tazzbird's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
waywardskyril's review
2.0
The Dust of 100 Dogs was not what I expected.
I suppose that is partially my fault, with the help of the synopsis.
I'm not really sure how exactly to explain my feelings about this book.
Without giving any spoilers away, the story is half about what happened leading up to Emer being cursed, starting when she was six and continuing her life's story. The other half of the book is about Saffron [who is Emer after living her 100 lives as a dog], as she impatiently waits to turn eighteen in order to go find some treasure she buried just before she was cursed.
Reading the synopsis, I... Well, I guess I'm not entirely sure what I expected. I suppose I thought there to be a little back story, more from her memories than anything, but I figured most of the story would be about her after she turns into a girl again and adjusts to having a pirate's mind in a modern world. However, Saffron had no problem "adjusting." There was no adjusting period whatsover. In fact, when she is born, the book explains that Saffron tries her hardest to begin getting stronger and growing up as quickly as possible, and nothing at all is unusual to her.
Saffron's story is actually a little boring.
Emer's story was much more interesting, but you know that all it is is back story so that you understand how Saffron herself came to be.
Then when you finally got to the ending of both stories, you expect a little more and you get a lot less. I was very much disappointed that what I had been waiting for, [without explaining what that was and spoiling it,] for most of the book was just a tiny page or two at the very end. Most of it was left to your own imagination, which completely let me down. I was more or less just finishing the book so I could see how this situation eventually played out, but it was a little nothing at the end of the story, and Saffron's future is left... unknown. I repeat, it was very much disappointing.
Also there was strong language and some minor explicit material that, though not described in detail, could easily be imagined by the reader.
Overall, The Dust of 100 Dogs left me disliking the main character, totally bored with the "story," and rather altogether melancholy and listless.
I'm very much happy to have the chance to put it behind me and sell it to a used bookstore in order to get a much more interesting book.
I cannot recommend this book to anyone.
I suppose that is partially my fault, with the help of the synopsis.
I'm not really sure how exactly to explain my feelings about this book.
Without giving any spoilers away, the story is half about what happened leading up to Emer being cursed, starting when she was six and continuing her life's story. The other half of the book is about Saffron [who is Emer after living her 100 lives as a dog], as she impatiently waits to turn eighteen in order to go find some treasure she buried just before she was cursed.
Reading the synopsis, I... Well, I guess I'm not entirely sure what I expected. I suppose I thought there to be a little back story, more from her memories than anything, but I figured most of the story would be about her after she turns into a girl again and adjusts to having a pirate's mind in a modern world. However, Saffron had no problem "adjusting." There was no adjusting period whatsover. In fact, when she is born, the book explains that Saffron tries her hardest to begin getting stronger and growing up as quickly as possible, and nothing at all is unusual to her.
Saffron's story is actually a little boring.
Emer's story was much more interesting, but you know that all it is is back story so that you understand how Saffron herself came to be.
Then when you finally got to the ending of both stories, you expect a little more and you get a lot less. I was very much disappointed that what I had been waiting for, [without explaining what that was and spoiling it,] for most of the book was just a tiny page or two at the very end. Most of it was left to your own imagination, which completely let me down. I was more or less just finishing the book so I could see how this situation eventually played out, but it was a little nothing at the end of the story, and Saffron's future is left... unknown. I repeat, it was very much disappointing.
Also there was strong language and some minor explicit material that, though not described in detail, could easily be imagined by the reader.
Overall, The Dust of 100 Dogs left me disliking the main character, totally bored with the "story," and rather altogether melancholy and listless.
I'm very much happy to have the chance to put it behind me and sell it to a used bookstore in order to get a much more interesting book.
I cannot recommend this book to anyone.
raechsreads's review
4.0
A young woman traverses 102 lives. First as a young Irish woman who becomes a pirate. Then as 100 dogs. Finally as an American young lady gaining her life back. Such an interesting plot and concept.
dlberglund's review
Book list called this book "undeniably original", with which I won't disagree. The fantastic idea for the story is that Emer, born to a life turned upside down during the English invasion of Ireland, eventually becomes a pirate who gets the wrong people angry. Those people use some sort of voodoo magic on her to curse her to live out 100 reincarnated lives as a dog. She is finally reborn as Saffron, a human in the suburban United States in our present time, complete with all of the memories of the previous lives she has lived, and with one goal in mind: uncover her buried treasure. The narrative switches time and place between chapters, so you have to stay on your toes to follow the action through her lives (though we dont get much detail about all of those dog lives, which disappointed me a little-they're more of an aside here and there). It sounds like a winner, doesn't it?
I had a difficult time assigning stars to this book. One? Two? Three? Three point five? Some of the storytelling in this book was great, and I do love the idea of the story. But to me, some parts fell flat and some were disturbing, and not in that thoughtful, philosophize about humanity type way. The why-didn't-your-editor-take-this-out kind of way. It was interesting to see how Emer and Saffron carried the same soul but were really two different people. I didn't always love them, but they were strong, kick butt (literally) teenage girls that I'd like to introduce readers to. Unfortunately, I got to the horrible cold rape scene and thought to myself that I would never be able to really recommend this book to any teenage girl. Other parts of the book were similarly creepy, but that one scene doesn't belong in a YA book. I think it could have been edited down and still gotten the message across without the detail. Mature teenagers can and do handle the subject matter in other books, but this particular scene just stopped me cold because it was so jarring and, I thought, unnecessary. I didn't see that the main character-in any incarnation- really dealt with it as a traumatic incident, nor did it seem to be used as a point of character development. Therefore, I really felt that it crossed the line and prevents me from, in good conscience, recommending this to teenagers.
All of a.s. king's books are interesting and unique in some way. With so many great things out there to read, pick up any one of her other books rather than this one.
I had a difficult time assigning stars to this book. One? Two? Three? Three point five? Some of the storytelling in this book was great, and I do love the idea of the story. But to me, some parts fell flat and some were disturbing, and not in that thoughtful, philosophize about humanity type way. The why-didn't-your-editor-take-this-out kind of way. It was interesting to see how Emer and Saffron carried the same soul but were really two different people. I didn't always love them, but they were strong, kick butt (literally) teenage girls that I'd like to introduce readers to. Unfortunately, I got to the horrible cold rape scene and thought to myself that I would never be able to really recommend this book to any teenage girl. Other parts of the book were similarly creepy, but that one scene doesn't belong in a YA book. I think it could have been edited down and still gotten the message across without the detail. Mature teenagers can and do handle the subject matter in other books, but this particular scene just stopped me cold because it was so jarring and, I thought, unnecessary. I didn't see that the main character-in any incarnation- really dealt with it as a traumatic incident, nor did it seem to be used as a point of character development. Therefore, I really felt that it crossed the line and prevents me from, in good conscience, recommending this to teenagers.
All of a.s. king's books are interesting and unique in some way. With so many great things out there to read, pick up any one of her other books rather than this one.
turrean's review
3.0
Sort of Pirates of the Caribbean meets Carl Hiaasen. The book jacket lead me to expect something a bit more...rollicking. The story was fascinating, though I thought the violent imagery (the main character fantasizes about killing or torturing people when they annoy her) got old fast.
The book tells two parallel narratives, and introduces a third about halfway thought the book. There's a fourth point of view, that a of an Irish boy, for about one chapter. The twin stories of Emer, an Irish girl from Cromwell's time, and Saffron, an American teen in the '70s, are fascinating. Emer's story is dramatic and heartbreaking; Saffron's voice is wry and sarcastic. The third POV belongs to a crazy person--literally--and is disturbing and dark, and at the same time darkly funny in a sick sort of way. (Hiaasen, for sure.)
I'm sure lots of readers would call this realistic; I'd call it brutal. Definitely for late teens or twenties.
Spoiler: was David reincarnated as Rusty? The last chapter has the word "grave" in it. Saffron says she hasn't killed Fred; does Winston do it?
The book tells two parallel narratives, and introduces a third about halfway thought the book. There's a fourth point of view, that a of an Irish boy, for about one chapter. The twin stories of Emer, an Irish girl from Cromwell's time, and Saffron, an American teen in the '70s, are fascinating. Emer's story is dramatic and heartbreaking; Saffron's voice is wry and sarcastic. The third POV belongs to a crazy person--literally--and is disturbing and dark, and at the same time darkly funny in a sick sort of way. (Hiaasen, for sure.)
I'm sure lots of readers would call this realistic; I'd call it brutal. Definitely for late teens or twenties.
Spoiler: was David reincarnated as Rusty? The last chapter has the word "grave" in it. Saffron says she hasn't killed Fred; does Winston do it?
cheeriospank's review
4.0
I loved it! She is such a great author with believable characters who gets you lost in the story.
sc104906's review
4.0
Emer was a teenage pirate who was cursed to live the lives of 100 dogs. Now that she has lived through her dog lives, Emer is now a contemporary teenage girl named Saffron. Saffron and Emer plan to complete the quest that was started in Emer’s life. There are reoccurrences of souls from Emer’s life in Saffron’s life.
When I first found a summary of this book, I thought there is no way this is an A.S. King book. She doesn’t typically write fantasy novels, but this fantasy novel read gritty and real like all of the other A.S. King novels I have read. It was a new refreshing take on the fantasy genre.
When I first found a summary of this book, I thought there is no way this is an A.S. King book. She doesn’t typically write fantasy novels, but this fantasy novel read gritty and real like all of the other A.S. King novels I have read. It was a new refreshing take on the fantasy genre.
kblincoln's review
5.0
Saffron Adams has problems. She's the first in her family to have the possibility of winning a scholarship to college on merit, her brother's a stealing druggie, her mother is obsessed with Saffron's intelligence in order to pull the whole family out of poverty, and Saffron has day dreams of mutilating people who bore or cross her.
Oh yeah, and she's got the memories of a 300 year old Irish female pirate who spent the last 300 years cursed to be a dog while searching for her one, true love and a giant emerald.
It sucks to be a teen sometimes.
This book is full of awesome. But it's definitely not your usual awesome. You can't approach this book thinking it's going to be jam on toast, the very structure of this book; Saffron's story chapter switching with the irish pirate's somewhat more graphically disturbing story (rape and violence enough I'd probably be careful of recommending this for anyone below about 11 years old) interspersed with insights about dog's behavior.
I read this compulsively, loving Saffron's voice, wanting to find out what happened to the Irish pirate, intrigued by the themes of reincarnation woven throughout all the perspectives.
Terrific.
This book's Food Designation rating: Green Tea Tiramisu, for having different compelling layers and yet that hint of exoticness all wrapped up in a delicious package.
Oh yeah, and she's got the memories of a 300 year old Irish female pirate who spent the last 300 years cursed to be a dog while searching for her one, true love and a giant emerald.
It sucks to be a teen sometimes.
This book is full of awesome. But it's definitely not your usual awesome. You can't approach this book thinking it's going to be jam on toast, the very structure of this book; Saffron's story chapter switching with the irish pirate's somewhat more graphically disturbing story (rape and violence enough I'd probably be careful of recommending this for anyone below about 11 years old) interspersed with insights about dog's behavior.
I read this compulsively, loving Saffron's voice, wanting to find out what happened to the Irish pirate, intrigued by the themes of reincarnation woven throughout all the perspectives.
Terrific.
This book's Food Designation rating: Green Tea Tiramisu, for having different compelling layers and yet that hint of exoticness all wrapped up in a delicious package.