Allow me to set a scene for you, review reader. Picture a comfy couch covered in snuggly blankets where a reader is perched with two miniature dachshunds ready to read a book featuring another wiener dog. Picture the reader clutching the two dogs close as she reads the opening scene. Sam (the book's main character) has laid his long, broken, little body on the floor of a dog fighting ring. That, my friends, is how I read this book. I had to hope that Sam was going to make it and we were all goin [...]

I'm not the kind of mom who troubles herself too deeply about the contents of books or movies. My kids aren't watching the Saw series, but if they enjoy the Nightmare Before Christmas or find Futurama funny, so be it. We began reading Flawed Dogs to our five-year-old, and after the first few disturbing chapters I had to read ahead to make sure that this was a book we could finish reading to him. This book broke my heart several times. I knew this was going to be a problem when the book opened in [...]

You’ve heard the saying “Don’t judge a book by its cover”well that certainly applies to this book. Why? The cover gives the prospective reader the impression that the “read” will be a delightful romp with man’s best friend, but Flawed Dogs is anything but that. Being a huge animal lover myself, I bought this book hoping to be entertained, and I was not. The first chapter has Sam, the main dog (character) and dachshund, being placed in the ring to fight a pit bull. When he realizes [...]

Sam once had it all. He was a perfect purebred with an elusive tuft of hair that entranced show judges. But more importantly, he had the love of his owner, Heidy. But Sam's winning ways and his bond with young Heidy drive Cassius, the pompous poodle of the housekeeper, to plan his demise. Sam lives, but he's now flawedd even worse, separated from Heidy. He undergoes unspeakable horrors for three years, meeting an interesting band of misfit dogs along the way. With these "underdogs," Sam sets out [...]

If it weren’t for the writing, I might have enjoyed Flawed Dogs The Novel by Berkeley Breathed. Its message, like that of Breathed’s picture book, is one everyone should read. But where the picture book conveys this message through cute illustrations and whimsical verse, the novel warps this message through bitter heroes, violent storyline, and a writing style that is sometimes painful to read.Parts of the plot work. Sam the Lion, a dachshund featured in the picture book, escapes from a show [...]

Flawed Dogs by Berkeley BreathedA fairy tale illustrating that everyone or every dog should have it’s day. That regardless of size, shape or breed overweening ambition can corrupt and unconditional love can console. A perfect dachshund becomes flawed, despondent, abandoned and maligned. He conquers all and returns in triumph. It is a story of acceptance and redemption. You may not recall Opus the penguin or Billy and the Boingers but Berkeley Breathed has been around for quite awhile. I admit [...]

This is the story of Sam, a pedigreed dachshund with a rare Duuglitz tuft. Meant to be a show dog, he soon escapes the clutches of the overbearing Mrs. Nutbush and elects to follow an orphan named Heidy who is going to live with her uncle. But when Sam steals the attention away from the champion standard poodle Cassius, Cassius will get his revenge. What ensues is a wild and wacky adventure as the flawed dogs decide to claim what is rightfully theirs. This book read just like an animated feature [...]

I really love Bloom County. This book just sat wrong with me for some reason. I heard Berk Breathed speak, and he said that he believes that kids' books should take one into the valley of hard emotions so that one can climb out again. I agree that kids don't need to be coddled or shielded from negative emotions. But this book started off with a dachshund being flung into a fighting dog pit and lying down to die in despair. I've got a soft spot for animals, and I had a hard time with that one. I [...]

So, you won't often see me give 5 stars, especially not to a juvenile novel, but this one deserved it. Berkeley Breathed's "Flawed Dogs: The Novel" was fantastic! Based on his picture book, "Flawed Dogs: The Year-End Leftovers at the Piddleton Last Chance Dog Pound," the book follows Sam the Lion as he becomes a flawed dog and then learns that heart matters more than those flaws. It's a must read for dog lovers, but will bring a smile to your heart, regardless. "Sam watched his commandos meet th [...]

It was a great book with ups and downs. It had a good storyboard and is a heartwarming story of friendship and love. Although you sometimes get lost, it was a great book everyone should read.

I have to say I was really surprised and a little disappointed when I read other reviews on this book. The part about the dog arena was brought up more than once. I thought that this part was very important to the story as it showed how this little dog learned strength and confidence. It was written well without going over the top. I did not find it offensive at all. Having said that , I must add that this little dog really won my heart. The love and heartache was so real. The struggle to unders [...]

There is a lot to like about this book. Sam the lion, a daschund, is particularly funny and the other flawed dogs had great personalities. What kept me from rating this book higher was the amount of cruelty that is shown rather than told. It was a little disturbing. When Sam is taken from his person, Heidy, he decides to get revenge against the Westminster dog that framed him. He has allies, a set of unwanted dogs waiting in vain for adoption. Sam may be small but he's creative and doesn't let a [...]

I would like to give this book a little higher rating but I found the content pretty deep and a little depressing for the age rang this book is aimed at. The life of this dog is plagued with all kinds of heartbreak including being in a dog fighting ring, spending time in an animal testing facility, and bieng in a dog pound for dogs which will never be adopted because of their flaws. With that said, the book does pick up at the end and is quite enjoyable. The reading would depending on the reader [...]

I loved this book! I was so worried that Sam had actually died when he feel of the thingy with Cassius. I was very happy with all the details that the author gave and I also loved how she titled the chapters (If you like authors that do that you should check out When You Reach Me). My favorite part was when all sam did was jump and lay down when the pit bull tried to kill him. My ALL TIME favorite part was when the pit bull actually helped Sam out on the rook and also when sam and his new 'frien [...]

I would rate this book at about 4 stars. It is very sad because the owner's beloved dog goes through all this pain. I have empathy for

5 stars for the illustrations but only 3 for the very sad story. Though Sam and friends get their love in the end, it is truly a heartbreaking and brutal journey.

This book was WAY more sad than I expected it to be. It was a phenomenal read; I couldn't put it down and read the whole thing in one sitting. But it really broke my heart to see all the trials poor Sam the Lion had to go through. My own dog is a rescue, which I think made the story even more heart-wrenching to me. He sat by my side the whole time I was reading, and in my head I could imagine him going through the things Sam did in the story, and it about near broke me. I had to keep reminding h [...]

As a huge fan of Berkeley Breathed, I bought this for my son many moons ago. We are now packing away his childhood and I just can't bear to give this away - it is too beautifully illustrated and I hope one day he can share it with his own kids. While the story is a bit sad and may be difficult for very young kids to enjoy, middle schoolers with an understanding of sarcasm who love to draw will simply love it. It is a very sad story of a dachshund who falls in love with a girl but is torn away fr [...]

If you like any of Berkeley Breathed's other work with Opus and Bloom County, you'll love this book.It's a story of a dog named Sam, who starts out on the fast track to win at the dog show. However, Sam is framed for a crime he didn't commit by Cassius, a poodle who wants the "best in show" title. Sam is forced to go on the run and finds himself in a number of hilarious, but seemingly disastrous situations, which show the true character of Sam. The story builds towards Westminster Dog Show and a [...]

Mr. Breathed is an excellent cartoonist. Unfortunately, I don't think he tones down his cartoonist side enough when he writes novels. He packs a huge punch into elaborate sentences. With the novel's lack of depth, these wordy, showy sentences seem out of place. My intellect was tense with anticipation while adjectives continually held excitement captive. Even if the writing style didn't rub me the wrong way, the characters and the storyline were also huge punches. It's an agonizing book overall. [...]

This is a book about a dog who gets separated from his owner. In the years that follow, there are many things that happen to this forlorn dog, not all of them pleasant. The book is heart-wrenching, sad, hopeful, and beautifully written. Plus, the periodic illustrations capture the essense and feelings of the story. Breathed is amazing.I was going to give it 5 stars. However, I took one away because of the inherent sadness to the story in the middle. But trust me's definitely worth reading.

I first read this book when I was a kid, and I loved it, even though I couldn't comprehend the seriousness of many of the situations at the time. Today, I still like coming back to this book for the characters it brings, the beautiful and quirky illustrations, and an enjoyable story. Great book for younger teens & even young adults who are looking for an emotional story centered around a dog.

I do love the author of Bloom County, and was happy to read his first illustrated novel. I couldn't always quite keep up with where his mind was going, which I thought was challenging for a children's book. But it's hard not to love the story of dachund Sam the Lion and his search for love and a home, along with several other flawed dogs he meets along the way.

I read this a while ago, but it was pretty sad from what I remember. So deep.

Entertaining and fun. A good read for those around 7th and 8th grade.

This story was not what I expected. I enjoyed the journey.

I'll give this one 2.5 because of the wonderful illustrations. It's a YA book so not quite my reading genre but still a quick and fun read with a cast of unforgettable canines - and a few humans!

Laugh out loud funny and the story features a dachshund!

My favorite book!

Delightful story.