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DOG POUND
Azroy, a rising star in the underground boxing circuit, fights the battle of his life when his opponent dies in the ring under mysterious circumstances.
Caught in a web of deceit, he then begins to live on the run while he attempts to uncover what's really going on.
But can he really win this fight, now that his opponent is the law?
Click here for preview chapters
Caught in a web of deceit, he then begins to live on the run while he attempts to uncover what's really going on.
But can he really win this fight, now that his opponent is the law?
Click here for preview chapters
- GenresThriller
252 pages, Paperback
First published September 24, 2014
3 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Mamü Vies
3 books3 followersBorn and raised in Klang, Malaysia, Mamü spent a bulk of his life as that square peg stuck in a round hole. To cope with this, he divided his time between daydreaming, reading, and watching movies. After more than a decade of rehabilitation and a botched attempt to reintegrate into society, he decided to return to the one place where he was ever truly happy: the right hemisphere.
His influences include Quentin Tarantino and Ken Kesey, whose classic 1962 novel One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest became the final push he needed to pursue writing as a career.
His influences include Quentin Tarantino and Ken Kesey, whose classic 1962 novel One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest became the final push he needed to pursue writing as a career.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 4, 2017
Xaviour, the unsung hero.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2015
For local fight action novel,its quite interesting to read,the pace is good,adrenaline also great..thanks Fixi n Mamü
January 2, 2015
This may sound like the Malaysian version of Fight Club, but it is not. Despite the medium rating I give this book, I would hardly discourage anyone from reading it. On the contrary, this book has an unpretentious writing style that makes it easy for people like me to open my heart to read it. Appropriate humour, though slightly bordering at trying too hard (the Dr. Xaviour on a wheel chair character), works for me. The funny bits really are funny, and the sarcasm on a few obnoxious behaviour made me smirk. And when the writer describes a guy giving and getting punches, you feel it.
[WARNING: SPOILERS BEGIN HERE]
Fresh - that's the word I'd use to describe the idea of the story. A Malay guy with little education, which doesn't give him much opportunity to get a high-paying white collar job, making good money while he can in illegal fight syndicates, all happening in the southern part of peninsular Malaysia. I love the fact that the writer uses local physical settings, for a reader like me who doesn't read much local fiction, I find identifying with familiar grounds strengthens the imagery effect in my mind, providing stronger motivation to keep reading.
I liked it, but the only reason I don't find it utterly amazing is because the I find the plot unconvincing from the second half. The people at the Dog Pound where the murder happened should've squirmed and ran away immediately to save themselves, not try to catch the person who seemed to have committed murder in front of everyone. I don't know about anyone else but if I were at a place where I wasn't even supposed to be, I'd get rid of the evidence that I was there as much as I could. I certainly wouldn't be staying put to chase an alleged murderer to help the police later, hahaha!
And then it kinda spiraled downwards from there. Granted that the plot thickened with more characters and messier pursuits, but some additional characters were less (or not even) necessary. The Han character was an interesting plot twist, tho he could use a foreshadowing much earlier in the plot. Too many bad guys could also ruin the plot momentum in a short novel, it kinda throws me off at guessing which one's gonna die first. Speaking of who dies, I kinda expected the twins to provide more emotional strain for the main character by dying because of him, or suffer a great deal at least. The twins and his talent scout, Jocelyn, didn't convince me that they were important, despite appearing a lot in the book in the first half. Rather than extending their existing roles, we get extra unfamiliar characters instead which kinda short-lives the emotional investment in the characters that appeared from the beginning.
All in all, it was an enjoyable leisure read. I get bored easily reading fiction, especially when the plot no longer makes a lot of sense, so the fact that I finished reading it (twice) means it is sufficiently riveting and not disappointing. Perhaps I'll consider reading more FIXI books if they produce more books like this.
[WARNING: SPOILERS BEGIN HERE]
Fresh - that's the word I'd use to describe the idea of the story. A Malay guy with little education, which doesn't give him much opportunity to get a high-paying white collar job, making good money while he can in illegal fight syndicates, all happening in the southern part of peninsular Malaysia. I love the fact that the writer uses local physical settings, for a reader like me who doesn't read much local fiction, I find identifying with familiar grounds strengthens the imagery effect in my mind, providing stronger motivation to keep reading.
I liked it, but the only reason I don't find it utterly amazing is because the I find the plot unconvincing from the second half. The people at the Dog Pound where the murder happened should've squirmed and ran away immediately to save themselves, not try to catch the person who seemed to have committed murder in front of everyone. I don't know about anyone else but if I were at a place where I wasn't even supposed to be, I'd get rid of the evidence that I was there as much as I could. I certainly wouldn't be staying put to chase an alleged murderer to help the police later, hahaha!
And then it kinda spiraled downwards from there. Granted that the plot thickened with more characters and messier pursuits, but some additional characters were less (or not even) necessary. The Han character was an interesting plot twist, tho he could use a foreshadowing much earlier in the plot. Too many bad guys could also ruin the plot momentum in a short novel, it kinda throws me off at guessing which one's gonna die first. Speaking of who dies, I kinda expected the twins to provide more emotional strain for the main character by dying because of him, or suffer a great deal at least. The twins and his talent scout, Jocelyn, didn't convince me that they were important, despite appearing a lot in the book in the first half. Rather than extending their existing roles, we get extra unfamiliar characters instead which kinda short-lives the emotional investment in the characters that appeared from the beginning.
All in all, it was an enjoyable leisure read. I get bored easily reading fiction, especially when the plot no longer makes a lot of sense, so the fact that I finished reading it (twice) means it is sufficiently riveting and not disappointing. Perhaps I'll consider reading more FIXI books if they produce more books like this.
January 2, 2015
Page turner. Mengaplikasikan konsep 1Malaysia. Tahniah kepada penulis sebab setiap babak action diceritakan dengan penuh detail, terasa macam tengok movie. Dahi ikut berkerut bila baca part action.
Overall, aku puas hati baca.
Overall, aku puas hati baca.
September 15, 2020
I rate this book 3.5 stars. I would like to thank the author for writing this beautiful thriller. This is the first time I read something about boxing & the story really fascinates me in many ways.
I enjoyed the first 2/3 of the book. The main character, Roy, is relatable and real. His struggles to become a rising boxing star is well-written & hooks me instantly. Subsequent conflicts lead slowly to the climax. The author has installed time & date on each chapter and it greatly helps me to navigate through this action-packed debut.
However, I feel a bit bored & clueless towards the remaining 1/3 of the story. There, the author highlights characters such as Han, Xaviers, Rusdi & many more in the plot. Hence it starts to get congested & convoluted till the end. I have loss track of Roy and his roles in it. Also, the use of flashback somewhat distort the flow of the story. The ending is satisfactory.
Overall, this is a good thriller with well-developed plot and vivid description of its setting & atmosphere. Writing fiction (especially thriller/horror/sci-fi/romance) is not easy. One mistake and the story collapses on it's own. I like the simple language and realistic dialogues. I believe the author is a very talented writer. I will read other books by this author.
I enjoyed the first 2/3 of the book. The main character, Roy, is relatable and real. His struggles to become a rising boxing star is well-written & hooks me instantly. Subsequent conflicts lead slowly to the climax. The author has installed time & date on each chapter and it greatly helps me to navigate through this action-packed debut.
However, I feel a bit bored & clueless towards the remaining 1/3 of the story. There, the author highlights characters such as Han, Xaviers, Rusdi & many more in the plot. Hence it starts to get congested & convoluted till the end. I have loss track of Roy and his roles in it. Also, the use of flashback somewhat distort the flow of the story. The ending is satisfactory.
Overall, this is a good thriller with well-developed plot and vivid description of its setting & atmosphere. Writing fiction (especially thriller/horror/sci-fi/romance) is not easy. One mistake and the story collapses on it's own. I like the simple language and realistic dialogues. I believe the author is a very talented writer. I will read other books by this author.
November 20, 2017
I'm a Malaysian and this is the first novel that i'm reading that is written by a local author. I was looking through the shelves of my local bookstore and found DOG POUND. Upon reading the synopsis, it got me interested and so i bought the book.
And oh my, i didn't regret picking up the book. I was hooked from beginning till the end. The author, Mamü Vies, has done a great job in writing this. He captured the Malaysian spirit and feel by describing in great detail of the locations the characters move through.
The dialogue also helped keep the Malaysian feel electrifying throughout the plot. It's sharply realised and crafted.
The plot of the novel is also well crafted with interesting characters to boot, suspenseful sequences and well written action scenes.
The only problem i had with the novel is that i felt that the climax was rushed and it didn't pack as much punch as the events that unfolded before.
Overall, DOG POUND is a damn good read. I would see myself reading this again.
And oh my, i didn't regret picking up the book. I was hooked from beginning till the end. The author, Mamü Vies, has done a great job in writing this. He captured the Malaysian spirit and feel by describing in great detail of the locations the characters move through.
The dialogue also helped keep the Malaysian feel electrifying throughout the plot. It's sharply realised and crafted.
The plot of the novel is also well crafted with interesting characters to boot, suspenseful sequences and well written action scenes.
The only problem i had with the novel is that i felt that the climax was rushed and it didn't pack as much punch as the events that unfolded before.
Overall, DOG POUND is a damn good read. I would see myself reading this again.
December 26, 2019
Average guy who have to use his fighting skills to survive. Once he entered the dog pound, he quickly recognise and rise up to the attention of 'bigger fish'.
Trapped and injured, he must find a way to get out from the fixed and evil underground world before too late.
I like how the writer explained in detail how the fighting movement, and most of all the fighting using bare hands.
Trapped and injured, he must find a way to get out from the fixed and evil underground world before too late.
I like how the writer explained in detail how the fighting movement, and most of all the fighting using bare hands.
June 7, 2022
A good first and second act. But an underwhelming third act.
January 24, 2015
I dont know why but throughout the story, aku teringat boss aku tengah handle kes a man yang fight with another man in an interview just because to get a job as a bodyguard. And he accidentally killed that man in that fight. It is a real story though. Similar to this, tak mustahil pun orang kena aniaya macam ni. I know it was only fiction, tapi tak mustahil pun terjadi. And lagi satu, nanti kalau mamu vies dengan nadia khan kahwin and dapat anak, agaknya ada tak orang tanya diaorang nak tak anak diaorang jadi penulis? Both of them write very well man! And one more thing, aku imagine cerita gangster melayu yang berlatar belakangkan tempat tempat di Malaysia tapi watak cakap english. Eching ah. Boleh tahan kelakar jugak.
December 13, 2014
At first my thought for this book was something more like CSI-related but it wasn't. The protagonist was a fugitive after the incident, by the time passed, the truths were gradually uncovered by many encounters.
The mystery began after finishing out about half book of reading. Got to revert quite often by the dates and time following the stories.
The plots are a bit predictable at the beginning, but a lot of suspense later on, may want to find out what will happen next, page by page till the end of the book. A real fun reading book. And yet this is another inspirational 1Malaysia book.
The mystery began after finishing out about half book of reading. Got to revert quite often by the dates and time following the stories.
The plots are a bit predictable at the beginning, but a lot of suspense later on, may want to find out what will happen next, page by page till the end of the book. A real fun reading book. And yet this is another inspirational 1Malaysia book.
February 11, 2015
There is much to commend in Mamu Vies novel of the boxing underground in Malaysia. It felt very well researched. It was very readable: the plot really moves, the dialogue is crisp, and each scene is sharply realised. I found it rather too violent for my personal taste (it isn't easy to read scenes with your eyes shut!), but enjoyed the writing and the local setting.
October 4, 2014
A real page-turner.
February 20, 2015
Just .. okay .
December 7, 2014
Fight Club versi Melayu.
sort of.
sort of.
March 20, 2016
Local box scene. Nama Roy tu lagend sangat. Okay lah buku ni buat you tak jemu baca. Tapi ending dia tak berapa best. I hope Roy berjaya escape tapi end up dia locked up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2016
Read a review on Mose Conway's World of Books
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April 9, 2017Dog Pound by Mamu Vies isn't a new book, but it still packs a punch. Even if you know close to nothing about boxing (like me), you'll be able to enjoy Dog Pound, as Mamu describes every move with detail. Some action-packed novels make me cringe at how loosely the fight scenes were written, but that's not what you get with Dog Pound. It's like you're watching every fight scene in your head, directed by Mamu Vies himself.
However, I had some issues with the characters in the novel. For example, I wish Roy's back-story had a bigger impact on his conflict. I guess I was hoping that Roy's grandfather had a connection to his issues with Rusdi. Or maybe Ikram. Or the Dato'. I also hoped that Roy's character would grow in some way; seeing as he never really had a person he could trust, but now he had Han. I understand why Mamu might not have focused on that, seeing as Dog Pound is a gritty action-packed novel. I did, however, like that Roy realised that he needed to play by his own rules and just take the leap. It was nice character growth.
Jocelyn's character needed more building. I didn't really sympathise with her because readers don't get to see her enough. Of course, the idea of Jocelyn's character, a cute yet tough promoter for underground boxing, is definitely interesting. I love Han & Xaviour. These two are so loveable, and they're a great contrast to Roy's character. Rusdi & Sham were also wonderfully written. I was swearing at them throughout the whole book, especially near the ending.
When asked about the novel, @mamuvies responded:
“Dog Pound itself is only like, 5% real; i.e. Inspired by after-hours kickboxing sparring sessions between friends. And I felt if Dog Pound was to happen for real, it could only happen either in Klang, or the Malaysia-Thailand border.”
"[Dog Pound] will confirm your worst fears about Klang." – Amir Muhammad
Dog Pound is the type of novel you read to get your adrenaline pumping. It's gonna make YOU want to start boxing (or killing people).
SPOILER ALERT:
I am annoyed with Han's death, not so much because he died, but because he deserved more than to just die with the description of gunshots. I also wish that the Dato' was harder to kill. Like when you play a video game, you expect the final boss to be super difficult to beat. And finally, I really wish Roy would have done his grandfather justice and not landed himself in jail OMG come on lah weh Roy. Sheesh!
http://projekfrekuensi.weebly.com/dog...
However, I had some issues with the characters in the novel. For example, I wish Roy's back-story had a bigger impact on his conflict. I guess I was hoping that Roy's grandfather had a connection to his issues with Rusdi. Or maybe Ikram. Or the Dato'. I also hoped that Roy's character would grow in some way; seeing as he never really had a person he could trust, but now he had Han. I understand why Mamu might not have focused on that, seeing as Dog Pound is a gritty action-packed novel. I did, however, like that Roy realised that he needed to play by his own rules and just take the leap. It was nice character growth.
Jocelyn's character needed more building. I didn't really sympathise with her because readers don't get to see her enough. Of course, the idea of Jocelyn's character, a cute yet tough promoter for underground boxing, is definitely interesting. I love Han & Xaviour. These two are so loveable, and they're a great contrast to Roy's character. Rusdi & Sham were also wonderfully written. I was swearing at them throughout the whole book, especially near the ending.
When asked about the novel, @mamuvies responded:
“Dog Pound itself is only like, 5% real; i.e. Inspired by after-hours kickboxing sparring sessions between friends. And I felt if Dog Pound was to happen for real, it could only happen either in Klang, or the Malaysia-Thailand border.”
"[Dog Pound] will confirm your worst fears about Klang." – Amir Muhammad
Dog Pound is the type of novel you read to get your adrenaline pumping. It's gonna make YOU want to start boxing (or killing people).
SPOILER ALERT:
I am annoyed with Han's death, not so much because he died, but because he deserved more than to just die with the description of gunshots. I also wish that the Dato' was harder to kill. Like when you play a video game, you expect the final boss to be super difficult to beat. And finally, I really wish Roy would have done his grandfather justice and not landed himself in jail OMG come on lah weh Roy. Sheesh!
http://projekfrekuensi.weebly.com/dog...
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews