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Summary: The 101 Dalmations: A forgotten masterpiece
Review: Dodie Smith crafted a masterpiece of humor, beautifully wrought characters, and the power of love. Often forgotten because of the two Disney movies, The 101 Dlamations is a true classic, and not just for children. I feel that you will cherish this book forever, whoever or wherever you are.
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Summary: From the dog's point of view
Review: Dodie Smith deserves to be in the annals of children's books fame - The Hundred and One Dalmatians is a novel every child can identify. The dogs are very similar to children - they call their owners "pets" and believe they shape the behavior of the people around them. Pongo and Perdita also have an extensive network of dog informants (tapped into when they "walk" the owners). This novel also struck me as an excellent introduction into British post-war life for children (I always thought it especially wonderful that the male owner was some type of British tax genius with lots of connections in the government). While Cruella deVille is not quite as scary as the Disney character, children and adults everywhere can appreciate and identify her with people who see animals as only something to provide a service or product for them - not as creatures with emotions and thoughts of their own deserving of life. A wonderful anti-fur demonstration is included in the climax of the novel. All interested readers should be sure to pick up Smith's sequel as well!
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Summary: Best book I've ever read!
Review: I found this book in the library in the 3rd grade, because the cartoon was in the theaters and I thought it was a tie-in. Was I pleasantly surprised! The book is hundreds of pages long, and details Pongo and his wife (her name is Missus, short for Missus Pongo), the tale of their friend Perdita whom their owners adopt, how puppies all over England are being taken, and the long arduous journey of the Pongos to save their children .. only to find dozens more who need their help. The dialogue between the dogs and other animals is humorous in a droll way, and there are lots of adventures within the greater story of rescuing the puppies. This book was so good I gave it to our teacher and she read it to the class over the course of 2 weeks. It was a hit among all the 8-year-olds!
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Summary: WOW!! I didn't know!
Review: I read two copies of The Hundred and One Dalmations literally to pieces by the time I was 12. I looked for another copy for a couple of years until my aunt told me it was out of print. I'm excited to be able to share it with my children now that I know it's been reprinted!!
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Summary: Fantastic, and Worth Buying
Review: I'm a huge fan of Disney, and 101 Dalmatians. If you've seen the movie by Disney, this book is a great add-on. As there is much more then the movie shows, and it goes farther then when the movie ends. I love the book, and I'd suggest it to anyone. It's great.
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Summary: An Adventure to Remember
Review: It is funny. It is exciting. It has an endearing warmth to the heart. Pongo and Missis, a younge married couple of dalmatian dogs, live with Mr. and Mrs. Dearly, a younge married couple of humans. Fifteen delightful puppis are born, to be adored by all. And then-the puppies are stolen. Bye whom? Top men at Scatland yard are frankly baffled. But one of the keenest brains od Dogdom was at work-Pongo had a clue! Nearby lived a sinister woman named Cruella de Ville who had a pasion fo furs. She had shown a marked interest in the puppies-and been heard to wish she had a white fur coat with black spots. By a way known only to dogs (sesret though noisy), Pongo got all the dogs of England to help trace the pups-to a mysterios house in deepest Suffolk. Then he and Missis set out to the rescue. They traveled by night, befriended by many generous dogs. But the recsue turned out to be an even greater task than Pongo expected, for the mysterios house was nothing less than a dalmatian fur farm, guarded by the adominable Baddun brothers. Many dangers had to be faced. Adventure follows adventure as the suspense mounts higher and higher. Ther are many suprises of all is the one the Dearlys get, on a snowy Christmas Eve near the stories triumphant end. Dog-lovers of all gaes will delight in Pongo, Missis, and their family, espesially the tiny Cadpig, who is crazy abot television. Then ther is Perdita, the touching lost dog.And a great dane, a gallant spaniel, a shrewd old sheepdog, and many other dogs of varios breeds play important parts-not to mention a couple of cats,a horse, and some kindly cows. Animals, humans, London, and the country seen are charmingly portrayed in this heart touching tal like no other. A must read.
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Summary: Enganging for both children and adults alike.
Review: Most people are probably familair with the Disney adaption of this book. However, even I was surprised at how much Disney cut out of the film version. In Dodie Smith's book, Pongo, Missis, Perdita, and the 15 puppies take on dimensions only hinted at on the silver screen. We can feel Pongo's and Missis's agony as their children are stolen. We are with them as they cross England as they trek to Hell Hall to attempt a rescue before Cruella has the puppies skinned for fur coats. And everyone will shed a tear as, after days of trudging through the snow, avoiding the De Vil woman and local dog catchers, make it home in time for Christmas with the kindly help of a boxer and a removal van. This is a wonderful, charming book that you won't be able to put down and that you will find yourself coming back to again and again.
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Summary: The first and still the best
Review: The live-action Disney version of this book was the pits. The animated version wasn't bad at all (I own it). But the book is better than either of them. And, like all the best kids' books, this one, though written for 8-14's, can still be enjoyed when you're way past childhood. Disney necessarily simplified the story and characters for his movie versions, cutting out a lot of the subtle characterization and background that makes the book seem so completely plausible. Here, instead of "Roger and Anita," we have "the Dearlys," a businessman and his bride, who are "owned" by Pongo and--not Perdita, but "Missis"--and have not one "Nanny" but two, "Nanny Cook" (a real cook) and "Nanny Butler" (a real butler). We learn of Cruella deVil's sinister family history, her furrier husband (never mentioned in the films), and her obsession with furs. We learn that her employees, the Baddun Brothers, dream of appearing on "What's My Crime?" Many of the Pongos' pups--Lucky, Patch, Cadpig, Roly--are fleshed out as they never were on the screen. The sheepdog Colonel is less of a buffoon and more a shrewd strategist. The drama of the puppies' births and early lives is much better portrayed, as is the journey of Pongo and Missis to Suffolk to rescue their stolen family, with introductions to the dogs that help them on their way--the hospitable Golden Retriever, the aged Spaniel and his "pet," 90-year-old Sir Charles, the flighty Irish Setter whose efforts come to naught through a fire, and the tough Staffordshire who occupies the moving van the Dalmatians board to shorten their homeward trip. Cruella's white Persian cat is here too--a clever animal "biding her time" as she waits for the opportunity to settle the score for her drowned litters--and so is the sheepdog's "pet," two-year-old Tommy Tompkins, who lends his toy hay-cart to the army of London-bound dogs. Yet despite a certain anthropomorphization, all the animals are recognizably animals; they behave as such and don't do anything you couldn't visualize such creatures doing. The humor is much more subtle than in the films, no doubt reflecting Smith's British personality. There are episodes like the brief rest in a country church and the Dalmatians' revenge against Cruella that would have made great theater. I still enjoy the animated version, but I keep coming back to the book.
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Summary: The Original...The Best
Review: The original story that inspired the popular Disney movies. When I was a kid I literally read the cover off of this book. I mean it, I have it sitting next to me right now and it is being held together with a rubber band. I have recently started reading the Harry Potter books and they reminded me so much of this book that I had to pull it back out. When I realized how bad the shape of my copy was I decided to try and find a new copy online. Imagine my surprise when all I could find was the Disney version! Thank you Amazon for carrying the original...the best.
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Summary: A funny and exciting book
Review: This book is quite different from the Disney movie, and therefore much better. Pongo's wife is not named Perdita, but Missus even though there is a Perdita here. Some of the names of the dogs have been changed as well and there are many events that happen here that didn't in the movie. Dodie Smith is a very funny writer and she makes you feel as if you are one of the characters. Read this book!
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