A Dog Named Chips: The Life and Adventures of a Mongrel Scamp

I really don't like this book. It's well-written, of course, but I dislike Chips enough that I never really get caught up in it. Chips is so totally self-centered and manipulative - the only saving grace is, Chips is only a dog and doesn't actually think out the manipulations. So it's only annoying, not intolerable. My least favorite of Terhune's books, I think.

I enjoyed this book for the humorous depiction of the antics of Chip. Published in 1931 as a children's story, its vocabulary would challenge many adult readers today. It is sad to acknowledge this fact, but it is true. Vocabulary aside, the plot and the incidents are aimed at grade school children and the characters are caricatures. Still, if you overlook those flaws, it is a rollicking adventure story for those who love dogs.

What a wild bunch of adventures of a very bad dog! Nice twist at the end. Good old fashioned dog story about a mutt for a change. Terhune is known for his gallant collie stories. This one was quite different. Fun though!

This is the book that made me trans. Also, as a child, I read so many dog books that real live dogs have been a disappointment to me ever since.