Dog People

by Cris Mazza

Mazza's bizarre 90s characters communicate better with their dogs than their lovers. Rich detail, dramatic conclusion!

288 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1997

About the author

Cris Mazza is the author of a dozen books of fiction, mostly recently Waterbaby (Soft Skull Press 2007). Her other titles include the critically acclaimed Is It Sexual Harassment Yet?, and the PEN Nelson Algren Award winning How to Leave a Country. She also has a collection of personal essays, Indigenous: Growing Up Californian. Mazza has been the recipient of an NEA Fellowship and three Illinois Arts Council literary awards. A native of Southern California, Mazza grew up in San Diego County. Currently she lives 50 miles west of Chicago. She is a professor in the Program for Writers at the University of Illinois at Chicago "

Reviews

[Louise Chambers · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good descriptions of dog behavior. Some good characters. Everyone a little too troubled for me, and too passive, except for Doreen, who was overly alpha.
Two troubling rape scenes with the main husky character (Doreen ties her up to breed her, because the husky refuses the wolf). One troubling rape scene of a human woman. Several troubling scenes of dog attacks and bites, and a fall off a mule into the Grand Canyon.
Not sure what the purpose of this plot is, and what purpose all of these passive characters serve. They are certainly not like the dog people I know and cherish.

[Maggie Nickles · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never loved any of the characters, in fact, they all really annoyed me. But, it was a good illustration of the baggage people carry around.