Almost 2 years into the new Marcos era, this book serves as a reminder of the colonial
traumas that have lingered in Filipino society for centuries, cloaking themselves in different costumes each time.

There is more to literature than straightforward, linear narrative styles, and I quite appreciated the style of this to capture the complexities of Filipinos during the Marcos era - which is something everyone must remember when reading. This book, while a work of fiction, is rooted in a very specific, real historical moment.

That said, I am a junior academic who focuses on the interactions of Philippine film, history, and food, so this was quite fascinating to read. Those unfamiliar with the history of the Philippines and specifically the Marcos era might not appreciate it, but I thought it was compelling and timely.

I really enjoyed this book but I was left confused by the ending. These are one of those books that I will probably reread again to fully understand it. This story was told by different characters and there point of view of life in Manila and as a Filipino. I did enjoy that aspect of the book but I felt that the main point of the story which was how these characters were all connected somehow after the senator was murdered began when the book was almost over. I blame that on the fact that the book is 249 pages. I felt like the book was so fast and Hagedorn really didn't finish writing it. I was left not understanding somethings like why was Daisy captured and questioned? Yes it was her father who was murdered but why her and not her sister or mother subjected to the abuse and rape she was submitted to?. The only story I got to fully comprehend was the story of Joey Sands and Romeo. Despite these complaints I really did enjoy the story's told by the different characters. Rio was a funny girl but I didn't really get in the end when her cousin Pucha denies some of the things Rio said has false, I don't know if Rio was narrating the story truthfully or was Pucha right? I'm pretty sure Hagedorn did that on purpose and it is a brilliant way to end a book. Overall i liked this book but it isn't worth five stars because it left me asking to many questions.

This book is really intense and deals with complicated issues such as the politics of colonization, imperialism, race, class, gender, sexuality, and religion in a thoughtful and creative writing style. Not your typical novel or format. That takes some getting used to but I really enjoyed it!

This is a decent, quick read. A lot of the references will probably only be understood by Filipinos/Fil-Ams who are familiar with pop culture from the 1950s in both the US and the Philippines. HIghly recommend if you're wanted to read something written in a frenetic, fast-paced, but lyrical kind of way. Chapters are told from the perspective of several "main" characters.

5 stars for a glimpse into what corruption looks like in Manila. 5 stars for the many characters. 5 stars for the title. For me, this was one of the books I constantly had to flip back and forth from chapter to chapter trying to piece together the dots. There are books where I'm confused 75% of the way but the last 25% pieces everything together. That didn't happen for me with Dogeaters. I had trouble dissecting title names, differentiating people's names and relations, and constantly wished there was a footnote for certain words. I was thoroughly confused by the prayer to The Mother at the end and couldn't tell if it was from Rio or from the psychic who lived in her car. I appreciate that the whole book was Rio looking back at her previous childhood but couldn't tell from Pucha's letter if Rio had misremembered facts (the past is almost always rosier than you remember) OR if Pucha was trying to cover up the not so good stuff like everyone else in Manila.

Colorful characters and an intimate, somewhat satirical look at life in the Philippines in the 1950s under a corrupt regime likely patterned on the Marcos (remember her 1000s of shoes?). The best part for me were the numerous, memorable characters - though I had to Google a few to remind myself who they were since I lost track - and the window into a country that I have personal connections with from early life due to the large Philippino population in my part of Philly and many first generation Philippino friends. I recommend it as an engaging escape to a far off, though not completely dissimilar land.

With very mixed reviews, I wasn't sure I was going to opt in when this book was chosen for Wall St Journal Bookclub, but I read the Kindle sample and was hooked. Manila in the not too distant past; a cast of thousands (ok, dozens); poverty and privilege; vice, corruption, violence, pop culture, innocence, religion, family and friendships. Dogeaters has it all!

With its huge ensemble cast of characters, each chapter of Dogeaters presents the point of view of a particular character. This was a common criticism amongst the negative reviews, but for me it kept the story dynamic and interesting. My favourite chapters were those focused on Rio (the observant young, wise-beyond-her-years daughter of a well-off, multi-ethnic family) and Joey (basically a handsome, coke-head, hustler DJ). With plenty of nods to real people and events in the Philippines during the 70s and 80s, Dogeaters paints a fascinating, unexpected picture of a complex society.

Hagedorn’s great gift is her ability to hold so many elements in her hand and make them all feel equally alive. The voices, culture, locations are all alive in this novel from start to finish. The troubling part of it, as many note, is that none of it is molded. They’re all kind of swimming around each other, right by us before we can get a grasp on any of them.

I don’t think this is a failure on Hagedorn’s part. She is too talented and considerate in her writing for me to suggest she failed: this was very much the point, it was just too disorienting for me to come away with something truly resonant.

The blend of American culture, Christian traditions and morals, and westernized politics into the contrasting world of the lower class Philippines we get (and the upper class who merely pretend to be upright in the face of cameras) works to fully condemn the insidious effects of colonialism on the Philippines national identity.

It is truly a whirlwind, though. We spend so much time away from so many characters that I lose traction with their stories and how they fit into this puzzle. Hagedorn’s formal inconsistencies too — again, intentional — are hyper disorienting and perhaps it’s my fault I became to focused on who was saying something instead of what was being said.

I do think it was a genius choice to give Pucha her own chapter right before the end, to shake the bottle one more time right after Rio finally settles it and puts a cap on it in the chapter before.

I feel like my thoughts on this novel are as scattered as it’s written. Perhaps I’ll return to it sometime (doable at 250 pages).

A final note: I quite enjoyed the recurring presence of TruCola as a not-quite-right imitation of its western counterpart Coca-Cola but something that’s established itself in the every day life of the Philippines in much the same way.

A colorful, interesting play that would have been better if the tone didn't clash between the comedic and dark parts, and if the characters all got equal resolution.

Hagedorn depicted a fever dream epic set in the Philippines during Marcos' dictatorship. This book is scandalous, gossipy, and filled with colorful characters more memorable than the next. The satire and the mockery of the Filipinos came front and center: how we worship God, religion— but at the same time—movies, food, tsismis, and malls. The subplot could stand on its own and despite the connections of these—characters and places showing up in the different stories—the book felt more like a collection of shorts than an actual novel. But Hagedorn's sharp and inventive writing was so fun to read. I enjoy her words very much.

I could barely finish it. I was required to read this book for a class and it was just....garbage in my opinion, the worst book of the list of books we read. But like. I can see how this book is some kind of weird, artistic take on a novel... It's highly unconventioal....the "main character" of the book isn't really supposed to be the main character but he is anyway (?) and I found myself liking him but then you're not supposed to like him because he literally does fucked up shit...
I mean I barely got a good sense of what was trying to be conveyed in this book. Maybe Im a terrible reader, but I didn't understand what was going on for most of the book. I had no clue how any of the characters were related...and my teacher also didn't explain it to us...

another book I had to read for class and I don’t understand what I was supposed to get out of it. some of the little vignettes were entertaining, but some of them I just didn’t understand. I liked the short chapters; they helped with the pacing.