The Dog Stars Book Reviews

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100 Words or Less. Post-apocalyptic nonsense. Ten years after devastating pandemics, most survivors are small clumps of marauders? Historically, that’s simply false. Even in the darkest eras, communities have come together for common good and protection. Yet in Heller’s world, everyone reverts to wolf packs … and with intact infrastructure, farmland, and ample supplies? The author ignores a basic premise: dead people leave behind plenty of useable stuff and humanity has always been adaptable. That’s a shame. Heller works hard to get us to care about his characters. However, with this major plot flaw (and a handful of smaller ones) it’s wasted.

Quietly Sad. This was a simple, beautiful book. It was profoundly sad, and another reviewer compared it to The Road. This story did not quite reach that pathos, but it was still heartbreaking. I was especially enamored of the swatches of poetry ribboned throughout the text. At the end of the world, those few of us that are left, I hope will look back on humankind and recall the quiet power of language and poetry and how it shaped us all.

Gut Level Writing. Some reviews have said this book was a little slow in places. I don't think that is true. Without giving anything away, there must be mostly interior dialog in a post apocalyptic world that is largely barren of a big cast of characters. Very entertaining....I read it in one night, couldn't put it down. This must be what it would be like in reality under such conditions. Not like some Rambo BS extravaganza.

Dog stars. Beautifully written book!

The Dog Stars. A page-turner about manly men who have suffered deeply, and yet somehow find the strength to live on, to fish, to demonstrate mastery with guns and airplanes, to have a best canine friend,and, of course, to bed down beautiful women. Way too Hemingwayesque in rhapsodizing about fishing. I suppose, for some, fishing really is a spiritual/poetic quest. I find this attitude self-indulgent and the writing uninteresting. The prose style felt derivative - of Hemingway and Cormac McCarthy. It reads fluently, and is not annoying, but still... Bottom line: This book did not move me with the force of literature. The tone and content are too serious to be considered "light entertainment," but this book is mere entertainment, nonetheless.

Dystopia at its best!. Couldn't put it down. I've read similar dystopian books like The Road and the World Without Us and this is by far my favorite of this sub genre yet.

Starts Awkward, finishes Strong. LOVELY!. The author starts the book in a halting style -- because the narrator has had a brain injury and his jerky inner thoughts are the dialogue. Once i got past that (and sometimes it was confusing) the book took off and i couldn't put it down. READ IT.

The Dog Stars. Loved it. An engrossing, quick, satisfying read for those seeking pure escapism.

Worth reading. Interesting little book that kept me up for a few night reading.

Excellent!. This was one of the best books I've read all year--and I read a lot of books.

The Dog Stars. Wonderful book. Unique style and story

The Dog Stars. This is an extraordinary book by a very skilled writer. We rad of Hig, a survivor in a post apocalyptic world who struggles to made sense of his experience. Hig, who has lost all those dear to him and must face the unexpected loss of his faithful dog, his sole companion from his earlier life. Nthe first part of the book is gripping, even astonishing in many places in spite of some of the contrived writing. Clearly Heller has great potential as a writer. Unfortunately, the book falls apart in the second half when Hig flies off in his Cessna with insufficient fuel to return. Too bad that he discovers a father with a beautiful daughter living in an Eden-like setting. Off we go to a fairly tale ending that ties all the issues up so neatly. What a disappointment that Heller fell prey to such a hollow romantic notion! I hope that his future writing will tell of characters and events that come closer to real life. Well written, often soaring prose, but a crash landing as it ends.

The Dog Stars. A similar world, less dark, less shattered than Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road”, but dark nonetheless, with the faint fragile hope of healing, like a momentarily guttering flame before it rises up again to grow and give more light. Keepin’ this book. As the various ravages of “Overshoot” tear through the fragile complexity of industrial civilization and this book proves, at least in it’s essence to be prophetic, I will read it again with pleasure.

Anything by Peter is good!. He is definitely a skilled writer, and very different! This is one of my favorite books!

Fantastic read. Brilliant

Post Apocalyptic. This post apocalyptic fiction shows a violent world, where the survivors seem to have lost their humanity. Against the odds, the main character manages to keep his intact (mostly). The author's stylistic choice is unusual. For instance, dialogue isn't put it quotes, so sometimes it's a struggle to figure out if the characters are actually speaking, or if I'm reading internal thoughts. The main character's brain has been fried due to the plague, so the reader is supposed to allow the narrator to get away with it. Most of the time it works, but sometimes I found it annoying. Grief, love, loss, violence, hope . . . it's all here. I took away a positive message about the indomintable human spirt.

Second time around. I just reread this. It was sadder since I knew what was coming but even better than the first time. Instead of 'flying along' in the 'I can't wait to read what happens next' mode, I was able to listen to the lyrical language of the protagonist. Pause with his 'Buts'. And enjoy Hig's journey, not just the end.

Loved it!. So unusual, weird punctuation and stream of consciousness writing....just wonderful!

Couldn’t read it fast enough but didn’t want it to end.. Fantastic read about life after catastrophe. A well written story that I could not put down. An interesting setting that makes you realize how beneficial a secure perimeter is in a survival scenario. I would rate this right up there with “one second after” and the “going home” series.

The Dog Stars. Wild and imaginative. Who would know The End would look like this? There's terror and optimism and wonder in this terrific novel about love, human nature and the endless curiosity of being human. I loved it.

Excellent read!. My favorite book from Peter Heller so far.

Beautiful!. Loved seeing the world through Hig's eyes. Beautifully written.

Fantastic read. Unlike other reviews this book is not overwritten. Actually this book could have gone different directions and might have been over 1000 pages long which would have been fine by me. Great character build out but not as dark as a book like The Road. If you enjoyed doomsday books like I do then this book is definitely recommended.

Slow at times but well worth the money!. As a consequence of being a story about a world where only a few survived, I found this book a bit slow in the beginning. Only 2 characters and a dog for quite awhile. That did tend to make the "action scenes" page turners though and the story line did pick up and justified it's early lethargy. Also, the book is presented from the protagonists point of view, that is to say his thoughts. In his head. Sometimes distracting but I felt it tended to emphasize the state of mind one would be in several years after the whole world died. For me it was a wholly satisfying story and worth the money!

A good read. I definitely enjoyed the book.

Survival versus Living. Hig struggles with what life has become since the world changed. It's all about survival in the new world but he strives for more... Great story, both heartbreakingly brutal and triumphantly euphoric. Couldn't put it down.

Weak ending. Enjoyed the book right up until the last page. What a REALLY weak ending. . .

Best book of 2012. Amazing book! Must read!!

The world according to Hig. Thought provoking story about what might be, what is, and what was. As I read this book, I had re-read many paragraphs to understand the author's points. The writing style is not my "cup of tea", but I'm a coffee drinker, so what do I know? The characters grew on me and I could empathize with each in some way. Hig has issues! Being a dog lover, I felt some of his pain. The fishing thing got a bit tired at times. Overall, it seems that he is on the correct path to peace in his unpredictable life & future. The life depicted in this book is nearly hopeless & clearly not for the meek. There are many questions remaining at the end. I wonder when book 2 is being released. The questions at the end are thought provoking and could be used in a book club or college class discussion.

The Dog Stars. What a beautiful book. Every year I choose a personal favorite read. The Dog Stars is my favorite book for 2013. It made me feel nearly every emotion in the book, so to speak. It is unforgettable.

Unexpected and a good read. I didn’t prepare before reading and almost stopped near the beginning thinking this will be a depressing story I don’t want to read through. But it got better and better.

Sad and triumphant. So sad, sickening and sweet. I could not put it down. Great story telling.

Highly Recommended. All I really ask of a book is that I can't stop reading even when I know I should! This a great story beautifully written. Period.

Ok. I was expecting more from this book, and I find the writers style very difficult to read.

Perfect.. Nature, love, fear, friendship, art. I really loved it. I was sad that it had to end.

Powerful. I didn't know what to think about this at first...wasn't really sure if I should buy it, but I became intrigued and engaged and it was really worth the journey. Some passages, I skipped over but not as many as some I've read. I am giving this 5 stars because I couldn't put it down, it touched my heart and scared me at the same time. It wasn't a romance, legal, spy or werewolf story :). Just different and written for ADULTS. Thank you so much.

OK. Read half the book before the story became interesting. The introduction of new characters was contrived and formulaic, but the plot line improves halfway through and the writer provides some interesting insights.

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