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Mad Dog Rodríguez Trilogy #2
They Call Me Mad Dog!: A Story for Bitter, Lonely People
What do you do when love goes wrong? If you're Tomato "Mad Dog" Rodriguez, the reigning queen of motorcycle-riding, bicoastal bisexuals, you do every wrong thing there is to do. What starts out as a low-rent revenge complete with whipped cream, Bic ballpoints, and a two-by-four turns into a murder charge. Before Tomato knows what's happening, she's locked away in the Big House with all the rest of the bad, bad, bad girls, hoping Ilsa the Wicked Warden will think she's too crazy to be convicted on a murder charge. They Call Me Mad Dog is a cross between Caged Heat and The Women, a wild and wonderfully hilarious search for the meaning of life and a place to put the cat box.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
March 21, 2011
I want to like these novels way more than I end up liking them. They're so cool looking and
"underground-guerilla-art-shocking" but they end up being "OK" like the rating I gave.
I do, however, like the last paragraph:
"Well, so there's my cautionary tale. Not real sure what the point was, so whatever you got out of it, you got out of it. It's the written equivalent of the Rorschach test. It is what it is. What you didn't get out of it wasn't there.
Live and be well."
"underground-guerilla-art-shocking" but they end up being "OK" like the rating I gave.
I do, however, like the last paragraph:
"Well, so there's my cautionary tale. Not real sure what the point was, so whatever you got out of it, you got out of it. It's the written equivalent of the Rorschach test. It is what it is. What you didn't get out of it wasn't there.
Live and be well."
Read
January 27, 2019This book is an experience! I forget where and when I acquired his book but it was one of those “hey, random books” situations. The other book I acquired with it is a book about Jesuit soup-making and recipes. Which I also can’t really explain...
I would not recommend this book for the faint of heart or stomach, but I will say that I found the odd, irreverent and meandering style only occasionally distracted from a truly weird story. And not in a bad way. It’s a highly queer tale told in a highly queer manner, but from 1998, San Francisco. I’m not sure why this hasn’t been made into a movie yet except that maybe nobody is brave enough? The graphic art, layout, typography is pretty wild stuff, too. Bizarre, disturbing, hot, and amusing, the visual art sprinkled throughout is what really makes this book stand out.
Favorite quote:
“You really can’t trust people like me as part of any kind of social revolution or to even think clearly in the event of an accident. We’re only good at holding the doors open and taking notes.”
Other favorite quote:
“Things that stick out are funny. Breasts stick out and they’re really only funny to guys in bars or twelve-year-old boys with obscene pewter toys. But penises look funnier the way they just hang there dangling alone like flabby little Christmas meats. As long as they’re not pumped full of blood and poking at things, they’re as harmless and cute as a naked mole rat burrowing a hole to call home.”
And if that second quote bothers you, safe to say this book is probably one you might want to skip. It’s not every day you read a naked mole rat simile, though, is it?
I would not recommend this book for the faint of heart or stomach, but I will say that I found the odd, irreverent and meandering style only occasionally distracted from a truly weird story. And not in a bad way. It’s a highly queer tale told in a highly queer manner, but from 1998, San Francisco. I’m not sure why this hasn’t been made into a movie yet except that maybe nobody is brave enough? The graphic art, layout, typography is pretty wild stuff, too. Bizarre, disturbing, hot, and amusing, the visual art sprinkled throughout is what really makes this book stand out.
Favorite quote:
“You really can’t trust people like me as part of any kind of social revolution or to even think clearly in the event of an accident. We’re only good at holding the doors open and taking notes.”
Other favorite quote:
“Things that stick out are funny. Breasts stick out and they’re really only funny to guys in bars or twelve-year-old boys with obscene pewter toys. But penises look funnier the way they just hang there dangling alone like flabby little Christmas meats. As long as they’re not pumped full of blood and poking at things, they’re as harmless and cute as a naked mole rat burrowing a hole to call home.”
And if that second quote bothers you, safe to say this book is probably one you might want to skip. It’s not every day you read a naked mole rat simile, though, is it?
August 1, 2024
so funny… shes like an extremely crass, lesbian (bisexual?), puerto rican kurt vonnegut and it was awesome
April 26, 2016
Why doesn't everyone know about Erika Lopez? Thoroughly entertaining and I'm going to read everything she's written.
May 13, 2020
I truly wanted to like this book. It’s like when you see an interesting person projecting a cool vibe. They appear mysterious and complex, but then open their mouth and disappoint with idiotic & crass comments. Their dullness leaves you wondering how you could have ever thought anything about them was even remotely attractive.
October 4, 2023
Basically a lezzie version of a Bukowski.
I think I would've enjoyed reading this more if it were drawn in a graphic novel format. I found the page layout of the book to be too chaotic for my ADHD brain to process, but I guess it suits the vibe of the story.
I think I would've enjoyed reading this more if it were drawn in a graphic novel format. I found the page layout of the book to be too chaotic for my ADHD brain to process, but I guess it suits the vibe of the story.
March 6, 2017
was entertaining in a deranged sort of way. Rather punk.
January 25, 2019
I can't believe I made it through the whole book that has a typewriter font. It was a good quick read but I don't feel like it taught me anything new.
March 9, 2022
I love Erika Lopez
March 21, 2013
Donated by T.McCarthy, March 2013
I couldn't bring myself to donate this book, but, I found it very important to give it to the CSC library community by virtue of its realness, relevancy to sex and culture as told from the brilliant Erika Lopez who has traveled the world. Her raw accounts are aching to be scratched by your nails--gripping the pages. Sexy, hot, and then some.
Don't steal this book. The illustrations and typesetting alone can be dreadfully ripped from the book and plastered with wheat paste on a bathroom wall as a decorative.
I couldn't bring myself to donate this book, but, I found it very important to give it to the CSC library community by virtue of its realness, relevancy to sex and culture as told from the brilliant Erika Lopez who has traveled the world. Her raw accounts are aching to be scratched by your nails--gripping the pages. Sexy, hot, and then some.
Don't steal this book. The illustrations and typesetting alone can be dreadfully ripped from the book and plastered with wheat paste on a bathroom wall as a decorative.
July 5, 2014
This is one of the weirdest books I've ever read - and I have read some weird shiza.
The story of Tomato and how she maybe might have kinda sorta accidentally killed her girlfriend, though she's pretty sure she didn't. The book covers her stint in jail, the joys of being a telemarketer within the prison system, her job as a penis sculptress, and humane ways to get rid of crabs. Er ..., huh?
But it is also one of the FUNNIEST books I've ever read, with crazy illustrations to go along with it.
If you don't mind graphic language and odd sexual situations, read this book. It rocked.
The story of Tomato and how she maybe might have kinda sorta accidentally killed her girlfriend, though she's pretty sure she didn't. The book covers her stint in jail, the joys of being a telemarketer within the prison system, her job as a penis sculptress, and humane ways to get rid of crabs. Er ..., huh?
But it is also one of the FUNNIEST books I've ever read, with crazy illustrations to go along with it.
If you don't mind graphic language and odd sexual situations, read this book. It rocked.
May 8, 2007
I loved Flaming Iguanas, but I just wasn't feeling this. Maybe I wasn't in the right mood. Maybe I didn't give it a chance. Maybe it was because it began with her working in a dildo factory... Who can say? I'm convinced we'll be reunited someday though, Mad Dog. I haven't given up. Not completely, anyway.
January 20, 2008
This book kept me busy on the bus ride to and from work for a few days. It wasn't spectacular, but it was okay. Entertaining, at least.
I am a bit disappointed by this novel, actually. I really liked Flaming Iguanas and expected Mad Dog to be similarly fun and adventurous. Not so. I still found it to be worth reading, just not mesmerizing.
I am a bit disappointed by this novel, actually. I really liked Flaming Iguanas and expected Mad Dog to be similarly fun and adventurous. Not so. I still found it to be worth reading, just not mesmerizing.
July 1, 2019
part deux of the Tomato Rodriguez trilogy (as it says in the title) and I don't know, it's not my favorite. It's definitely not as frantic as the first or as moving as the last. It's not like Empire Stikes back at all. More like Rocky II. You need it in order to have you know, Rocky III.
November 29, 2013
Second in the trilogy, read Flaming Iguanas first, then this, and then Hoochie Mama.
I read this before I ever read anything by her and it stands perfectly well on its own. Hilarious and scathing.
I read this before I ever read anything by her and it stands perfectly well on its own. Hilarious and scathing.
January 28, 2009
A crazy, perverse thrill ride with a half nuts lesbian named Tomato Rodriguez who is a penis sculpture by trade and ends up in jail after abducting her ex-girlfriend with a can of whipping cream. One of the nastiest and most fun books I've read in a while.
October 1, 2010
This is the first book I've given 5 stars in a loooooong time. Her humor is better than Margaret Cho and Sarah Silverman combined. The book is written like a zine, except that it doesn't bore you to death or make you want to kill the person who wrote it.
October 7, 2010
For me as a non-native speaker, They call me mad dog was more difficult to read than its predecessor Flaming Iguanas. I can't quite explain why, maybe there were more allusions I didn't understand. Anyway, a book very well worth to read!
September 4, 2013
I read this in college after stumbling across the first book. I really liked her graphic design skills and lay out and the pictures and text mixed in together but the story didn't do much for me at all. It's been years; I was impressionable.
June 20, 2007
Best book in the series. Must read!
July 23, 2007
Laugh your ass off funny. Read this!!
December 4, 2007
again, hilarious like flaming iguanas. more fabulous images.
June 5, 2008
ERIKA LOPEZ, I LOVE YOU!
December 7, 2008
This book is so wrong that it circles all the way back around to being right. I like it the way I like Dunn's Geek Love, gasping all the way, thinking oh no she didn't?!?!
May 17, 2010
Weird enough that I couldn't stop reading it. Not sure I'd recommend it to anyone specific.
July 27, 2011
This book was was so much fun to read. It has everything a girl can want: lesbian sex, fake penises, circumcision, and revenge.
December 30, 2014
Based on the story alone, I'd give this book a solid three star rating. However, the kitschy drawings inside make this book well worth the $13 I paid for it.
February 3, 2016
totally whacked funny--progressive potty mouth--think Margret Cho-- times x 3....
December 31, 2024
i will not be reading the third one. i’ll just say that. also my used copy of this had pubes lodged in the spine on pretty much every page
August 21, 2013
The only thing better than books with pictures...pop-up books.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews