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Summary: The dialect....
Review: This book's dialect is too hard to read! Example: "Awreet. Dem durgs's deed bah noo." And that is only one sentance! The diolect was so bad, I had to quit reading this book. Donot get this book. I strongly suggest Watership Down, a much better book.
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Summary: Best Book I have ever read
Review: This was the best book I have ever read. Yes I am against animal testing and Snitter and Rowf show how animals must view the world they were born into. After reading this book I think and Hope that people will view animal testing in a different light.
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Summary: Doggie vision
Review: I really enjoyed the point of view of this tale, that is, the world (and humans) seen through the eyes of a dog. The dogs are not overly anthropomorphised; they have very doglike thoughts. Being a dog owner, I found much of it very amusing.This book has one of the most creatively constructed endings I have ever read. The reader closes the book on one ending, with the understanding that the more likely ending to the story is one that concluded earlier, and you can take away what you like.
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Summary: Okay for a Propoganda Piece
Review: "The Plague Dogs" exists solely to condemn scientists who conduct medical research on animals. By anthropomorphizing dogs and other animals from a research lab, Adams hope to convince readers that medical testing on live animals is wrong. I wonder if Adams (or anyone opposed to animal testing) thinks that it's a shame that we have antibiotics and vascular surgery. Neither would exist (along with most modern medicine)without animal research. Given that the book is written on a false premise, it's very readable. Adams is a good storyteller, and the book is generally interesting if a bit treacly. It is, however, filled with difficult Scottish dialect. My verdict: It's a decent read as long as you remember that dogs don't talk and they don't reason and that the author has an agenda.
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Summary: No "Babe" Here
Review: From the novel written by Richard Adams. This is the heartbreaking story of two dog pals who escape from an animal concentration camp (oops), I mean a laboratory, where they are victims of heinous experiments. One has been slowly lobotomized, the other having been subjected to fatigue testing. The lab techs, referred to by the duo as "whitecoats," daily dump this poor pooch in a swimming pool and watch sadistically as he treads water until he exhausts himself and begins to drown, only to fish him out, revive him, and start the whole process over again. Once they escape, the two begin their adventure of searching out a fantastical place they have only dreamt of, but the evil whitecoats have put the word out that the dogs are infected with a plague so that, not only will no one help them but, they quickly become public enemy number one. This is one of the most powerful movies ever made, period. It is a prime example of what animation is intended for. Even with today's "Babe"-type talking animal effects, this film retains its' drama solely thanks to it being a "cartoon." You may be emotionally drained in the end, but this film will stick with you for a lifetime.
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Summary: A much needed account of animals in research!
Review: Adams is a fantastic author with great insight into non-human animals.To understand what he has done here, you must understand what role animals play in scientific research. Chemicals come with material safety data sheets, or MSDSs which include toxicity information. These toxicity measures,LD50(Lethal dose,50%) and TLV(threshold limit value)are derived from exposing animals to injections of the chemical or by respirating it until a specified percentage of the animals die. LD50 means that at this concentration of chemical, 50% of the animals die. TLV is the concentration of gas or vapor at which breathing that chemical causes death.So for every chemical introduced, a population of animals must die. Animal testing is a prerequisite for commercial manufacture of a chemical under the Toxic Substances Control Act of the 1970s overseen by EPA.And similar research is required by the FDA in introducing new drugs for medical use.
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Summary: An adult read
Review: My first instinct was to claim that whilst this book is wonderful, it does not quite meet the precedent set by "Watership Down". However, this is not really the case. "The Plague Dogs" is simply a far more adult, mature read than "Watership" and whilst it can by no means be described as easy reading, it is certainly worth that extra bit of concentration. The writing style is amazing as always, and the storyline gripping and fascinating. Adams' ability to switch from the perspective of the two dogs, Rowf and Snitter, to the humans is incredible. The book's witty contributions, gripping story line and happy ending make a wondeful story without diminishing any of the underlying concerns. It is an incredible masterpiece, and should be devoured eagely by dog-lovers and book-lovers alike!
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Summary: Wow!
Review: This was a great book, as is Watership Down. I enjoy Richard Adam's ability to write books based on animals affected by human flaws. The Plauge Dogs clearly illustrates a major problem and how two dogs are affected with it through out their lives. I think that anyone who enjoyed Watership Down will find this book fantastic, and anyone who has not read any of Richard Adam's books will find him a great author.
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Summary: Amazing, genius
Review: I have read this book twice and both times came away with a sense of awe. The feelings and thoughts I had after reading this book surely focused on the ill treatment of animals and the ill treatment of other human beings. I also am still thinking about the many different asides the author seemed to have that were funny, sad, ironic, horrific, uplifting, and depressing. Richard Adams tackles the ultimate complexities of mere human existence and what it means to us and animals in so many ways. I have not quite sorted it out even now. Of course we are inflicting undeserved and unnecessary pain on animals and ourselves but we are also able to change and learn and evolve. Realizing the bad even evil and the good at the same time is a task so many can not do. Richard Adams does this. He even has two endings for those of us who can only deal with one or the other (but even these are both) He seems to speak to us with several voices and I am trying to take them all in. Even he gets carried away with his vast undertaking and has to speak out as himself, or so it seems. I LOVE this book. It is my favorite and I honestly can not say the many reasons why. Give me some years to think about it.
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Summary: Brilliant, absolutely heart-rending story
Review: This has got to be the best novel I've ever read, and I've read a lot. It is the sheer quality of Richard Adam's insight and imagination that makes this stand out. Two dogs, Snitter and Rowf escape into the isolation of the wilderness, and from there Adams paints an emotional and stark painting of the two dogs' suffering. Snitter's story of his life with his master is really heart-rending and all the characters are meticulously portrayed. The main complaint about this book is that his prose can get a bit intense at times, and I admit it took a while to get flowing in Adams's narrative. Get past that and you'll come to appreciate the thoroughness and beauty of his writing. In addition to being emotive and suspenseful this is a brilliant attack on animal experimentation and how we (humans) can be so cruel and irrational, and really if you miss this, you miss the book!!
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