Rating: 
Summary: To me, 3-stars means "good", and that's it for this book.
Review: I'm not a sci-fi/fantasy reaser, normally. I went into this book with an open mind, and enjoyed the idea quite a bit. All along, even after the first chatper or two, I thought that having the idea is nice, but what will she do to gel the idea into a full story? A complete idea? To fully marry the plot, characters, and action into something coherent and real, insomuch as this type of book can be? Well, she fell a little short, but did had some success.The shortfall was the point of the story. Oh, I could see the overall point by reading the book jacket, but that isn't enough. Where is the meat to the book? The depth? There are simply too many holes in the story, which I won't delve into since others already have, for the story to be fully realized. Despite the years that she spent writing this, it needs more work, and is typical of the great-idea, average-execution that one often sees in writing, film, and the other arts. But, Bakis' creativity is a huge strength. I came close to giving up until I got to the opera. How beautiful! I know it was funny -- the mere idea of the Monster Dog Opera is. But, the opera also did more to advance the story of the dog's background, the point of their suffering, the acuteness of their moral dilemnas, the contradictions of their history, and in highlighting the difficulties that the dogs would ever have in fully becoming a part of human society, than did any of the fairly dull conversations, and attempted conversations, between Cleo and Ludwig. That section alone made the book worthwhile for me. As to whether or not the reader of this review will like it -- who knows? But, I will at least read the jacket of her next book, and come back to this forum for recommendations. Not great, but promising.
Rating: 
Summary: Haunting and Original
Review: This book describes a new race of immigrants to New York City: scientifically altered dogs who walk upright, are able to speak, and have prosthetic hands instead of forepaws. It is because of these alterations that they are called "monsters", but their behavior is quite urbane. They are easily assimilated into the City's community-albeit with some measure of awe such as the kind tolerated by celebrities. The dogs, being man-made, are simultaneously a triumph and a tragedy. Their heightened senses and chemically enhanced intelligence gives them a clarity about their lives, and its brevity, than the average human can understand. Cleo Pira, a human student writer at NYU, befriends the canine historian Ludwig von Sacher and narrates the saga of how the monster dogs came to be and what becomes of them. This is a truly original and haunting novel from first-time author Kirsten Bakis.
Rating:
Summary: It's like those poker-playing dog pictures
Review: The book dissappointed me so I came here to see what others thought. Some folks made the good point that a popular or first book could be a lot worse, and I can agree with that - it was good enough to finish, with some flipped pages (like the dog opera libretto - arf). And I agree with some others that there's a lot of woodenness and plot problems. Exactly how did the dogs acquire such urban, educated, cultivated tastes and abilities from their rural Prussian emigre villiage in Canada? Doghouse and Garden subscriptions? No matter. The monster dogs are like the poker-playing dogs of velour painting fame: abiding, interesting, anthropomorphic what-if-ish characters that probably say something deep about us. However like the accelerated lifespans of the dogs in the book - they get old quickly.
Rating:
Summary: Original and enjoyable
Review: I had to laugh at the reader who criticized Kirstin Bakis's lack of "scientific knowledge." It's fiction, for God's sake. That's like saying Star Trek is bad because it does not reflect the true laws of physics. I found this book oddly compelling, inventive, and haunting. I was disappointed by the ending, not so much because I felt it was unjustified, but because I wished it could be different. I found myself thinking about it after I was finished, and sorry it was over so soon. I look forward to more work from Kirsten Bakis.
Rating: 
Summary: a rich atmosphere isn't enough
Review: While the premise of this book is wonderfully original, and while the atmosphere is dark, rich and realistically crafted (yes, I accepted intelligent dogs in Prussian dress), I found the narrative weak and the characters dull. Nor could I find an underlying chemistry to support various relationships -- the deep friendship, for instance, between Cleo and Ludwig. For me, this was far from, as one reviewer said, "[a] dazzling, unforgettable meditation on what it means to be human." Thematically, I saw nothing new, nothing "unforgettable." The reviewer, I think, confuses appearance for substance: the atmosphere may have been impressive -- but impressive clothes do not the person make. The novel emerges, I think, as an original idea that at best, was mundanely crafted.
Rating: 
Summary: Not as bad as all that; in fact, quite refreshing
Review: I was just glancing over all the reviews here, and it's interesting to see all the diversity of opinions. LIVES OF THE MONSTER DOGS elicited them all, bless Kirsten Bakis's heart. How refreshing to read a book that ISN'T about "dysfunctional families" or "damaged people" or escapes from this abusive father or that violent boyfriend, that ISN'T about a road-trip from the northeast to the south, or vice-versa. There's a real imagination at work here, trying to say things in a new and creative way, rather than simply trotting out the same old late 20th-Century tropes. LIVES isn't perfect, but it's a terrific change of pace. I'm glad Kirsten is so young. She'll get better and better.
Rating:
Summary: Great book for someone who loves science fiction and dogs
Review: This book was great if one wants to simply get lost in a world that's controlled by dogs that think like humans. One could say this is the story of the first Americans and the Revolutionary war. In any case, it's a great read with minimal amounts of violence and sex - refreshing Kirsten if you're reading this!!
Rating:
Summary: A talking dog book without an ounce of humor. Lighten up!
Review: I appreciate deep themes and pathos as much as anyone, maybe more. But every good story should have some humor, without humor, subtle and important themes become quagmires of mud and darkness. How can you have a book with talking dogs and not have one single scene with a cat running by while the dog is trying to maintain an intelligent conversation in a high society setting. Kirsten probably needs to take a vacation and learn to laugh again.
Rating:
Summary: Refreshing originality, story is told plainly and obviously
Review: What a refreshing way to look at an old theme! It was so plainly told and easy to comprehend I found myself halfway through without noticing. It was powerful enough that i caught myself pondering about it at odd moments but it didn't go for the obvious play on emotions like many novels do today. No crippled children, no widowed lovers, just a plain, touching story about animals we take for granted and what one man's obsession wrought. How horrible it would be to play God.
Rating:
Summary: not for only English majors
Review: I just read this book again, a year after its original publication date, along with a college class of non English majors. They love the book. Add a comparison to Frankenstein, Prometheus, and Paradise Lost mythology, along with a dash of Victorian era "science versus God or nature," and you'll find this book an incredible accomplishment. This will surely become a literary classic.
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