Rating: 
Summary: A Rich, Creative Story.
Review: I enjoyed every page of this book. It is a tale of grief and how one man copes in the aftermath of his wife's rather mysterious death. From the premise-an educated linguist attempts to teach his dog, the only witness to his wife's demise, to speak in order to explain to him how it happened-one might assume it's a comedy. It is anything but. It is a tragic love story, the outcome of which we know from page one, but the author cleverly allows the story of this doomed relationship to unfold so that we fall in love with the main characters: Paul the husband/linguist, Lexi the wife/mask artist and Loralei, the Rhodesian Ridgeback and true hero.While his friends and colleagues think Paul is crazy, and to some degree he is, the reader has the benefit of knowing that he is, in actual fact, temporarily consumed with his grief. I think reading this story helped me to understand how each person who grieves over the death of a loved one does so in his or her own way. We want to protect and we can't help but judge, but well, we're all flawed. Who is to say how we would react to the death of our dearly beloved and to what means we'd go to have unanswerable questions answered? I highly recommend this book. In addition to outstanding storytelling, the writing is tight and very readable. Five Stars. From the author of "I'm Living Your Dream Life," McKenna Publishing Group
Rating: 
Summary: A Surprisingly Good Read
Review: A friend of mine told me about this book about a month ago, but did not provide really any storyline. She just said it was good. So, I picked it up before I got on an airplane and had one very enjoyable flight. I was expecting to read 10 pages before take off, fall asleep, and then wake up at landing and maybe read some during the taxi to the gate. Lets just say I never took my nap. Such a nicely done storyline. The quirkiness of it is what keeps you turning the pages and the evolution in the storyline is wonderful. I was warned that this story is slightly depressing, and therefore I'm passing this warning off, but do not let this deter you from reading this book. Can't wait for the next book.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting Concept, But Depressing Overall
Review: I read this book for my book club and found it depressing overall. While the main character went through some interesting adventures, I really didn't like him that much. He seemed a little foolish. I was expecting more of a mystery type book and ending up with a soul searching book. I was not truly entertained through the book and disappointed at the ending, even with the very original "twist".
Rating:
Summary: Could not put down
Review: The Dogs of Babel was a very pleasant surprise for me. I was all set to put this book down following my "90 pages" rule. The very idea of a talking dog seemed ludicrous to me. Am I ever glad that I kept going! I thought Paul and Lexy certainly were not a match made in heaven. Lexy was a very selfish and odd character. I could not see Paul, in all his normalcy and kindness, being even remotely interested in her. Lexy's fascination with masks was even eerier. The entire premise of this book became clear to me about halfway through the book. Paul's desperation with his "Lorelei Project" was simply a reaching out to attempt to make sense of the senseless. In the midst of horrendous grief, we, as humans, will go to incredible (even laughable--as Paul's co-workers found it) lengths to find comfort and answers--even when there are none. Paul risked making a fool of himself and did not care--something I know I can relate to at times of loss. The Dogs of Babel is quite simply just a beautiful love story.
Rating:
Summary: The lost language of dogs
Review: Paul Iverson calls home from work one day to find there has been an accident. His wife Lexy has fallen from a tree in the backyard and died. How and why this happened is unknown; the only witness to the event was their dog, Lorelei. Desperate to make sense of what happened, Paul - a linguist by profession - sets about trying to teach Lorelei to communicate what she saw that day. A long shot to say the least -- even Paul's colleagues are laughing behind his back when they get wind of his project. But the author succeeds in making the reader believe it might be possible. In addition, Paul notices certain incongruities about the house. Are they clues left behind by his late wife, or is his grief causing him to embark on a wild goose chase? The story begins in a surprisingly humorous vein but takes a much darker, even horrific turn about two thirds of the way through, and as such reminded me very much of Amanda Filipacchi's excellent novels. They also share a significant element of wordplay. This is a book which should please mystery fans and language enthusiasts alike.
Rating: 
Summary: Feh!
Review: This is a brilliant premise for a book. But though well written, it's not a satisfying read, to put it mildly.
Rating:
Summary: Great Idea That Doesn't Quite Deliver
Review: THE DOGS OF BABEL begins with a fascinating premise: a woman died from falling out of an apple tree in her backyard. Was it accident, murder, or suicide? There was only one witness - the family dog. Linguist Paul Iverson, the husband of the deceased woman, narrates the story, giving his thoughts as to what might have happened. While trying to solve the mystery, Paul also gives us background on how he and the woman met and married, describing their relationship's highs and lows. Then odd things begin to happen to Paul...letters from prison...strange phone calls... THE DOGS OF BABEL is Carolyn Parkhurst's first novel. I hesitate to be too critical (especially since I'm about to finish my own first novel), but I will say that Parkhurst is an excellent writer. Her descriptions, characters, atmosphere are right on target. For me, the problems are only two: 1 - Parkhurst simply tries to cram too many ideas (although they are great ideas) into one book. There are easily enough ideas here to sustain two books. Confining them to one means that the important elements of the story either don't get the attention they need or they lose significance. 2 - The payoff didn't work for me. It may work for other readers, and it obviously has for some, but I couldn't buy into it. Parkhurst sets up a very difficult premise in the first chapter, one that's tough to deliver upon without descending into absurdity. The solution is not absurd, but it's also not entirely satisfying either, based on the original premise. THE DOGS OF BABEL is both an entertaining read and a page-turner. Although I wasn't wild about the book, Parkhurst's writing is certainly good enough to make me want to read her next book.
Rating:
Summary: Dog Lovers Beware
Review: I absolutely loved this book....until I got to the part about the dogs. I still can't get it out of my mind and have been feeling the urge to hug my dog ever since. It's a shame the author ruined what could have been a wonderful love story. Oh, and by the way, I wonder if Ms. Parkhurst is aware that neither dogs nor humans have the ability to swallow (and therefore eat) without a larynx????? I think she neglected some important research. Not only is the dog mutilation part of this book distasteful, it is also not factual.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the dumbest books I have read in a long time
Review: Ridiculous plot. Poorly drawn, tedious characters. Pretentious prose. How did this book get so many good reviews? A cult that mutilates dogs in an effort to get them to talk? A woman who climbs a tree and jumps out of it as a way of killing herself? The whole stupid trip to Disneyworld. The paper mache mask nonsense. The silliness about rearranging the books. The whole thing with the psychic. If this is what an MFA buys, it's definitely not worth it. ...
Rating:
Summary: Incredible Novel - Anxious for more by Carolyn Parkhurst
Review: I keep a reading journal - I rate the books I read on a scale of 1 - 10. I rated this book a 10. My friends and loved ones all consider me far too critical for my own good - that 10 space is a rarity in my journal.
I dislike reviews that give away the plot - as many of the reviews of this book do.
Read it.
Go in blind.
You will be glad that you did. Perhaps more engaging for creative people, and people who have experience with depression or depressive loved ones. Also strongly recommended to conscientious pet lovers.
| 
