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When Dachshunds Ruled the Serengeti
Phillip and José, newly minted Ivy League roommates, couldn’t be more different. Phillip is an only child from a wealthy New York City family. José is the oldest of nine children of Mexican migrant workers. He has only known rural life in the Southern US—though he was born in California, his family moved from state to state, following the crops across the country.
Phillip comes to school with every electronic gadget known to man. José arrives with the clothes on his back, a paperback he pulled from the trash in a bus station, and a notebook and pencil. They both need to adapt to their new environment and, in the process, quickly become fond of each other despite their differences.
As their fondness grows into love, their world is turned upside down when they are charged with caring for José’s eight younger siblings. To Phillip, sharing José is not easy. To José, caring for his siblings is his most important responsibility, even more so than his education. If his relationship with Phillip is to survive, they have to bridge the gap between two very different worlds.
Phillip comes to school with every electronic gadget known to man. José arrives with the clothes on his back, a paperback he pulled from the trash in a bus station, and a notebook and pencil. They both need to adapt to their new environment and, in the process, quickly become fond of each other despite their differences.
As their fondness grows into love, their world is turned upside down when they are charged with caring for José’s eight younger siblings. To Phillip, sharing José is not easy. To José, caring for his siblings is his most important responsibility, even more so than his education. If his relationship with Phillip is to survive, they have to bridge the gap between two very different worlds.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 24, 2013
2 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
About the author
Michael Murphy
25 books126 followersWho am I? One of these days I need to decided what I want to be when I grow up.
I am a middle-aged man, born in the far reaches of upstate New York - parts that give the word "rural" meaning. Now I live in Washington, DC.
When one of those milestone birthdays hit me and scared the crap out of me, I realized there were more years behind me than there were in front of me. My mortality hit me like someone dropping a load of bricks on me.
With that realization, I constructed a bucket list of things I absolutely had to do in the years (hopefully many) that I have left. Writing a book was one of them and was near the top.
My biggest influences when growing up were my two grandmothers. Both were ferociously strong women who were widowed way too young and had to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives and try to put them back together again. And they did! They were incredible women and I adored them both.
These women loved to read and to tell stories, so it just always seemed a natural thing for me to want to do the same. One Christmas when I had a break from work for a few days I had an idea - just a simple single flash of an idea. I sat down at my computer and typed out the one sentence idea. And then I thought for a moment. And then I started typing again - and like magic this story started to pour out of me. I was amazed, in awe, floored by what was happening.
It was like the characters were coming to life and telling their story and I was just tagging along for the ride. I typed as fast as my fingers would fly across the keys (one of the 17 jobs I had while I was going to college was typist, so I'm a pretty fast typist). I couldn't wait to see what happened next. It was the most amazing experience I think I've ever had. Okay, maybe not THE most amazing, but it ranks right up there near the top.
My boyfriend finally came to me a couple of days into this,sat down, looked so serious, and asked, "Are you mad at me?" I assured him that no, I was not mad; I had just been kidnapped by my two characters who refused to let me go. He sort of believed me. When I handed him a printout of the entire book he really believed me, although he wasn't all that thrilled about the book. What can I say, he is a biomedical scientist who primarily reads non-fiction. The fact that I got him to read any fiction was a huge step.
I sent my finished book to Dreamspinner Press. Much to my shock and surprise they accepted it. Out of the hundreds of unsolicited manuscripts that they receive every year they only accept a tiny fraction from new, unknown authors - and I was part of that tiny fraction.
When I got the news I was riding on the subway to work one morning. I screamed and hugged the man sitting next to me - I don't have a clue who he was and I'm sure I scared the crap out of him, even though I tried to explain why I was so happy. When I got to work, a co-worker joined me in doing a happy dance.
Once I started writing the spirit of my departed grandmothers started taking over and story after story started to come out. Dreamspinner and Harmony Ink Press have published a total of eight books so far, with the next one due out in a few weeks. Three additional books are under contract, scheduled to appear in the months ahead.
When I'm not writing, I'm editing and proofing, proofing and editing. When not doing that I work for a small organization in downtown DC located a few hundred yards from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. My work is primarily IT project management which can be thrilling and at other times drive me to distraction.
All in all, I'd rather be writing. If people keep buying my books in the same way they have I might actually be able to consider that as an option. Oh, please! Oh, please! Oh, please!
I am a middle-aged man, born in the far reaches of upstate New York - parts that give the word "rural" meaning. Now I live in Washington, DC.
When one of those milestone birthdays hit me and scared the crap out of me, I realized there were more years behind me than there were in front of me. My mortality hit me like someone dropping a load of bricks on me.
With that realization, I constructed a bucket list of things I absolutely had to do in the years (hopefully many) that I have left. Writing a book was one of them and was near the top.
My biggest influences when growing up were my two grandmothers. Both were ferociously strong women who were widowed way too young and had to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives and try to put them back together again. And they did! They were incredible women and I adored them both.
These women loved to read and to tell stories, so it just always seemed a natural thing for me to want to do the same. One Christmas when I had a break from work for a few days I had an idea - just a simple single flash of an idea. I sat down at my computer and typed out the one sentence idea. And then I thought for a moment. And then I started typing again - and like magic this story started to pour out of me. I was amazed, in awe, floored by what was happening.
It was like the characters were coming to life and telling their story and I was just tagging along for the ride. I typed as fast as my fingers would fly across the keys (one of the 17 jobs I had while I was going to college was typist, so I'm a pretty fast typist). I couldn't wait to see what happened next. It was the most amazing experience I think I've ever had. Okay, maybe not THE most amazing, but it ranks right up there near the top.
My boyfriend finally came to me a couple of days into this,sat down, looked so serious, and asked, "Are you mad at me?" I assured him that no, I was not mad; I had just been kidnapped by my two characters who refused to let me go. He sort of believed me. When I handed him a printout of the entire book he really believed me, although he wasn't all that thrilled about the book. What can I say, he is a biomedical scientist who primarily reads non-fiction. The fact that I got him to read any fiction was a huge step.
I sent my finished book to Dreamspinner Press. Much to my shock and surprise they accepted it. Out of the hundreds of unsolicited manuscripts that they receive every year they only accept a tiny fraction from new, unknown authors - and I was part of that tiny fraction.
When I got the news I was riding on the subway to work one morning. I screamed and hugged the man sitting next to me - I don't have a clue who he was and I'm sure I scared the crap out of him, even though I tried to explain why I was so happy. When I got to work, a co-worker joined me in doing a happy dance.
Once I started writing the spirit of my departed grandmothers started taking over and story after story started to come out. Dreamspinner and Harmony Ink Press have published a total of eight books so far, with the next one due out in a few weeks. Three additional books are under contract, scheduled to appear in the months ahead.
When I'm not writing, I'm editing and proofing, proofing and editing. When not doing that I work for a small organization in downtown DC located a few hundred yards from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. My work is primarily IT project management which can be thrilling and at other times drive me to distraction.
All in all, I'd rather be writing. If people keep buying my books in the same way they have I might actually be able to consider that as an option. Oh, please! Oh, please! Oh, please!
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
May 26, 2013
This is the story of two college roommates -- Jose, the son of a dirt poor Mexican migrant farmer, and Philip, the son of apparently wealthy parents. They are both attending Brown University and, needless to say, the story is chock full of anticipated and annoying stereotypes. (The title is absolutely misleading by the way -- don't be sucked into the title thinking that this book is something interesting.)
The author sets the stage in the first chapter of the book -- Jose is going to be a prince-among-men and nearly everyone else that interacts with him is going to be a dickhead. Jose initially play the "poor me" card -- he claims to be so innocent and naive, but, it ends up (to my estimation) that Jose is a completely unsympathetic user. As the story continued, I really began to hate this book.
Let's cut to the chase here -- the two roommates have angst because they are mutually attracted but they have never spoken about their attraction. Finally, after about two months in school, the two young men admit their love for each other and they become inseparable and spend nearly all of their free time together. After spring break, there is a violent confrontation between Jose and his father (who shows up out of the blue) because Jose is gay, and Jose is disowned.
Then, later in the book, Jose's parents go back to Mexico and they can't get back across the US border, and someone has to take care of Jose's eight siblings. Jose's Aunt calls him and tells him that she is dropping off all eight kids for him to take care of, but he has to drive overnight from Brown University to Washington DC to pick up the pack of kids.
Oi vey . . . By the end of this, there was just way too much angst . . . I wanted to stop reading right at that point, but I trudged on. The eight kids end up at Phillip's parent's farm in Vermont where Phillip's mother acts as a surrogate for them. (Actually, the allegedly concerned character, Jose, just left his eight brothers and sisters with his boyfriend's mother and had her take care of them!) Blah, Blah, Blah . . . At this point, I just wanted to puke.
Phillip and Jose return to school and there is justified tension from Phillip directed at Jose. Then, Jose forsakes the alleged love that he has for Phillip, and hitchhiked without leaving any detailed note, to get back to Vermont to spend more time with his siblings. No calls, no texts, no nothing. He is nothing more than an unsympathetic selfish brat, who is having people provide everything he needs on a silver platter while causing extraordinary strife in other people's daily lives. I feel no sympathy for Jose because the character's actions are not sympathetic!
Besides the poor story, this book is "dark". When reading each chapter of the book, I had an underlying feeling of sadness with each page that I read, and to be perfectly frank, I didn't like the underlying feeling. I did not care for this book much at all . . . I was originally going to give the book 2.5 stars (and that was just because I've liked the author's prior works), but that would not be a fair review since the book is just not that good. I really disliked almost every element of this book, so I generously give it 1.5 stars and hope that the author does better on the next book.
The author sets the stage in the first chapter of the book -- Jose is going to be a prince-among-men and nearly everyone else that interacts with him is going to be a dickhead. Jose initially play the "poor me" card -- he claims to be so innocent and naive, but, it ends up (to my estimation) that Jose is a completely unsympathetic user. As the story continued, I really began to hate this book.
Let's cut to the chase here -- the two roommates have angst because they are mutually attracted but they have never spoken about their attraction. Finally, after about two months in school, the two young men admit their love for each other and they become inseparable and spend nearly all of their free time together. After spring break, there is a violent confrontation between Jose and his father (who shows up out of the blue) because Jose is gay, and Jose is disowned.
Then, later in the book, Jose's parents go back to Mexico and they can't get back across the US border, and someone has to take care of Jose's eight siblings. Jose's Aunt calls him and tells him that she is dropping off all eight kids for him to take care of, but he has to drive overnight from Brown University to Washington DC to pick up the pack of kids.
Oi vey . . . By the end of this, there was just way too much angst . . . I wanted to stop reading right at that point, but I trudged on. The eight kids end up at Phillip's parent's farm in Vermont where Phillip's mother acts as a surrogate for them. (Actually, the allegedly concerned character, Jose, just left his eight brothers and sisters with his boyfriend's mother and had her take care of them!) Blah, Blah, Blah . . . At this point, I just wanted to puke.
Phillip and Jose return to school and there is justified tension from Phillip directed at Jose. Then, Jose forsakes the alleged love that he has for Phillip, and hitchhiked without leaving any detailed note, to get back to Vermont to spend more time with his siblings. No calls, no texts, no nothing. He is nothing more than an unsympathetic selfish brat, who is having people provide everything he needs on a silver platter while causing extraordinary strife in other people's daily lives. I feel no sympathy for Jose because the character's actions are not sympathetic!
Besides the poor story, this book is "dark". When reading each chapter of the book, I had an underlying feeling of sadness with each page that I read, and to be perfectly frank, I didn't like the underlying feeling. I did not care for this book much at all . . . I was originally going to give the book 2.5 stars (and that was just because I've liked the author's prior works), but that would not be a fair review since the book is just not that good. I really disliked almost every element of this book, so I generously give it 1.5 stars and hope that the author does better on the next book.
May 18, 2018
Ugh. Just Ugh. The best thing about this book is the title. I rolled my eyes so many many times in this book. This is clearly a case where the author has not figured out the "show don't tell" rule.
First of all neither of these characters really feel like college kids. They're both old fuddy duddies. To the point that on his first night in college one of the main characters would so much rather sleep than party that he goes over to the party across the street and gets it shut down. I'm sorry what? Even the most bookish of kids (which this guy is not) still tries to be a party person at least at first in college.
Second the author beats you over the head with the idea of Jose being from an immigrant family, to the point of unbelievability. You'd think he'd never entered a building bigger than a shack before in his life. If he was that immersed in this culture than how is his English so good.
Third to start things off Jose has never really considered his sexuality, he's practically asexual to start this book, always thought he would marry a woman, but's never had a girlfriend or kissed a girl. Yet finds himself suddenly kissing a guy, and has absolutely no problems with it. He's Mexican, talks about how uber masculine his culture is and the way he was raised was. This doesn't bother him at all?
The list could go on and on. All of the "plot twists" were ridiculous in the way they were presented/resolved. I just plain didn't enjoy this book at all. I think the only really cute moment that I liked, even if it was a bit absurd for a character who has gotten a full ride to college to not understand, was when Jose, after a few weeks of scrounging food and practically starving because he has no money, finally shows his scholarship letter to Phillip and Phillip explains that room and board means not only will he be housed, but he'll get food. That was sweet.
First of all neither of these characters really feel like college kids. They're both old fuddy duddies. To the point that on his first night in college one of the main characters would so much rather sleep than party that he goes over to the party across the street and gets it shut down. I'm sorry what? Even the most bookish of kids (which this guy is not) still tries to be a party person at least at first in college.
Second the author beats you over the head with the idea of Jose being from an immigrant family, to the point of unbelievability. You'd think he'd never entered a building bigger than a shack before in his life. If he was that immersed in this culture than how is his English so good.
Third to start things off Jose has never really considered his sexuality, he's practically asexual to start this book, always thought he would marry a woman, but's never had a girlfriend or kissed a girl. Yet finds himself suddenly kissing a guy, and has absolutely no problems with it. He's Mexican, talks about how uber masculine his culture is and the way he was raised was. This doesn't bother him at all?
The list could go on and on. All of the "plot twists" were ridiculous in the way they were presented/resolved. I just plain didn't enjoy this book at all. I think the only really cute moment that I liked, even if it was a bit absurd for a character who has gotten a full ride to college to not understand, was when Jose, after a few weeks of scrounging food and practically starving because he has no money, finally shows his scholarship letter to Phillip and Phillip explains that room and board means not only will he be housed, but he'll get food. That was sweet.
May 26, 2013
I'm going to start off by saying this book was not what I had been expecting. I expected something with some jealousy and maybe a misunderstanding. That only covered a smaller part of the book. Here we had them meeting, falling in love and sharing family experiences together. I liked the book, and for the most part it was good. Some things just threw me a bit.
José and Phillip were a sweet couple, and for the first half of the book I adored them. From what I can gather they were each others first, though it was not described that well. They were so loving and happy with each other. I felt it and it was so nice to read a book about a young couple who could make it work. We leaned about José being the oldest of nine and Phillip being an only child. We meet Phillip's wonderful parents etc...
It started going downhill after From that point it slowly went downhill. Then the kids arrived and I was banging my head and ready to shout at someone. It's not fun when a character annoys you and for me it was Phillip. He know José would do what he did. It was inevitable, and he acted like a baby because of it. It was not a pleasant thing added to that I worried for a while that Phillip would cheat. From what I did read he would have done something if the opportunity had risen.
This book would not be for everyone. As I have stated, I loved the first half and had it finished the way it had started I would have been very happy. Some things just niggled at me. Left me pissed or overall I just wanted something else to happen.
José and Phillip were a sweet couple, and for the first half of the book I adored them. From what I can gather they were each others first, though it was not described that well. They were so loving and happy with each other. I felt it and it was so nice to read a book about a young couple who could make it work. We leaned about José being the oldest of nine and Phillip being an only child. We meet Phillip's wonderful parents etc...
It started going downhill after From that point it slowly went downhill. Then the kids arrived and I was banging my head and ready to shout at someone. It's not fun when a character annoys you and for me it was Phillip. He know José would do what he did. It was inevitable, and he acted like a baby because of it. It was not a pleasant thing added to that I worried for a while that Phillip would cheat. From what I did read he would have done something if the opportunity had risen.
This book would not be for everyone. As I have stated, I loved the first half and had it finished the way it had started I would have been very happy. Some things just niggled at me. Left me pissed or overall I just wanted something else to happen.
May 21, 2013
3.5 Hearts
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/
Michael Murphy brings us a very interesting and engaging story where we get to meet Jose and Phillip, and witness two young men that, though they are the same age, they couldn’t come from more different worlds.
Jose is the firstborn child out of nine of a Mexican family of migrant workers. That means that they had no home as they crisscrossed the country in a van in search of farms with work for a week or in the very rare occasion two. Also being very poor he has never had possessions so when he gets to college all he carries with him is a backpack it a notebook, a romance novel and a t-shirt he found in a trashcan and the clothes on his back.
Ok, so I’ll be honest here and say I was not only astonished with this character, but I just can’t even begin to imagine that it could be real. I know logically, in my head I comprehend that there are people out there that are indeed that poor. Still the very detailed description of Jose’s life, his so simplistic needs, his perspective were astonishing.
When other kids were having a hard time adjusting to the small rooms and non-existent space, Jose had more than he had his entire life. When other kids were trying to find a hole to stuff one more gadget or one more piece of cloth, Jose was utterly bare and oh my God the emotions that sized me when the cold hit hard and mercilessly and the poor guy had only a t-shirt. I’m overwhelmed by that aspect of this story.
Now the exact opposite of Jose, Phillip is not only an only child, but his family is rich; rich as in condo in Manhattan and a farm with a huge mansion in Vermont. Talk about a clash of worlds. Where Phillip whined about the heat, Jose was feeling right at home. Where Philip couldn’t sleep due to noise, Jose was dead to the world what with being raised in a family with nine kids. And the differences continue in a black & white pattern.
And it is like that, in the form of a smooth storytelling, that this read subtly draws you in it and before long you are so engrossed and so wrapped up in its web that you don’t even understand what happened. It doesn’t look like it when you start reading, you don’t even suspect it at the beginning, but you end up swimming deep in a very emotional read and a very sweet romance.
The intensity builds slowly as we get to see our pair become friends from simple roommates. Our heart gets to expand when Phillip reaches out to Jose and in an almost altruistic way gives him a hand for the very basic of needs a human being has, a pillow and a pair of sheets, a sweater to beat the cold and food, because people must eat don’t they? And then we get to feel all warm and cozy when that friendship changes to more and the two young men become the joy of one another. I get to feel the simplistic happiness of the first kiss and the emotional highs from the first “I love you”.
And just as it happens in real life we get to see things go south and everything turning to little pieces of shattering glass with all that entails. The frustration, the angst and the anger are not lost on us at all, we get to experience those along with our protagonists and if you’re partial to one of them you might even come to hate the other at times.
Yes I must say I got really invested in this story. I found it very well written. The know-it-all narrator made a pretty good job giving us the story without the all confusing effects of head-popping. It’s one of the rare occasions that I like this style of writing and even enjoy it. Reminded me old classic books and took me back to my childhood when this was the writing style I encountered most back then. And as I said the story is quite engaging, very romantic and while it made me quite mad with Phillip at some point – I could really beat him if that character was real – that is a fact I appreciate even more. The end itself either was a bit abrupt, or I am a never-satisfying person always wanting more. Either is a possibility, but bottom end I would have loved a peek in the near future. As it is I’m left wondering.
So this is a book for the ever romantic, for those who want to believe that no matter how hard things are and no matter how different two people might be, there is always a possibility of a dream come true as long as you work hard enough for it.
Thommie
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/
Michael Murphy brings us a very interesting and engaging story where we get to meet Jose and Phillip, and witness two young men that, though they are the same age, they couldn’t come from more different worlds.
Jose is the firstborn child out of nine of a Mexican family of migrant workers. That means that they had no home as they crisscrossed the country in a van in search of farms with work for a week or in the very rare occasion two. Also being very poor he has never had possessions so when he gets to college all he carries with him is a backpack it a notebook, a romance novel and a t-shirt he found in a trashcan and the clothes on his back.
Ok, so I’ll be honest here and say I was not only astonished with this character, but I just can’t even begin to imagine that it could be real. I know logically, in my head I comprehend that there are people out there that are indeed that poor. Still the very detailed description of Jose’s life, his so simplistic needs, his perspective were astonishing.
When other kids were having a hard time adjusting to the small rooms and non-existent space, Jose had more than he had his entire life. When other kids were trying to find a hole to stuff one more gadget or one more piece of cloth, Jose was utterly bare and oh my God the emotions that sized me when the cold hit hard and mercilessly and the poor guy had only a t-shirt. I’m overwhelmed by that aspect of this story.
Now the exact opposite of Jose, Phillip is not only an only child, but his family is rich; rich as in condo in Manhattan and a farm with a huge mansion in Vermont. Talk about a clash of worlds. Where Phillip whined about the heat, Jose was feeling right at home. Where Philip couldn’t sleep due to noise, Jose was dead to the world what with being raised in a family with nine kids. And the differences continue in a black & white pattern.
And it is like that, in the form of a smooth storytelling, that this read subtly draws you in it and before long you are so engrossed and so wrapped up in its web that you don’t even understand what happened. It doesn’t look like it when you start reading, you don’t even suspect it at the beginning, but you end up swimming deep in a very emotional read and a very sweet romance.
The intensity builds slowly as we get to see our pair become friends from simple roommates. Our heart gets to expand when Phillip reaches out to Jose and in an almost altruistic way gives him a hand for the very basic of needs a human being has, a pillow and a pair of sheets, a sweater to beat the cold and food, because people must eat don’t they? And then we get to feel all warm and cozy when that friendship changes to more and the two young men become the joy of one another. I get to feel the simplistic happiness of the first kiss and the emotional highs from the first “I love you”.
And just as it happens in real life we get to see things go south and everything turning to little pieces of shattering glass with all that entails. The frustration, the angst and the anger are not lost on us at all, we get to experience those along with our protagonists and if you’re partial to one of them you might even come to hate the other at times.
Yes I must say I got really invested in this story. I found it very well written. The know-it-all narrator made a pretty good job giving us the story without the all confusing effects of head-popping. It’s one of the rare occasions that I like this style of writing and even enjoy it. Reminded me old classic books and took me back to my childhood when this was the writing style I encountered most back then. And as I said the story is quite engaging, very romantic and while it made me quite mad with Phillip at some point – I could really beat him if that character was real – that is a fact I appreciate even more. The end itself either was a bit abrupt, or I am a never-satisfying person always wanting more. Either is a possibility, but bottom end I would have loved a peek in the near future. As it is I’m left wondering.
So this is a book for the ever romantic, for those who want to believe that no matter how hard things are and no matter how different two people might be, there is always a possibility of a dream come true as long as you work hard enough for it.
Thommie
Read
May 26, 2013i like modern books and although this is clearly modern. it feels like i a reading an old book. the way it is written i guess and the fact everyone was so horrible to jose over his being latino. it doesn't really matter anymore and knowing mexican people they are not treated like that.
August 10, 2013
Review with slight spoilers can be found at On Top Down Under Book Reviews.
This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for a fair and honest review.
January 28, 2016
I do not read purely romance novels… at all. But when this was at the top of my BEA haul, I grabbed it to try something new. And it was laughably, hilariously, shockingly bad. It’s like a trashy reality show – so very obviously a train wreck, but slightly fun in how dreadful it is.
I do not take issue with the story, which never promised to be groundbreaking. Two freshmen in college are roommates, one from a life of privilege, the other from poverty, and (shocker!) they fall in love. It is a romance, so there it is.
I do take issue with the writing, which is highly reminiscent of thirteen-year-olds starting out on fanfiction.net. I'm sure anyone who has frequented that site knows what I'm talking about. There are moments in the book when it literally says something to the effect of "Let's just skip over their college exams, trust me, they were hard." That's not how books work! Michael Murphy, you are telling a story, not chatting with your friends over ice cream!
Further reinforcing the idea that the author is merely on the cusp of puberty, he does not seem to have much idea of how college life works. For starters, apparently not a single guy in college ever sleeps in any clothes. Heaven forbid they go to bed in their underwear when they have acquaintances staying over, or when they're moved in with a new roommate. Nope, everyone apparently just walks around letting it all hang out. As someone who has been to college, I can vouch for the fact that occasionally people do wear an item of clothing to sleep in.
So... if you're nostalgic for the shitty fanfics of your youth, or extremely titillated by boys sleeping naked, you might enjoy this. But both the former and the latter can be satisfied online, so there's really very little reason to read this book.
I do not take issue with the story, which never promised to be groundbreaking. Two freshmen in college are roommates, one from a life of privilege, the other from poverty, and (shocker!) they fall in love. It is a romance, so there it is.
I do take issue with the writing, which is highly reminiscent of thirteen-year-olds starting out on fanfiction.net. I'm sure anyone who has frequented that site knows what I'm talking about. There are moments in the book when it literally says something to the effect of "Let's just skip over their college exams, trust me, they were hard." That's not how books work! Michael Murphy, you are telling a story, not chatting with your friends over ice cream!
Further reinforcing the idea that the author is merely on the cusp of puberty, he does not seem to have much idea of how college life works. For starters, apparently not a single guy in college ever sleeps in any clothes. Heaven forbid they go to bed in their underwear when they have acquaintances staying over, or when they're moved in with a new roommate. Nope, everyone apparently just walks around letting it all hang out. As someone who has been to college, I can vouch for the fact that occasionally people do wear an item of clothing to sleep in.
So... if you're nostalgic for the shitty fanfics of your youth, or extremely titillated by boys sleeping naked, you might enjoy this. But both the former and the latter can be satisfied online, so there's really very little reason to read this book.
October 15, 2017
I really enjoyed this book it was engaging and made my eyes mist a few times because of Jose. Phillip I liked even when he was being a brat because all he had to do was try and talk to Jose. I was disappointed at the end I felt it ended abruptly and was expecting it to have a sequel to it but alas no such luck. I also wanted to know if they stayed together and what Jose decided as his major. I was thinking he became an English teacher or an author of children’s books.
January 15, 2021
A perfect example of the characters saving the story. This wasn't my favorite in terms of writing style, but I absolutely adore these guys.
June 1, 2013
If you’re like me, what made you think of buying this book was the title. Then the cover. Then the blurb. Even if you can’t judge a book by its cover, title and blurb, if you do...you will not be disappointed with this book and the price paid for picking it up.
We meet Jose on his first day of college and see through his eyes most of this story. Jose is special. I loved the view of the world from his eyes. One of pain, loss, hunger, poverty and all the things we take for granted in life. He saw behind the curtain, and showed us a hard reality with his struggle and determination to change his life and succeed at almost any cost.
Born and raised in extreme poverty Jose knows all about hunger and what you really need to survive. For him that is family and love. His heart’s desire is to provide for his brothers and sisters. To give them the chance, he is getting, to get an education and hopefully escape the migrant worker life of his parents. Not that he is ashamed of his parents. No, he is full of pride in who he is, and the work he has done in his life.
Then we meet Phillip. He has no concept of the kind of life that Jose has lived. He didn’t know that people in America could experience the kind of poverty where soap is a luxury item. But despite his inability to understand, Phillip is very good at observing. He sees Jose as so much more than just a latino on scholarship. He sees a man, a friend, and then a lover. I was impressed by Phillip’s desire and ability to look past the surface and see deeper into Jose’s story and person. I liked Phillip’s family, at first his father and then his mother. They showed how a man raised in riches can also be grounded and caring.
This book was moving, then cute, and satisfying. Then all of sudden it takes a turn. I was surprised and completely taken off guard with the last third of this story. Several times I had to put it down, but I had to see how the story resolved, so I picked it back up and kept reading. This story will keep you hanging until the last page. I enjoyed it, even when I was angry at Phillip for not seeing a bigger picture, and frustrated at Jose for not believing Phillip was worthy of his attention or faith.
The only thing I didn’t like was that the story felt incomplete. When those magic words “The End” popped up I let off a round of profanity and growled around the house for a day or two. I was so invested in these men and the life that was almost within their reach, that when it ended without ending, it left me torn between crying and screaming.
If I have to get down on my hands and knees and beg for another story about these men, I will. I need more, I have so many questions that need to be answered. I have a tremendous amount of love for Jose and Phillip and I know you will as well.
Reviewed by Beans
We meet Jose on his first day of college and see through his eyes most of this story. Jose is special. I loved the view of the world from his eyes. One of pain, loss, hunger, poverty and all the things we take for granted in life. He saw behind the curtain, and showed us a hard reality with his struggle and determination to change his life and succeed at almost any cost.
Born and raised in extreme poverty Jose knows all about hunger and what you really need to survive. For him that is family and love. His heart’s desire is to provide for his brothers and sisters. To give them the chance, he is getting, to get an education and hopefully escape the migrant worker life of his parents. Not that he is ashamed of his parents. No, he is full of pride in who he is, and the work he has done in his life.
Then we meet Phillip. He has no concept of the kind of life that Jose has lived. He didn’t know that people in America could experience the kind of poverty where soap is a luxury item. But despite his inability to understand, Phillip is very good at observing. He sees Jose as so much more than just a latino on scholarship. He sees a man, a friend, and then a lover. I was impressed by Phillip’s desire and ability to look past the surface and see deeper into Jose’s story and person. I liked Phillip’s family, at first his father and then his mother. They showed how a man raised in riches can also be grounded and caring.
This book was moving, then cute, and satisfying. Then all of sudden it takes a turn. I was surprised and completely taken off guard with the last third of this story. Several times I had to put it down, but I had to see how the story resolved, so I picked it back up and kept reading. This story will keep you hanging until the last page. I enjoyed it, even when I was angry at Phillip for not seeing a bigger picture, and frustrated at Jose for not believing Phillip was worthy of his attention or faith.
The only thing I didn’t like was that the story felt incomplete. When those magic words “The End” popped up I let off a round of profanity and growled around the house for a day or two. I was so invested in these men and the life that was almost within their reach, that when it ended without ending, it left me torn between crying and screaming.
If I have to get down on my hands and knees and beg for another story about these men, I will. I need more, I have so many questions that need to be answered. I have a tremendous amount of love for Jose and Phillip and I know you will as well.
Reviewed by Beans
July 3, 2013
I gave this 3 stars, but it's really somewhere between 2.75 and 3 stars, in my opinion. It is a fair effort at telling the story of two young men from entirely different worlds who meet, fall in love, and manage to stay that way against fairly overwhelming odds, but it suffered from the failure to connect with me on an emotional level. The set-up is a classic opposites attract framework: Phillip is white, old money, and a Northeasterner; Jose is the Latino son of a migrant farmworking family who works incredibly hard to fit into this new world in which he finds himself. They meet on the first day of college at Brown, where they are roommates. Jose and Phillip immediately become friends, and soon thereafter, fall for each other.
The set-up had potential, unfortunately, there were some pretty significant difficulties with the story. First, Jose didn't always ring true as a Latino character. The use of epithets in reference to himself struck me as peculiar -- I don't know how many Latinos would actually describe themselves in the terms that the author used, and I certainly don't know how many would do so in front of non-Latinos. Second, so much of the beginning was set up as a compare/contrast between life as a migrant farmworker and life in an Ivy League university that it prevented me from connecting with the characters themselves. Third, the author didn't seem to grasp the voice, attitude, or tenor of being eighteen, especially the extreme intensity of the feelings that come with that age. Given how quickly and deeply these two fell for each other, I should have felt it in my gut, and I didn't. Fourth, it was shocking that Phillip's parents were so open-minded about the fact that their 18/19-year old son was behaving as if he was married to Jose, when in reality, they probably would have encouraged him to be mindful of the possibility that a college relationship might come to an end.
These problems notwithstanding, the narrative improved toward the middle, once the author settled into the story, but by that point, my emotions were not engaged, and were unlikely to become engaged. Therefore, on balance, once you get into it, it's an okay story, and I wouldn't say it's not recommended. I just can't explicitly encourage everyone to go out and buy it.
The set-up had potential, unfortunately, there were some pretty significant difficulties with the story. First, Jose didn't always ring true as a Latino character. The use of epithets in reference to himself struck me as peculiar -- I don't know how many Latinos would actually describe themselves in the terms that the author used, and I certainly don't know how many would do so in front of non-Latinos. Second, so much of the beginning was set up as a compare/contrast between life as a migrant farmworker and life in an Ivy League university that it prevented me from connecting with the characters themselves. Third, the author didn't seem to grasp the voice, attitude, or tenor of being eighteen, especially the extreme intensity of the feelings that come with that age. Given how quickly and deeply these two fell for each other, I should have felt it in my gut, and I didn't. Fourth, it was shocking that Phillip's parents were so open-minded about the fact that their 18/19-year old son was behaving as if he was married to Jose, when in reality, they probably would have encouraged him to be mindful of the possibility that a college relationship might come to an end.
These problems notwithstanding, the narrative improved toward the middle, once the author settled into the story, but by that point, my emotions were not engaged, and were unlikely to become engaged. Therefore, on balance, once you get into it, it's an okay story, and I wouldn't say it's not recommended. I just can't explicitly encourage everyone to go out and buy it.
June 21, 2013
This book was weird but ended on what I thought was a nice note. José is a son of a migrant worker, is poor, and lives a hard life with no real home and eight brothers and sisters. So when he gets a scholarship he knows it is his ticket to get himself and his siblings a good life. There he meets Phillip a rich kid and so out of his league, together they room together and become close friends.
The writing is very stilted has little flow, and good grief can get so very, very and I repeat very boring. I don't need to read characters eating every five seconds, or them going to class every five seconds or having a shower. The writing was more textbook like and left little to the imagination and personally shows me the author has very little flair for world building and settings.
The characters bordered on cheesy as hell and Phillip and his family were so understanding it kind of hurt. However, the reason why I gave this a three star was because of Phillip. When shit hit the fan for him, his character shone and he said stupid stuff but his anger and pain read real. José was a tit and I still didn't feel he apologised to poor Phillip and used his culture as a getaway card. I know what it's like to come from a culture were certain things are expected from you. However, I felt José did a poor job of actually being honest and sorry for his part.
In any case I'd like to see these guys again, the writing needs more work and the cheesiness needs to stop, but I think I'd like to read them grew together and I can see Phillip still having issues with the way José pushes him away.
The writing is very stilted has little flow, and good grief can get so very, very and I repeat very boring. I don't need to read characters eating every five seconds, or them going to class every five seconds or having a shower. The writing was more textbook like and left little to the imagination and personally shows me the author has very little flair for world building and settings.
The characters bordered on cheesy as hell and Phillip and his family were so understanding it kind of hurt. However, the reason why I gave this a three star was because of Phillip. When shit hit the fan for him, his character shone and he said stupid stuff but his anger and pain read real. José was a tit and I still didn't feel he apologised to poor Phillip and used his culture as a getaway card. I know what it's like to come from a culture were certain things are expected from you. However, I felt José did a poor job of actually being honest and sorry for his part.
In any case I'd like to see these guys again, the writing needs more work and the cheesiness needs to stop, but I think I'd like to read them grew together and I can see Phillip still having issues with the way José pushes him away.
May 27, 2013
Hmmm...This was a very good story. Loved how descriptive the differences between the two MCs, and the reactions of José. The only thing I didn't like was the way José reacted in the end.
I am the fourth oldest of nine (I'm not of Latin descent though lol)- I was raised to think that family was everything too, but even when taking care of younger siblings, you have to take a break from them now and then. If not you'll be driven crazy, burn out, or end up cut off from all other people. In short, your siblings are your whole world and that is not very healthy. I understand where José was coming from by wanting to make sure his family was secure and all, but JFC! I wanted to tie him to a chair and give him a lecture about making time for himself. He should have looked at Phillip's parents. Sure his mother was doing a great thing, but even she needed time to decompress and spend time with her spouse. It's all about balance as Phillip pointed out.
I would have liked to see the meeting between the President and José. You get a glimpse of what might happen but it was left open ended. I also wanted to know what major(s) they decided to go for.
In the end though, it is still a good, solid read. :)
I am the fourth oldest of nine (I'm not of Latin descent though lol)- I was raised to think that family was everything too, but even when taking care of younger siblings, you have to take a break from them now and then. If not you'll be driven crazy, burn out, or end up cut off from all other people. In short, your siblings are your whole world and that is not very healthy. I understand where José was coming from by wanting to make sure his family was secure and all, but JFC! I wanted to tie him to a chair and give him a lecture about making time for himself. He should have looked at Phillip's parents. Sure his mother was doing a great thing, but even she needed time to decompress and spend time with her spouse. It's all about balance as Phillip pointed out.
I would have liked to see the meeting between the President and José. You get a glimpse of what might happen but it was left open ended. I also wanted to know what major(s) they decided to go for.
In the end though, it is still a good, solid read. :)
May 31, 2013
Michael Murphy’s When Dachshunds Ruled the Serengeti is not only a story of opposites attract but it is a story of a clash of cultures. Jose is caught in the middle of that clash of cultures when he enters a prestigious Ivy League college with nothing more than the clothes on his back after a lifetime of being a member of a family of migrant farmers. His roommate, Phillip, is at an advantage having grown up with all of the privileges associated with the society of American middle and upper class, but learning to share his environment with other people is a challenge for him.
Interestingly, the first adjustment Phillip has to make is not with his roommate but with other people like himself. He goes ballistic one night when a party across the street continues past Phillip’s preferred bedtime and keeps him awake. This is just the first indication that Phillip is not as accommodating as Jose.
Becky's complete 4 sweet pea review appears at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....
Interestingly, the first adjustment Phillip has to make is not with his roommate but with other people like himself. He goes ballistic one night when a party across the street continues past Phillip’s preferred bedtime and keeps him awake. This is just the first indication that Phillip is not as accommodating as Jose.
Becky's complete 4 sweet pea review appears at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....
November 25, 2014
A fast read about two young men from different races who meet in their freshman year of college. José has a full scholarship for the college he is now attending. José is poor, he is the oldest of 9 siblings and his family are migrant workers.Jose's family has never had a home, they live in a van and go to different states where the crops are needed to be picked. José is used to hard work but is nervous for anyone finding out his background till he's ready to reveal it.Enter Phillip, José s new roommate. Phillip and his parents arrive in the small dorm room with an abundance of clothes, linens, and electronics. Because he's of Spanish descent, Phillip's mom thinks José is a porter . José takes this in stride, he's use to be mitaken for menial labor or invisible. THis is a story of many harsh truths.The prejudices that some have and the stereotypes that some attribute to other races. This also a story of two young men who find love with each other despite their differences. I ba find it a very good read!
June 17, 2014
It's been awhile since I've written a review. I'm likely to be rusty.
This book leaned more towards a 3 1/2 stars for me. What I loved about the book I really loved but what I hated I really hated.
Pros are that this was a smoothed and richly detailed story. I could easily envision every moment. The characters were well balanced and there were solid secondary characters realistic to the modern world. A very realistic love story.
The cons. The love story was good but the passion between characters not so much. Why are they sticking together when they are clearly able to live apart without issues! I mean wtf. When they do finally realize the other is missing and talk it out I couldn't see how they worked out their differences. The book just didn't feel finished.
This book leaned more towards a 3 1/2 stars for me. What I loved about the book I really loved but what I hated I really hated.
Pros are that this was a smoothed and richly detailed story. I could easily envision every moment. The characters were well balanced and there were solid secondary characters realistic to the modern world. A very realistic love story.
The cons. The love story was good but the passion between characters not so much. Why are they sticking together when they are clearly able to live apart without issues! I mean wtf. When they do finally realize the other is missing and talk it out I couldn't see how they worked out their differences. The book just didn't feel finished.
October 5, 2013
I don't always write reviews but when something bothers me I just can't keep it inside of me.
I liked the idea of the story, and the story line. But, what bothered me the most is the spanish part. There where a lot of errors, soooo many errors that anyone can tell that google translate was used. I hope that if there are any other editions this mistakes would be re-written because for a person that is fluent in that language is like an insult.
There, I said it. I hope M. Murphy doesn't take this badly.
I liked the idea of the story, and the story line. But, what bothered me the most is the spanish part. There where a lot of errors, soooo many errors that anyone can tell that google translate was used. I hope that if there are any other editions this mistakes would be re-written because for a person that is fluent in that language is like an insult.
There, I said it. I hope M. Murphy doesn't take this badly.
December 11, 2014
This one was an impulse buy. I was intrigued by several things- coming of age story, virgin lover, interracial, opposites, and so forth. I found Jose's background growing up as a migrant worker and getting a scholarship to an Ivy League school just too fascinating to pass up. That is as much of the story as the fledgling romance. I enjoyed the realism of the two characters. They have their flaws and make their mistakes. They're relationship was even realistic. Only issue was abrupt ending.
July 30, 2013
Oh, dear. This was not good. Very stilted dialogue, one-dimensional characters, and lots of completely unnecessary detail. The plot touched on some interesting ideas but they weren't explored in any kind of depth.
And Phillip was a complete dick.
And Phillip was a complete dick.
June 27, 2015
Really interesting and different story. The conflict between the MCs was believable and understandable factoring in their different backgrounds. All the supporting characters added momentum to the story. A solid 5 stars for me.
August 4, 2013
Many parts of the book just got on my nerves! Too unbelievable in many places.
February 2, 2016
I really enjoyed this...it was part of my Michael Murphy blitz weekend!!!
February 21, 2016
Great story!
November 24, 2013
Youth in love, sweet story that brings back memories. Oh how I miss the day.
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