Rating: 
Summary: A terrific and awe-inspiring book.
Review: I had to read "Dogeaters" for my American Literature class during my sophmore year of college. Usually when I have to read for class I get bored very easily, but this book completely astounded me for so many reasons. It is a frank and honest description of the Philippines during the Marcos era. The characters, particularly Rio Gonzago and Joey Sands are believeable and frankly portrayed both in negative and positive lights. I was particularly impressed by the way that Joey was portrayed. It is not often that an author's main character is a sympathetic, homosexual, drug-addicted, male prostitute. Yet the reader feels that he is a real person telling his story to those who would pick up the book. Though the final few chapters became a little hard to follow at first, I read the book at least five times, both straight through and also just passages, and finally developed a sense of what was going on. "Dogeaters" is one of the few books that I loved so much that I actually lent it to someone to read.
Rating: 
Summary: A DIFFICULT READ
Review: I know I was supposed to love this book, but I couldn't finish it. It's fragmented and difficult to read.
Rating:
Summary: Not My Style!
Review: I read Dogeaters by Jessica Hagedorn for a report I have do for English class. I thought it would be helpful and give me different looks on Filipino society, I was wrong.This book was extremely hard to follow. Within the plot were a bunch of little ones, it was hard to keep track of which characters went where. Also Hagedorn used the language of the Filipinos in her book, so often I was very confused about what people were saying. The most disturbing part of this book was the cover. When I bought the book I figured I would recieve it with a cover such as the one pictured, but instead I got this awful picture of a woman on a cross holding a head and a sword, with a child in her womb. The whole thing was very disturbing and I was forced to put my own cover on the book. Overall I would not reccommend this book, unless you're up for a challenging confusing story line, and if you want it for a report on Filipino culture, pick another book.
Rating: 
Summary: Negative
Review: I read this book beacuse of all the good reviews. But I ended up being very disappointed. As a Filipina, I feel that this book gives a very negative portrayal of the people in the Philippines. I don't recommend this book at all.
Rating: 
Summary: Intriguing Glimpse into the modern Phillipino Mindset
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book! While some may complain that Hagedorn's Dogeaters is too fractured to enjoy, I found this fragmentation an asset to Hagedorn's overall message. Through this fragmentation, Hagedorn illustrates that fractured identity that Phillipinos have struggled with throughout history. The Phillipines has never had a strong national identity, and Hagedorn illustrates this beautifully through her many plot twists. Hagedorn also shows that because of this lack of identity, life has become virtually unbearable in the Phillipines, and as a result people resort to many forms of escapism. This can be seen through the frequent use of drug use, and the idolization of public figures. Hagedorn also shows the strong destructive influence of the west, and capitalism, into Phillipino society. However, a word of warning before reading this book: While the fractured plot definitly serves a purpose, it is quite confusing. The many characters seen with no introduction can be quite confusing. However, if you're up for a challenge, Dogeaters is a profound, enlightening, yet disturbing, read!
Rating:
Summary: Intriguing Glimpse into the modern Phillipino Mindset
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book! While some may complain that Hagedorn's Dogeaters is too fractured to enjoy, I found this fragmentation an asset to Hagedorn's overall message. Through this fragmentation, Hagedorn illustrates that fractured identity that Phillipinos have struggled with throughout history. The Phillipines has never had a strong national identity, and Hagedorn illustrates this beautifully through her many plot twists. Hagedorn also shows that because of this lack of identity, life has become virtually unbearable in the Phillipines, and as a result people resort to many forms of escapism. This can be seen through the frequent use of drug use, and the idolization of public figures. Hagedorn also shows the strong destructive influence of the west, and capitalism, into Phillipino society. However, a word of warning before reading this book: While the fractured plot definitly serves a purpose, it is quite confusing. The many characters seen with no introduction can be quite confusing. However, if you're up for a challenge, Dogeaters is a profound, enlightening, yet disturbing, read!
Rating:
Summary: A great read the first time, even better the second time
Review: I was introduced to "Dogeaters" through my Filipino-American Literature class at the community college that I attend. Though it was "required reading", that did not put a dent in my enthusiasm to read this novel. Because I'm at a loss for words, I hope Ms Hagedorn does not think it offensive to compare "Dogeaters" with a pop culture movie, "Pulp Fiction". Please (?!), this is a good thing! =) I thought the artistry of weaving characters and events (in my opinion, real people and places under fictional names; you're a sly one, Ms. Hagedorn!) was masterful. No one could have done the same justice at telling some parts of Filipino history. I had a difficult time trying to follow the events chronologically, but I am glad I was confused at times, so then I could go back and re-read parts. I was surprised at the detail Ms Hagedorn paid to certain events and certain (fictional?!) people, and re-reading "Dogeaters" made me think more about the Philippine government, specifically under the Marcos regime. History (both proud and sad) is brought to life, and it is done intelligently. Thank you, Jessica Tarahata Hagedorn. -from a reader more enlightened of Philippine history and culture after reading your book.
Rating:
Summary: A great read the first time, even better the second time
Review: I was introduced to "Dogeaters" through my Filipino-American Literature class at the community college that I attend. Though it was "required reading", that did not put a dent in my enthusiasm to read this novel. Because I'm at a loss for words, I hope Ms Hagedorn does not think it offensive to compare "Dogeaters" with a pop culture movie, "Pulp Fiction". Please (?!), this is a good thing! =) I thought the artistry of weaving characters and events (in my opinion, real people and places under fictional names; you're a sly one, Ms. Hagedorn!) was masterful. No one could have done the same justice at telling some parts of Filipino history. I had a difficult time trying to follow the events chronologically, but I am glad I was confused at times, so then I could go back and re-read parts. I was surprised at the detail Ms Hagedorn paid to certain events and certain (fictional?!) people, and re-reading "Dogeaters" made me think more about the Philippine government, specifically under the Marcos regime. History (both proud and sad) is brought to life, and it is done intelligently. Thank you, Jessica Tarahata Hagedorn. -from a reader more enlightened of Philippine history and culture after reading your book.
Rating:
Summary: nothing but admiration for ms. hagedorn
Review: i'm filled with envy at the skill with which ms. hagedorn has crafted together all these overlapping yet diverse stories, snapshots, newspaper articles, anecdotes...more things than i can mention! this is more than just a glimpse into philippine culture; it's a thoughtful analysis of politics on the governmental, social, and personal levels.
Rating:
Summary: No Brain Candy in this Escapism
Review: If you liked the movie MAGNOLIA you will love this book. Intertwining the lives of fourteen (sometimes seemingly unrelated) characters, author Jessica Hagedorn weaves a narrative portrait of Marcos-era Philippines with bold images of sex, drugs, dreams, and corruption. Readers take a ride with characters like pretty boy prostitute Joey Sands who sleeps his days away and gets high all night with wealthy johns he picks up at the gay disco. In just pages, Hagedorn switches gears with a look into the lives of adolescent, sexually-repressed girls Rio and Pucha Gonzaga. And interspersed with these plots Hagedorn shares telling clips from the fictional METRO MANILA DAILY and CELEBRITY PINOY; or interviews with The First Lady; or sexcapades of moviestar Lolita Luna; and the list goes on...the reader better keep up with the pace... The effect of this collage style is an overall cinematic and surrealistic quality in the novel. Movies and dreams, which are the "opiates of the people," underscore the book's escapist theme. The one fault of the book, however, is that it is not a movie. A reader should know before taking the plunge that the "escapism," so well explored in this novel, is for the characters only. DOGEATERS demands a lucid, careful reader for full appreciation. This is no brain candy.
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