Wolves Eat Dogs

Amazon.com

"Why would anyone jump out a window with a saltshaker?" A good question, especially when the suicide victim is Pasha Ivanov, a Moscow physicist-turned-billionaire businessman--a "New Russian" poster boy, if ever there was one--with several homes, a leggy 20-year-old girlfriend ("the kind [of blonde] who could summon the attention of a breeze"), and every reason to be contented in his middle age. So, wonders Senior Investigator Arkady Renko, in Martin Cruz Smith's Wolves Eat Dogs, what provoked Ivanov to take a header from his stylish 10th-floor apartment? And how does it relate to the shaker clutched in his dead hand or the hillock of table salt found on his closet floor?

Renko, introduced in Smith's 1981 bestseller, Gorky Park, is a cop well out of sync with rapidly changing Russian society, "a difficult investigator, a holdover from the Soviet era, a man on the skids" whose determination to do more than go through the motions of criminal inquiries inevitably exasperates his superiors. Thus, when this saturnine detective declines to accept the verdict that Ivanov did himself in--who peppered that salt around the capitalist's premises, Renko still wants to know, and what about rumors of a security breach at Ivanov's apartment building?--he is exiled to the Ukrainian Zone of Exclusion, the "radioactive wasteland" surrounding Chernobyl, site of a notorious 1986 nuclear disaster and the place where, only a week after Ivanov's demise, his company's senior vice-president is found with his throat slit. There, among cynical scientists, entrepreneurial scavengers, and predators both two- and four-legged--an exclusive coterie of the rejected--Renko chews over the crimes on his plate. Unfortunately, the dosimeter that warns him of radiation exposure at Chernobyl does not also protect him from a pair of malevolent brothers, or a "damaged" woman doctor offering him mutually assured disappointment.

Smith has a keen eye for the comical quirks of modern-day Russia--its chaotic roadways, voracious appetite for post-communist luxuries, and evolving ethics ("Russians used to kill for women or power, real reasons. Now they kill for money"). And this story's bleakly beautiful Ukrainian backdrop nicely complements the desperate hope of Renko's task. Still, the greatest strength of Wolves Eat Dogs (Smith's fifth series installment, after Havana Bay) is its characters, especially Arkady Renko, who despite his lugubrious nature continues to show a heart as expansive and unfathomable as the Siberia steppe. --J. Kingston Pierce

Book Description

In his groundbreaking Gorky Park, Martin Cruz Smith created an iconic detective of contemporary fiction. Quietly subversive, brilliantly analytical, and haunted by melancholy, Arkady Renko survived, barely, the journey from the Soviet Union to the New Russia, only to find his transformed nation just as obsessed with corruption and brutality as was the old Communist dictatorship.

In Wolves Eat Dogs, Renko returns for his most enigmatic and baffling case: the death of one of Russia's new billionaires, which leads him to Chernobyl and the Zone of Exclusion -- closed to the world since 1986's nuclear disaster. It is still aglow with radioactivity, now inhabited only by the militia, shady scavengers, a few reckless scientists, and some elderly peasants who refuse to relocate. Renko's journey to this ghostly netherworld, the crimes he uncovers there, and the secrets they reveal about the New Russia make for an unforgettable adventure.

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"Arkady Renko returns for his most enigmatic and baffling case: the death of one of Russia's new billionaires, which leads him to the Zone of Exclusion -- Chernobyl, and the surrounding areas closed to the world since the nuclear disaster of 1986. In his groundbreaking Gorky Park, Martin Cruz Smith created one of the iconic detectives of contemporary fiction, Arkady Renko. Cynical, quietly subversive, brilliantly analytical and haunted by melancholy, Renko has survived, barely, the journey from the Soviet Union to the New Russia, only to find his transformed nation just as obsessed with secrecy, corruption and brutality as was the old Communist dictatorship. In Wolves Eat Dogs, Renko enters the privileged world of Russia's new billionaire class. The grandest of them all, a self-made powerhouse named Pasha Ivanov, has apparently leapt to his death from the palatial splendor of his posh, ultra-modern Moscow condominium. While there are no signs pointing to homicide, there is one troubling and puzzling bit of evidence: in Ivanov's bedroom closet, there's a mountain of salt. Ivanov's demise ultimately leads Renko to Chernobyl and its environs. (No one knows how many deaths resulted from the explosion in Reactor Number 4. The official government figure is just 41, though many experts estimate that the toll was really a half million or more.) It is a ghostly world, still aglow with radioactivity, now inhabited only by the militia, shady scavengers, a few reckless scientists, and some elderly Ukrainian peasants who would rather ignore the Geiger counters than relocate. Renko's journey to this netherworld, the crimes he uncovers there and the secrets they reveal about the New Russia, make for a tense, unforgettable page-turning adventure. Each of Martin Cruz Smith's novels is a ticket to an unknown world. Wolves Eat Dogs is Smith's most harrowing trip yet. "

Customer Reviews:

Terribly mediocre.......2007-08-04

This novel seems so rushed and half-hearted. It doesn't come close to the early Trilogy of Renko novels. Character relationships seem undefined and unbelievable; the use of a mute child for Renko to talk to as a source of exposition seems amateurish; Renko initiates another sexual encounter but this time there's no connection or passion; the plot and climax aren't nearly as powerful as they should be, it left me with one of those "THAT was it?" feelings. Renko's antagonists clearly state their intentions to slow him down over and over again and in ways that are far too obvious; where did the subtlety go in Cruz Smith's writing? Maybe Renko should have been left alone after Red Square.

In a World of Change, One Constant...........2007-06-24

Russian Senior Investigator Arkady Renko returns to action in Martin Cruz Smith's excellent "Wolves Eat Dogs", a murder mystery wrapped around the New Russia and the sins of the old Russia.

New Russian billionaire Pasha Ivanov commits suicide by leaping from the tenth floor window of his highly secure Moscow apartment. The case is an open-and-shut suicide for everyone but Renko, who patiently scratches at a few anomalies in the case and slowly uncovers a more complicated explanation for Ivanov's death. Renko persists in his investigation despite his boss's warnings. By way of punishment, he is exiled to the Ukraine to investigate the death under mysterious circumstances of Ivanov's business partner in the Zone of Exclusion, the radioactive restricted area around the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

Martin Cruz Smith creates a fascinating world in the Zone of Exclusion, as different from Moscow as the backside of the Moon, and nearly as desolate. The Zone is inhabited by a few militia, a few scientists, a few scavengers, and the last of the original inhabitants who have refused to relocate. Renko encounters a confusing array of friends, enemies, and seeming neutrals, and navigates a bewildering thicket of clues in search of the truth about the two murders. Along the way, he develops relationships with a female scientist and with an abandoned boy that may offer clues to the present mystery and the possibility of some redemption for the lonely but dutiful investigator.

Martin Cruz Smith fans will enjoy the challenging, multi-faceted plot of this novel, one that is not resolved until the final page. Arkady Renko fans will enjoy another opportunity to cheer on their uniquely Russian hero, a stubbornly honest and conscientious investigator in a corrupt and cynical Russia.

Baba Yaga Has A Long Blue Nose.......2007-06-17

Martin Cruz Smith is a former journalist and magazine editor. "Red Square" is his fifth novel - a series that began with "Gorky Park" - to feature Arkady Renko and was first published in 2004.

Renko, the hero, works as an Investigator with Moscow's militia - more or less the standard police force - and has something of a chequered career. Never a truly 'practising' member of the Party, Renko hasn't always been thought highly of by those in authority. He has always wanted to catch the people responsible for the crimes he's investigating, regardless of the 'political' consequences - as a result of this, he was once dismissed from the Party for a lack of 'political reliability' and sentenced to a life in Siberia. He has been rehabilitated for several years now, though he always remained something of a disappointment to his father - a very famous ex-General. His father has been dead for some time, something Arkady never seemed too bothereed about. However, he hasn't yet entirely gotten over the death of his wife, Irina.

Pasha Ivanov was one of the 'new' Russia's most successful businessmen - President of NoviRus and worth an absolute fortune. However, the businessman has - it would appear - jumped to his death through his apartment window. The book opens in the apartment, with Arkady peering through the window towards the corpse on the pavement. Among those also present are Prosecutor Zurin (Arkady's boss), Bobby Hoffman (Ivanov's American assistant) and Lev Timofeyev - an old friend of Ivanov's and a Senior Vice-President at NoviRus. The pair had studied together at the Institute, and were two particular favourites of the noted Academican Gerasimov. Zurin is happy to write it off as suicide, and there is little - other than, possibly, a large pile of salt in the closet - to make Renko think anyone else was involved. At Hoffman's insistence, Arkady keeps looking into it though - something that doesn't make him very popular with neither Zurin, nor Colonel Ozhogin - Head of Security at NoviRus. Naturally, when the pile of salt in Ivanov's closet turns out to be radioactive and Timofeyev turns up murdered in Chernobyl, it's Arkady sent to investigate.

I've really enjoyed the Renko books to date - though, after a brief trip to Cuba for "Havana Bay", I'm glad to see the action taking place a little closer to home. The introduction of Zhenya - an eleven year old boy who lives at one of Moscow's shelters - was an interesting one. Arkady occasionally spends a free day with the boy, who seems to have some difficulty relating to people. I'm hoping, though, their relationship will continue in later books.

Good old Renko.......2007-04-30

The author has done a great job of creating and sustaining Arkady Renko, an alternately cynical and idealistic Russian investigator who gets caught, time and again, in the dark side of life. It's funny that a common element in the Renko books is that every character around him seems to dislike or distrust him, for he seems eminently likable to me.

It had been a while since I'd read the last Renko novel and I feared the latest installment would disappoint. Though Wolves Eat Dogs begins slowly and the characters were at times confusing (is there any good guy here?), eventually the tension grew until it became a real page turner. The bits with Zhenya, an orphan boy Renko unwillingly befriends, and the many little zinger comments about modern Russian life are particularly fun and thought provoking. A good modern crime novel, good continuation of the series, with interesting insights into the history of Chernobyl.

Renko - Great as always.......2007-04-11

Martin Cruz Smith create, years ago, one of the best detectives in history.
Renko is a original caracther,wise and human and his diference is the russian "ethos". Smith caught the russian soul in Renko, so vivid, that we almost believe that he exist.
Renko is a good friend of mine, a very close one. I have miss his absence since his last adventure "Havana".

Martin, please, write another one Renko adventure as fast you can and tank you for the great times I have spent with Arkasha. I had all Renko Book in english and except this in portuguese. Try one people,you will enjoy.

Gentiles in the Gospel of Mark: Even the Dogs Under the Table Eat the Children's Crumb (Library of New Testament Studies)

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First-rate scholarship

Gentiles in the Gospel of Mark: Even the Dogs Under the Table Eat the Children's Crumb (Library of New Testament Studies)
Kelly R. Iverson
Manufacturer: T. & T. Clark Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0567031314

Customer Reviews:

First-rate scholarship.......2007-03-21

Iverson has added a first-rate work to the growing corpus of Markan scholarship with this fine release from T & T Clark. His focus on "gentile inclusion" helps mark the parameters by which the first readers would have seen fit to welcome non-Jews into The Way. Especially welcome is Iverson's in-depth usage of Greek grammar and syntax, his critical interaction with the other major Markan texts, and his conservative, sometimes cautious, approach. Iverson never plays fast and loose with the Second Gospel, instead treating it with the academic respect it deserves as both a literary endeavor and a life-changing story of the spreading "good news." All Markan scholars, make that all NT scholars, will be glad they added this fresh work to their biblical libraries.

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Paws-itively Wonderful
A glimpse into dog show life
Woof!
Pleasant read
Interesting Characters, including the Dogs!

Dog Eat Dog (Melanie Travis Mysteries)
Laurien Berenson
Manufacturer: Kensington
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0758213174

Customer Reviews:

Paws-itively Wonderful.......2003-07-16

I absolutely loved this book! It is well written and has a cohesive plot, which is rare for an animal mystery nowadays. I highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in dogs, dog shows, or just mysteries! The cast of characters in this book makes it (and the rest of the series) a laugh a page. Aunt Peg in particular is just the funniest.

A glimpse into dog show life.......2002-07-02

Not only are these mysteries entertaining, but they also inform the reader of the ins and outs of the dog show business and breeding. I am new to dog ownership and these books have answered many questions I was afraid to ask others.
Surely worth enjoying!

Woof!.......2000-12-04

Welcome back to the "dog eat dog" world of dog breeding and shows, where Melanie Travis and her Aunt Peg are once again embroiled in a mystery. This time, in Dog Eat Dog, a member of Peg's kennel club is murdered shortly after a meeting, and Melanie is compelled to find the killer despite the fact that she is not a member of the club herself.

This, however, is not the only thing "eating" at Melanie: the ex-husband is back in town and anxious to take up where he left off with Melanie's son, five-year-old Davey, even though the two haven't seen each other in four years and two months. Needless to say, the reunion does very little for Melanie's escalating relationship with Poodle breeder Sam Driver, particularly when the former hubby drops hints of taking Davey back to Texas.

Discoveries of gossip and blackmail are the focus of Dog Eat Dog, which is a good followup story to Underdog. A light, sometimes humorous read, this is a recommended "cozy".

Pleasant read.......2000-10-18

This is a book definitely to be reserved for the rainy day read. It is not demanding or particularly compelling and the characters are somewhat two-dimensional and caricaturish. The plotting is simplistic and homespun. Yet, while not being among the more accomplished of the genre, it is generally unobjectionable if one's expectations are not set too high.

Interesting Characters, including the Dogs!.......2000-06-08

I got this book on a whim because on the cover are two beagles similar to my beloved hound. I also bought it looking for a fun, light-hearted mystery that has as its background something that I am interested, in this case the dog world. It is not overly ambitious, nor is it very complicated. But I enjoyed it greatly and have read all the others in the series. There is a new one in September, and I can't wait! I would put this on par with Grafton's mysteries, or the Jackson Braun Cat Who.. series. One piece of advice: I'd read them in order, starting with Pedigree to Die For. (And Aunt Peg is a hoot!)

Dog Eat Dog & Vice Versa: 9 Secrets To Put The Bite Into Your Marketing

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Dog Eat Dog & Vice Versa: 9 Secrets To Put The Bite Into Your Marketing
Jerry Rossi
Manufacturer: Charter Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Perfect Paperback

ASIN: 1427609861
Release Date: 2006-11-06

Product Description

The big dogs of industry spend billions of dollars on advertising and marketing, and most of it gets funneled through ad agencies. Ad agencies have 9 Secrets that generate big results for their clients, 9 vital things they don't want to share with you that aren't taught in any marketing classes. Now these secrets can be yours. The 9 Secrets are revealed in this book. You'll get an insider's view of what works and what doesn't when it comes to marketing in today's marketplace. Instead of relying on the ancient wisdom still being taught as modern marketing techniques, old sales tactics, and flimflam methods from the early 1900s, this book offers you ways to STOP IT and move into the 21st Century. Use the 9 Secrets to grow your market and increase your businesses bottomline no matter what size organization you run. Order Dog Eat Dog & Vice Versa: 9 Secrets To Put The Bite Into Your Marketing now.

Dog Eat Dog: A Very Human Book About Dogs and Dog Shows

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Must read for for inspiring dog exhibitor
An essential reader for anything thinking about showing or breeding dogs
Fun Read!
Pretty good--fast read!
'Dog Eat Dog' is the 'Orchid Thief' of the dog show world

Dog Eat Dog: A Very Human Book About Dogs and Dog Shows
Jane Stern , and Michael Stern
Manufacturer: Fireside
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0684838923

Book Description

"The Secret Life of Dogs" meets "A Good Walk Spoiled" in this behind-the-scenes look at the subculture of the professional dog-show circuit. "A year on the dog-show circuit with a breeder and show of bullmastiffs has all the melodrama of a soap opera".--"San Francisco Chronicle". of photos.

Customer Reviews:

Must read for for inspiring dog exhibitor.......2007-02-05

Very good stuff.Written in very language easy to connect.I had almost decided to give up showing dogs,and got this book.In the next month I had three of my terriers were on board.Yet I am sure I would not have been hurt as much as before the book even if they had not won.

An essential reader for anything thinking about showing or breeding dogs.......2006-04-03

Recently, a friend mentioned he was thinking about breeding puppies. Luckily, I was already reading this book. After mentioning the schedules, money, paperwork, heartbreak, and blood, sweat, and tears that goes into dog breeding, he said "never mind"

Not only is Dog Eat Dog a brilliant expose on dog breeding, it focuses on the world of show dogs, a complicated place in which the slightest bump on a dogs shoulder can make the difference between winning and loosing, and where wirehair dogs have to be groomed by having individual hairs pulled out.

Though many breeds and breeders are mentioned, the main focus is on Mimi Einstein and her All Star Kennels, which breeds and shows Bull Mastiffs, massive, loving guard dogs. Many of the stories are touching, some will make you cheer outloud and one made my eyes water.

It's fast moving, well paced, and though a real tale it has a happy ending.

If you're thinking about getting a pure bred dog, showing a dog, or breeding for profit, please read this book first!

Highest recommendations.

Fun Read!.......2003-11-13

This is an easy read - very entertaining. These folks know the dog world inside and out; they present it in a hysterical light.

Pretty good--fast read!.......2002-07-02

I really enjoyed this look into the world of dog shows. The author doesn't hide the truths of the ins and outs of the world of showing and breeding dogs. Quick read--I read it in a day. Very well-written. Great little book!

'Dog Eat Dog' is the 'Orchid Thief' of the dog show world.......2000-08-16

'Dog Eat Dog' is the 'Orchid Thief' of the dog show world, but the obsession in this case is with Bullmastiffs, not orchids. Jane and Michael Stern have written an interesting, sweet, and sometimes sad book about the 'dog eat dog' competition in the American dog show ring. The sadness comes in when the authors describe the problems that we humans have wrought upon our best friends, by breeding for a particular and possibly arbitrary trait (size or hairlessness) and ignoring the consequences (hip dysplasia, deafness, birthing problems).

The authors suffered from the purebred dog syndrome themselves: "Some couples dream of a house, others of a baby; we could think of nothing more enriching to our tender relationship than the companionship of a drooling, flatulent Bulldog."

Richard, the Bulldog was an utter failure in the showring but if he was the genesis of "Dog Eat Dog", then he was a very successful Bulldog, indeed. Please read this book. It is a droll, ingratiating, doggy slice of Americana.

Average customer rating:

disappointing

Solid, unique comedy writing...

Stick With Cable-TV

cheaper than toilet paper at 48 cents

Dennis Is Going With What's Popular, But He's Behind

The Rant Zone: An All-Out Blitz Against Soul-Sucking Jobs, Twisted Child Stars, Holistic Loons, and People Who Eat Their Dogs!
Dennis Miller
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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I Rant, Therefore I Am

Still Ranting After All These Years

Rants Rants

Ranting Again

Dennis Miller - The Raw Feed

ASIN: 0060505370
Release Date: 2002-08-20

Book Description

In this fourth installment of his acclaimed Rants series, bestselling author, Emmy Award-winning talk-show host, and wisecracking analyst for ABC's Monday Night Football Dennis Miller makes hamburger meat out of society's most sacred cows as only he can, with the kinds of allusions that require high SAT scores -- or at least a smart crib sheet.

This time around, Miller takes on child stars with rap sheets, women with bigger muscles than his own, herbs you don't smoke, God, and football. As always, nothing is out-of-bounds.

Customer Reviews:

disappointing.......2006-01-28

I don't know if it's age or recent political "reconversions", but this latest "rant" entry is neither as biting or funny as his previous releases. On his most recent appearance on Leno (January 20, 2006), he showed when he isn't lauding Dubya or the war, he still shows signs of humor ("As a nation we're getting fat...if you're built like a tank, don't wear the top").
But in this book, even the non-political rants don't have the bite as they did in "I Rant, Therefore I Am" or "Ranting Again".

Perhaps, if he writes another "rant" book, he could do one on his experiences on "Saturday Night Live", since he was noticably absent from the "Live From New York" book. If Jay Mohr can do it, Dennis can...and he may just recapure my respect.

Of course, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong.

Solid, unique comedy writing..........2005-02-06

...and he goes after anyone and everything, despite what some of the bitter, angry, neurotic, self-styled liberal reviewers here would have you believe. I think it was Mark Twain who wrote something like "sacred cow makes the best hamburger"; Miller understands and embodies this.

Stick With Cable-TV.......2004-05-19

Miller has now delved into movies, network television, and print. Virtually all of those endeavors have produced nothing but embarrassing additions to his body of work. Three strikes and you're out Dennis. Do a favor for your potential fans and stick with what you're good at -- monologues on cable-TV. This book is vulgar, not the least bit entertaining, and gives the impression that it was thrown together in a very short time. In fact, it is so bad that I wouldn't be surprised if Miller did nothing more than allow his name to be associated with this sham of an effort.

cheaper than toilet paper at 48 cents.......2004-03-25

It's nice to see that this book has found it's price point. Dennis Miller is about as funny as colon cancer. Someone outta put a rubberband around this guys head so it'll shrivel up and fall off.

Dennis Is Going With What's Popular, But He's Behind.......2003-09-01

Ok Ok. Maybe my first review of Dennis Miller's book was harsh, so I rewrote it. But what do you expect when reviewing a book from a person who talks complete nonsense?!! Dennis TRIES to be funny, but he fails miserably. Dennis is at his best, when he avoids leaning to the left or to the right. When he could praise and criticized BOTH sides when they deserved it, is when he shined. These days, Dennis has gone from common sense to a complete right-winger. I guess it because these days it's popular to bash Democrats and be a conservative. But I guarantee you, the time of the extreme left is dead and the extreme right will be dead in a few years. There's no place for either in the near future. I suspect that Dennis knows this, which explains why he is trying to seek office. LOL. He missed the boat 9 years ago to be an extreme conservative. Moderates are the ones who will control the political landscape in the future. Perhaps then, Dennis will get it right and become moderate once again. This book is basically him trying to cash in with the time.

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In Bunker's world, there are no happy endings
Mistaken Identity
Fantastic!
Thrilling
Harrowing, top flight novel stay with you...

Dog Eat Dog: A Novel
Edward Bunker
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0312168187

Amazon.com

Ex-convict Bunker proved he could write a strong, dark thriller with his first book, No Beast So Fierce. For his latest effort, he returns to the same kind of story -- smart but doomed ex-cons doing the only kind of thing they know how to do. Troy Cameron came from a wealthy Beverly Hills family before reform school and San Quentin knocked off some of the polish. Now he has linked up with a pair of psychopathic colleagues to prey on other criminals. In Bunker's hands, the material takes on a great deal of energy and even sympathy for the devils.

Book Description

Dog Eat Dog, Bunker's fourth novel, follows Troy Cameron, a reformatory graduate like Bunker. A terrifying and brutal narrative, the novel tracks his lawless spree in the company of two other reform school alumni, Diesel Carson and Mad Dog Cain. Dog Eat Dog is a novel of excruciating authenticity, with great moral and social resonance, and it could only have been written by Edward Bunker, who has been there.

Customer Reviews:

In Bunker's world, there are no happy endings.......2007-08-02

Three teenagers--Troy Cameron, Gerald McCain, and Charley Carson--meet in school and become life long friends, believing that nothing can stop them as long as they stick together. I can think of at least two novels with similar launching points, Celebrity and The Last Convertible, but neither can match the brutality and power of Edward Bunker's latest, Dog Eat Dog. You see, the school that brings this trio together is a California reform school. Troy is in the early days of his chosen career as a master thief, and Gerald and Charley, also known as "Diesel" and "Mad Dog", have chosen to follow him wherever he leads.

Years later, the three are still together, and, despite having spent most of their lives in prison, still looking for a big score. Troy, fresh out of San Quentin, approaches his buddies with what he thinks is a foolproof plan--from now on, their victims will be their fellow criminals. Dressed as policemen, they rip off a local drug dealer. Emboldened by their success, they enter into a deal with Chepe, a powerful crimelord, agreeing to kidnap the son of Mike Brennan, a smuggler who owes Chepe money. During the kidnapping attempt, Mad Dog lives up to his name and needlessly shoots and kills a man, who they later discover was Mike Brennan. Their plan in ruins, they return the child to his mother. Enraged, Chepe demands that Troy and Diesel kill Mad Dog. Faced with Chepe's displeasure, the two decide they must terminate their associate.

Fans of violent, hard-hitting crime novels will love Dog Eat Dog. Bunker, a former criminal who lived the way his characters do, writes from life experience in spare, but literate prose. As William Styron states in his introduction, Bunker deals with two themes: "...the wretched abandonment of our children..." and "...the perpetuation of violence and cruelty...". He portrays a brutal world, where loyalty is a matter of convenience and sudden death is a fact of life. If you were unnerved by Reservoir Dogs or Pulp Fiction, stay away from Dog Eat Dog. If you like realistic, gritty portrayals of urban reality, pick it up. But be ready--in Edward Bunker's world, there are no happy endings.

Mistaken Identity.......2006-01-15

That ex-con Edward Bunker clearly has his following is indisputable, but leave me out of the "Dog Eat Dog" pack. I'll give credit to Bunker for some originality: rare is the novel that casts the bad guys as heroes. And if writing a novel with neither a plot nor an ending is original, then score points for that also. But setting that aside, one wonders exactly what the author was trying to accomplish as he chronicles the meanderings of three life-long criminals up and down the California coast.

Bunker's fractured odyssey starts out with teenagers Troy Cameron, Gerald "Mad Dog" McCain, and Charlie "Diesel" Carson in reform school, establishing roots in their chosen profession of crime. The story picks up again years later, a few days before Troy, the brains of the operation, is about to be paroled from San Quinton. Troy, unrepentant to the core, gathers the gang and shows his genius by coming up with the brilliant idea of - drum roll - robbing drug dealers! The reader is supposed to believe that this is some breakthrough in the history of vice - that we've all just emerged from caves and have never heard of drug lords, drug wars, street gangs, and the rest of the subterfuge that runs with the drug trade. Ever the mastermind, Troy determines a failsafe strategy - he'll track the target's movements ahead of time, thereby knowing exactly where and when to strike! Regrettably, Bunker renders dialogue as mind-numbing as the non-story, and can't seem to figure out whether he wants us to like, feel sorry for, or despise his three stooges of crime.

But even this could be passable were it not for Bunker's feeble attempt at making excuses for his thugs, who he casts as the victims - victims of parental neglect and jack-booted oppression under the guise of "three strike" laws - for in Bunker's world, the bad guys are misunderstood and the cops are sadists. Banal where it should have been brutal and simply silly instead of sobering, "Dog Eat Dog" feels like an answer to a question no body cared to ask. Skip this one and try Charlie Huston for bona fide grit tautly told.

Fantastic!.......2005-04-14

This is a gritty novel. This book is almost without parallel and unlike any other crime fiction that I have had the pleasure to read. Don't think about it, buy it and read it. This is the best author writing hard-core fiction alive. This is Chandler's protégée if you had to name one; only he is taking the side of the criminal here. This novel is hard, its like getting into a bar fight and being smacked around a few times.
I am not too much up on giving away the plots in my reviews, especially if I enjoyed the book. Let me just say that this novel is hard to start. I think that is because it is so unusual. It kind of reminded me of Motherless Brooklyn in that way. The characters do not allow for very much in the way of empathy with the reader. But the writing does suck you in after a few pages and then you are hooked on a hard ride.

Quentin Tarantino has said that Block is one of his many inspirations, and that is why I pick this novel up a few years ago. In fact I think Block was Mr. White or some color in his 'Reservoir Dog's' flick. So if you saw that film that is a good indicator as to what you will be confronted with here. Only instead of the restrictive nature surrounding a film (2 hours) Block takes his time and develops a character study any hard boiled writer should envy.

Thrilling.......2001-12-10

With Dog Eat Dog Edward Bunker shows us his talent for writing down-and-dirty, there are no keeping the punches in this shocking novel about three friends and ex-cons that come up with a plot to rip off other criminals. The book does side slightly with the criminals, but it does not glorify them as misunderstood good guys, it shows them as mean and evil at times, but also let us see that they are human, and that not all the bad that is inside them is of their own doing. Bunker might not master the language as well as seaseoned crime-fiction writers, but this adds to the authenticity of the book too, making it seem more "there", while it leads us towards the ending. The book is a character study too, and we see some truly terrible characters here, even a few without any "good" sides. It is a brutal and shocking book, and not for every one.

Harrowing, top flight novel stay with you..........2001-06-07

This book was so gripping, I read it (blush) in a single sitting at a bookstore. Never bought it. The ending could have been a bit more plausible, but I woke up the next two mornings having dreamt about it. Whew!

How to Work Like a Cat: Walking With Confidence Through a Dog-Eat-Dog World

Average customer rating:

Good for Cat Lovers
I pounced on this one!
The Antidote to that "Hang in There, Baby!" Poster
How to Work Like a Cat
HOW TO WORK LIKE A CAT

How to Work Like a Cat: Walking With Confidence Through a Dog-Eat-Dog World
Karen Wormald
Manufacturer: Willow Creek Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Organizational Behavior | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Cats, Dogs & Animals | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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Success | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Organizational Behavior | Business Management | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1595434127

Book Description

In most jobs, you're expected to work like a dog - show boundless enthusiasm for any dull and pointless task you're assigned; act thrilled with any meager reward that's tossed your way; play nice with the other dogs; and never question the leader of the pack. For your own sanity, you need to wise up and end this ridiculous canine charade. Cats have it all figured out. They live by their own rules. They refuse to be ignored. They're self-assured and serene. This humorous book helps readers learn to work like a cat instead of a dog, urging headers to break free of the leash and leap up the workplace ladder.

Customer Reviews:

Good for Cat Lovers.......2007-03-17

Humorous look for all humans, owned by cats. However, since cats really don't do any work, they are probably as qualified as anyone else to write on the subject of work.

I pounced on this one!.......2007-02-25

How to Work Like a Cat by Karen Wormald is a refreshing and creative look at similarities between cats and coworkers! I bought a dozen and gave them to my feline loving coworkers, neighbors, family, and even my vet!!. It was a great hit. The writing is spectacular and the pictures are worth a thousand more words!
Cathy (Boston, MA)

The Antidote to that "Hang in There, Baby!" Poster.......2006-11-06

Up until now, we've only seen cats in business hanging onto a bar waiting for Friday to come. Karen Wormald's book sets the record straight by shining a positive light on feline philosophy. The book is full of wit and truth--the perfect gift for an office co-worker or a cat-loving friend or family member!

When does the calendar come out? It would provide just the right decoration for my cubicle. And my dog of a boss would have to see it every day!

How to Work Like a Cat.......2006-10-28

Cat lovers will pounce on this insightful tale of feisty felines and crazy canines caught in the crosshairs of Corporate America, so buy Karen Wormald's book, some catnip, and a few treats, and stuff them all into a friend's holiday stocking this year!

HOW TO WORK LIKE A CAT.......2006-10-25

I'm tired of being the over-worked, enthusiastic "dog" of my company while other employees have all the time in world to flit the day away with talking sports, politics, sports, politics, sports, weather, sports...

I've actually tried some of the methods Karen recommended in her new book this past week... and IT REALLY WORKS!

Thanks Karen!

Average customer rating:

Dog Eat Dog
Niq Mhlongo
Manufacturer: Kwela Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0795701799

Book Description

This exciting slice-of-life novel is a remarkable record of being young in a nation that is undergoing tremendous turmoil, and provides a glimpse inside South Africa's pivotal kwaito generation. Dingz is an average student in South Africa who spends his days partying, skipping class, and picking up girls. But he is living in charged times, and his happy college life is constantly interrupted by historical and personal events—South Africa's first democratic elections, AIDS, and financial difficulties that threaten to push him out of school.

Average customer rating:

true, and funny, too
Dog Lovers' Alert
A "table top" must!
Thoughtful and very amusing
Puppy Chow For The Soul!!!

Life Is Short. Eat Biscuits!
Amy Jordan Smith
Manufacturer: Santa Monica Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Cartooning | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Cats, Dogs & Animals | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
ASIN: 1891661418

Book Description

The lessons that dogs have to teach us about unconditional love and happiness are presented in this compilation of canine-inspired maxims. Infused with wit and humor, the Zen of dogs is captured in such inspirational bits of wisdom as, "For a dog there is only do or not do," and "Ask yourself, 'What would Lassie do?'" Masterfully designed with whimsical illustrations throughout, this collection of Taoist insights offers a refreshing perspective on living a happier and fuller life.

Customer Reviews:

true, and funny, too.......2007-04-06

I have read this book several times, and it never fails to make me smile...and make me think. My dachshund, Pirate, gives it five stars, and so do I.

Dog Lovers' Alert.......2006-07-26

This is an extremely clever book of philosophy derived from the observations of a dog owner. The delightful illustrations add to the book's appeal.

A "table top" must!.......2004-08-04

"If it makes your tail wag it's good" is only one of the thought provoking words of wisdom in these colorfully illustrated lessons that dogs can teach us about unconditional love and happiness. Every time I turn through these beautifully written pages my tail wags harder each time. Thank You Amy Jordon Smith for sharing your biscuit.

Thoughtful and very amusing.......2004-07-08

As a dog owner and lover of animals in general I found this book to be a must! Smith is very keen to remind us that our pets are not just animals but members of our family and their loyalty has no boundries.

Puppy Chow For The Soul!!!.......2004-07-01

LIFE IS SHORT; EAT BISCUITS is beautifully illustrated, and through the eyes of a puppy, reinvents so many of life's "words of wisdom"...sayings we've repeatedly heard, but unfortunately seldom apply. This book is truly Puppy Chow for the soul; especially for those of us that have experienced the unconditional love bestowed on us by our own "Calvin" puppy. Life is indeed short, so take the time, and share a biscuit with someone you love while enjoying this book. Kudos to the author and illustrator!!!

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