From Amazon.com
Controversial and award-winning British author Melvin Burgess (
Smack,
Bloodtide, etc.) is in fine form in his brilliant, satirical novel about a hedonistic teenage girl who is turned into a dog by a mysteriously magical town drunk. Sandra (a.k.a. Lady) is dismayed at first, but quickly discovers the pure joys of unfettered freedom to do whatever she wants and have sex with whomever she pleases--a seemingly perfect scenario for a devil-may-care young woman who would "have shagged [Wayne] up against the wall for a bag of jelly beans a month ago."
Hooking up with a couple other humans-turned-dogs, Lady roams the streets and, well, does what doggies do: "One thing about dogs--they know how to greet someone. It's not so much scratch and sniff as sniff and lick--as soon as you see someone, you just gotta know what they taste like!" Her new life is not without inner turmoil, however. Part of her longs to return to her human life, annoying family, standardized school testing, boy-of-the-day "romances," and all. Living as a dog helps her study what it means to live as a human--with the responsibilities, silly inhibitions, stress, and worry that mark that species--but also the flip side: the security and love of her family.
Ultimately the decisions Sandra/Lady makes may be shocking, but Burgess's voice is undeniably, ruthlessly authentic. Readers in search of a traditionally moralistic diatribe against the reckless promiscuity of today's youth will need to look elsewhere. But those seeking a funny, sensual, and honest exploration of real teenage life and a much more intense and complex study of humanity will revel in the author's expertly crafted allegory. As Burgess himself says, "even someone who doesn't know what an allegory is will recognize that Lady is not a piece of advice, or a suggestion on how to govern your life; it's simply a way of trying to make people think about the ways in which we define work and play." Highly recommended. (Ages 14 and older) --Emilie Coulter
From Publishers Weekly
Burgess, acclaimed British author of Smack and Bloodtide, is a fearless writer. Here he once again creates satisfyingly flawed characters with strong sexual drives and compromised morals. A selfish, hedonistic 15 year-old gets turned into a dog by an alcoholic bum with magical powers. For a while, Sandra becomes the pet of her addict transformer, but soon realizes the relationship is toxic: "I was like a hundred other girls, who like to think they can change the man they love the man who is ruining your life day by day into something worthwhile." Sandra finds she savors the pleasures of dog life sensual, irresponsible and impulsive and runs off with two other former humans, the id-driven Fella and his nostalgic sidekick, Mitch, both of whom willingly oblige when she goes into heat. "People were watching and I didn't give a toss. Why should I care who watched? Life is so much simpler when you're a dog." The narrative intermittently flashes back to episodes from the narrator's human life, which charts her behavior as it grows wilder and more uncontrollable. The conflict comes when Sandra remembers her family and tries to communicate with them, vowing to give up the doggy ways that have characterized her in both human and canine forms and planning instead to be a considerate, more conformist person. But can she go back? Is her untamed life a wish fulfilled? Burgess keeps the suspense high to the very last. This seductive volume is as raw and ravenous as its subject. Ages 14-up.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
