Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #802365 in Books
• Published on: 1989-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 184 pages

Customer Reviews

MUCH better than the film
Like most people who come to this book, I saw the Disney film first, and I really enjoyed it, especially Cruella de Ville. However, when I discovered this book, my view of the film completely changed - as with many adaptations, the book is FAR better.

For one thing, Pongo is not married to Perdita. Pongo is married to Missis (who is often called 'Missis Pongo' in a nice pun, because she's taken his name). Perdita is actually a liver-spotted dalmatian (brown spots) whom they find starving on the side of the road. Her story runs alongside that of Pongo and Missis, the familiar one of the pups being stolen. Cruella is not a wacky villainess here - she is actually sinister and very frightening. The book really takes off once the puppies are stolen, and Pongo and Missis begin their journey to find them.

Most of the characters (especially the cat) are wonderfully detailed, although you can't help noticing some slight sexism in the way the dogs speak - the way that Missis can't tell her right from her left, and her comment that a flighty young spaniel needs a litter to calm her down. But since children won't notice this, it doesn't really matter, and the book WAS written fifty years ago. Pongo and Missis's puppies are also given personalities beyond Patch and Lucky, and the ending is a dream.

If you've watched the film, I urge you to read this book. There's so much more to it.

Better than the movie
This book is wonderful. When Disney changed it into a movie, the story lost many of its special touches, and the story was no longer told so much as shown from the dog's perspective.

The main plot of the story is similar to that of Disney's animated movie, but contains many small differences, and more detail. These differences are what make the book as good as it is. In the book, right after Pongo and his wife Missus Pongo have their 15 puppies, everyone is worried about how one dog will feed 15 puppies without losing strength. The solution to their problem comes in the form of a stray Dalmatian, found on the side of the road, whom they name Perdita. Perdita has a history of her own, and her sub-plot is one of the many things that add depth to the story, but were lost in the movie.

The story is told, continuously, from a dog's point of view. It is mentioned how humans believe that they own dogs; whereas the truth is that the dogs own them. Pongo and Missus continually refer to their humans as their pets, and one can see that mentality in their conversations. All the dogs in the story seem to enjoy doting on their humans. Another interesting quirk is how the dogs are `married'. Pongo continually refers to Missus as his wife, and she calls him husband. A dog's marriage ceremony does not seem to take very long, or require a priest or government official. Two willing dogs can run off into the forest, and when they come back, be married. Puppies will most likely come soon after.

A wonderful book, it is much better than Disney's movie. Full of fun tales, even in the midst of the puppies flight from Cruella's house.

Loggie-log-log-log

A wonderful, wonderful book
I am 25 years old and still read this book from time to time. In fact, I've just ordered a new copy because my original copy has fallen to pieces!

A beautifully written book with delightful characters and personification. A book that Disney has highlighted, but marred. Read it to your kids, you'll enjoy it as much as they will.