In a futile attempt at providing enlightening commentary on such aspects of the human condition as celebrity, belonging, and friendship, Monster Dogs ultimately can't get out of its own way. In her efforts to be profound the author ignores any attempt at telling an interesting story. One example is the scattering of dream sequences throughout the story which serve only to be cryptic abstract excursions that reveal nothing of value or interset about the narrator. In the beginning, Monster Dogs promising to be a fun and enjoyable read, but in the end fails miserably to deliver.

Rating:
Summary: A disappointing read
Review: First, let me say that I really wanted to like this book. I liked the premise of it, and looked forward to reading it. However, I noticed a large plot hole in it and that spoiled the entire book for me. One of the author's premises was that the dogs were operated on to increase their intelligence, and had to be "re-fitted" with prosthetic hands as they grew up. But the rebel leader, Mops Hacker, was "thrown away" by the scientist who had worked on Mops' father. If Mops grew up in isolation, how did he gain intelligence? Who fitted him with his new prosthetic hands as he grew?? I had thought that, perhaps, the mating of the two "monster dogs" had produced a dog that did not need the operations. There was no indication of this in the book, however. I find it saddening that this was not noticed. I also found the ending to not be as good as the beginning of the book. It seemed almost "tacked on".

Rating:
Summary: Haunting
Review: Being a dog lover, the title got me as did the book cover illustration. My first impression was "how is the writer going to make me believe in these talking dogs"--and I wasn't disappointed! The backstory was excellent as was the author's observation of humans, our society, our thoughts and those of the Monster Dogs. I fell in love with these creatures and by the end of the book, like the main character, I too, missed the monster dogs! This book is a great place to lose yourself at the end of a stressful day. I plan to read it again and highly recommend it!

Rating:
Summary: an affecting and thought-provoking story
Review: This book affected me as many books do not. It is a story of wanting and searching, of loneliness and belonging, of suffering and the tragedies of awareness, and it is about so much more. I am recommending it to everyone I know.

Rating:
Summary: Great idea; needs more work
Review: Overall, I enjoyed _Lives_. I read the book over this weekend and decided that despite its flaws, it's a keeper. As a historian/folklorist who specializes in German culture, I was attracted by the idea of Prussian dogs with their own culture, customs, etc. Kudos to Bakis for such an excellent idea! Her story starts strong but then sort of fizzles out at the end. I really wish Bakis had developed the relationship between Cleo and Ludwig more, as it seems to be the heart of the story. If she had spent more time rewriting, Bakis could have made _Lives_ into an epic and explored all the nuances that make a great story. The idea deserves more depth. But I'm keeping the book, and will re-read it, to enjoy the idea of talking dogs in uniform, and to remind myself that good ideas in writing need more time and development.

Rating:
Summary: Takes itself too seriously
Review: Obsurd premises. How ineffective it would be to have an army of dogs who must hobble on hind legs and use canes? If you are going to create a servant class why would you make them as smart, or smarter than you?

Rating:
Summary: Like dog hair stuck to your socks.
Review: Wow, what a mess. I was patient. I sat like a good girl and even rolled over a couple times. This book is a GREAT idea but was so poorly written. The first third was interesting. The second third was a yawn. Cleo doing this and that for one dog or another but trying to keep it a secret from another dog. Secrets and limos. The last third of the book seemed so rushed that I am speechless! The great cover and inside description are going to suck in a lot of readers. I saw it...tilted my head to the side, and snatched it (thank goodness for libraries). But beware. This is not a goose pimple book. The descriptions are not lyrical.

Rating:
Summary: GREAT BOOK..ESPECIALLY TO TEACH
Review: Bakis has a style of writing that grabbed my students like no other book we've done in fifteen years. Very easy reading that brings the joy of reading to non-reading students.Lives of the Monster Dogs is a modern day classic.

Rating:
Summary: Simply the best work on Human/Animal relationships
Review: I cannot disagree more with the reviewer who said that anyone who has lived with dogs will find this fake!!! I have 2 Mastiffs - and cannot believe the complexity of this book! It simply a masterpiece of fiction and makes a facinating re-read as well. The characters are so beautifully developed - and I fell in love with this book for life.

Rating:
Summary: An incredible literary work!
Review: Kirsten Bakis takes on the chalenge of creating a beleivible novel about the fantastic- and pulls it of masterfuly. Diving into the mind of a madman or the emotions of a manmade race of human-dogs on the edge of demise, she writes her first novel with an incredible feeling of sympathy and awe of the bizzare and thought-provoking, the acts of the human mind and the longing to belong. Lives of the Monster Dogs is a masterpiece of its time.