Mark Haddon is an auto buy author for me after falling in love with so many of his stories, and in Dogs and Monsters, he has done it again! Sublime!

This collection features eight short stories by Mark Haddon that creatively blend Greek mythology with contemporary themes. While some stories captivated me more than others, all are beautifully written. Haddon presents fresh perspectives on familiar tales, making the narratives engaging and thought-provoking. Dogs and Monsters offers a compelling journey, showcasing Haddon's skillful storytelling as he intertwines ancient fables with modern sensibilities, resonating deeply with readers.

3.5/5.

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I have reviewed Dogs and Monsters for book recommendation and selling site LoveReading.co.uk.

It has been chosen as a LoveReading Star Book and Liz pick of the month.


Please see the link for the full review.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

I don't usually read short stories but I enjoyed these. They are all, however, filled with cruelty, sadness and injustice described in a matter of fact way For me this meant that I was not overwhelmed when reading them, it was only afterwards that I when I was thinking about them (the stories do linger in the mind) that I thought about all the monsters and horrors.

The first story is such a good retelling of Pasiphae and the Minotaur and turns the myth we know into a story of men's insecurity, their abuse of power over women, women's quiet persistence, acceptance of others and love for them.

I also found My Old School to be quite moving and surely there is book there, The Wilderness and the Quiet Limit of the world are horrifying in their way . the only story I did not understand was The Bunker.

Great reads and, for me, something different.

A really interesting collection of short stories!! Not something I'd have maybe picked up in a bookstore but I'm so glad I read it!

Great for readers who enjoy Greek mythology, particular reimagined tales. I really enjoyed the overarching comments on the patriarchy. The writing was excellent and felt like such a fresh take on some familiar myths.

Mark Haddon joined the growing ranks of authors taking on Greek mythology in The Porpoise. He clearly has a fascination with this material, in particular reimagining it and recontextualising it as he picks apart a number of famous Greek myths in his latest short story collection Dogs and Monsters. But this is not all Greek mythology, along the way he also takes on the story of St Anthony and HG Wells’ The Island of Doctor Moreau.
The opening story of Dogs and Monsters The Mother’s Story takes on the myth of the Minotaur. This is a complete reimagining of the story in which the legendary monster is not at all monstrous and the labyrinth is a sleight of hand, designed to keep the populace in check. Haddon returns to Greek myth in D.O.G.Z in which he retells the story of how Actaeon was turned into a stag by Diana but uses it as a jumping off point as he explores the role of dogs through literature and history, morphing into the story of Laika. A dog also ends up playing a major role in The Temptation of St Anthony.
Most of these tales draw on broader traditions or other stories. The Quiet Limit of the World is another reimagining of a Greek myth – the story of Tithonus - while St Brides Bay is written to accompany a Virginia Woolf story. While their wildly varying subject matter makes it difficult to find a connecting thread between these stories, there is a common feeling that they engender was one of melancholy. Whether it is the narrator looking back on his life in a boarding school in My Old School, or the protagonist of The Wilderness regretting her decision to cycle around the world which inadvertently led her into danger or the mother of a boy who is cast as a monster.
But despite their sometimes downbeat nature, most of Haddon’s stories end on a note of optimism. They don’t have big twists as short stories often do. Rather they reflect characters who go through some form of trial and learn from their experience. Overall Dogs and Monsters is a treat. A diverse range of stories, drawing deeply from the well of Western literature and myth and delivering these tales back in new and surprising ways.

How did I not know about this author? This collection of short stories has everything I love and more, all wrapped up in an elaborate but easy to read prose.

There isn’t one story I didn’t like or that didn’t impact me one way or another. I loved the Greek myths retellings which were not just simply adjusted to more modern times, but compelling original stories built around the myth theme. I must say that these are some of the best Greek myths retellings I’ve read.

All the stories focus on human traits and how we humans behave and navigate the world and the strange events the protagonists find themselves in, which are just elaborations of reality really.
With every story I felt some connection with the protagonists, be it a negative or positive one. All the stories left a piece of them in me, but I feel that at the same time a piece of me was taken with each story, and especially D.O.G.Z, The Mother’s Story and The Quiet Limit of The World haven’t left my brain since I read them. I keep having philosophical conversations with myself and my neurons ever since and I don’t think it’ll stop.

If you want to be entertained and mentally challenged at the same time, this collection is the perfect choice! I’d be reading more from this author for sure.

Thanks to Vintage Books, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for a copy and this is my honest opinion.

This short story anthology is a modern retelling of Greek myths coupled with universal and timeless themes about human existence.
Most of the stories are in the 3-5 stars bands based on my enjoyment.
It is a wise choice to have started the book with The Mother’s Story, because it has a gripping opening, and is a great introduction to Haddon’s style.
I like Haddon’s style - it is concise but also richly (just the right amount) descriptive, can pull of the first POV, and eerie.
With some of the stories that were closer to the 3 star rating for me, I wanted more - a bit more mood, more satisfying endings. more depth to the characters or the setting. Perhaps, some of these interpretations of the myths can be reinterpreted in the longer forms?
Overall, a decent, compelling and interesting collection, and I am glad to have read it.

This is certainly an interesting collection of short stories taken from different times in the writer's career. I think I'm not well enough versed in the Greek myths to fully appreciate their retelling but enjoyed the stories for the writing itself which captured both the immense cruelty and deep love humans can display towards each other and living things with whom we share a planet.
Personally, I have preferred the author's longer works and the continued development of characters and events, but the content of many of these stories will stay with me for some time.
Thank you to netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book

This is a fascinating literary collection of 8 multilayered, profound, and thought provoking short stories by Mark Haddon, stories that cast fresh eyes on ancient Greek legends and how perhaps there is much that links the gods and man, the flaws and the monstrous. The collection comprises of the following:

The Mother's Story
The Bunker
My Old School
D.O.G.Z.
The Wilderness
The Temptation of St Anthony
The Quiet Limit of the World
St Bride's Bay

In these wide ranging, dark, vibrant and imaginative stories, richly descriptive, unsettling, and beautifully written, the author touches on the repercussions of a male dominated world, the love of a mother, our relationships with others, and the thinness of the line that separates human beings from animals. There is a focus on morality, the problems with immortality, genetic engineering, the impact of changing social norms and attitudes, family dynamics, and so much more. Given the darkness and brutality of some of the varied stories, particularly D.O.G.Z, this classic collection may not be for everyone. However, for others, this expertly showcases just how great the short story format is, an art form that is celebrated in the hands of Haddon. I would urge readers to try these short stories! Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

Dogs and Monsters is a collection of eight short stories. In three of them, Mark Haddon retells classical myths - Theseus and the Minotaur, Diana and Actaeon, and Eos (Dawn) and Tithonus - and by a simple reframing of the story, he brings startling new interpretations to these old tales. In the other five, Haddon seems to be creating new legends - two of them inspired by other literary sources, and one by a real-life figure - which reveal timeless truths in their specificity.

I loved the way Haddon completely turns the Minotaur myth on its head, and I also really enjoyed the way he thinks through the myths of Diana and Actaeon and Eos and Tithonus in new ways. But I also loved that this collection includes his own stories, all clear enough to follow their plot but open-ended enough to leave room for the reader's interpretation(s). Like all short story collections, there are bound to be some each reader likes slightly more or less than the others, and I think the range of these stories serves them well. As for me, there was only one I didn't particularly enjoy, and the fact that it is inspired by Virginia Woolf (whose writing has never quite worked for me) may well be why.

The stories in Dogs and Monsters aren't all closely linked, other than a general sense of the way they contemplate mortality and storytelling, but this means that they are distinct. And I know that - like Haddon's earlier short story collection, The Pier Falls - there are some that will stay with me for quite some time. I personally liked these stories best at their darkest, playing into the brutal nature of many classical myths, while also saying something pressingly relevant for the modern reader. If you're a fan of short stories, of myths and legends, and/or of Haddon's writing, I can definitely recommend this powerful new collection.

A selection of short stories which are reworking of ancient legends. The Mother is retelling of the story of the Minotaur from the perspective of the Minotaurs mother which also worked in other Greek stories. It was a powerful tale of motherly love, struggle and sacrifice. This story was definitely my favourite of the book.
The bunker is a stark difference to the previous taking the reader from Ancient Greece to the modern day. I can’t lie this story I was confused for most of it, the plot seemed to jump around and I found it hard to follow. The third story is of a boy struggling to fit in at a boarding school, an excellent story of bullying, the trials of an all boys boarding school and living up to familial expectations. I definitely enjoyed the third one as well.

The final two stories carried on the dark themes with the haunting adaptation of the tale of Tithonus and Eos. The long drawn out death of Tithonus was almost unpalatable. The final story St Brides Bay was written as an accompaniment to a short story by Virgina Wolf, and although I did like it I don’t think u can truly judge it until I read Virgina wolfs story.

I liked how Mark Haddon intertwined Greek Mythology with other works of literature to create some truly haunting stories. The story of the women who had been genetically altered will stay with me for a long time.

Published 29 August 2024. Having only ever read 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time' I was intrigued to pick up this short story collection especially as the blurb promised an almost re-working of ancient legends. There are 8 stories and as with all collections, each reader will pick their own stand-out stories. For me, 'The Mother's Story' which is worked around the story of the Minotaur and 'The Quiet Limit of the World', based upon the story of Tithonus were my favourites. The story of the 'Minotaur's' mother was quite emotional and I liked the way that the stories of Deadalus and Icarus were woven in it. The story of the man granted eternal life was so sad and makes you question of the idea of living forever. In D.O.G.Z. we start with the story of Actaeon - which is very brutal - and then move onto the little dog Laika who was the first animal in space and it is not one for dog lovers. There is a story about bullying at public school and genetic engineering using the ideas form HG Wells' 'The Island of Dr Moreau. A quite dark collection but ultimately readable with some super prose and imagery.

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A selection of short stories

Mother - a retelling of the Minotaur with a bit of Icarus thrown in. 4/5

The Bunker - post apocalypse 4/5

My Old school - a quote “ it was he who wanted to go to boarding school he who had wanted an entree to a world from which he felt excluded and he would’ve fitted in perfectly true there were lessons and boys with double barrelled names but it was not otherwise greatly different from national service tepid showers open dormitories rugby on muddy pitches in driving November rain the relentless banter if you join the cadets, you could even fire a gun”..An excellent short story about the brutality of an English boarding school in the late 70s. 5/5

DOGZ - short and somewhat depressing dog lovers. Might want to skip this one. 4/5

The Wilderness - someone is doing extreme cycling through the wilderness and crashes then the stories start linking into each other. 4/5

The Temptation of St Anthony- this one was a slow burn a hermit living in a ruthless house, who has dedicated his life to God then he picks up some followers. 5/5

The Quiet limit of the World - more lovely writing in this one. “ he cannot remember the young man’s name. It’s not so much the weakness of his memory as its capacity new details are so hard to pick out against the mountain range of years which lies beneath them.” Tithonus

St Brides Day - the mother of the bride talks about her daughter’s wedding to another woman and reflects on her own life. “ Her own mother was conveniently deceased. That was one blessing. ‘ if women didn’t go out to work, they wouldn’t be any unemployment.’ a life spent polishing the boot that stood on her own neck, Christ alone knew what she would’ve made it today. That constant bitterness, watching your daughter enjoy the freedoms you had denied yourself in defence of principles which had become antique.. unwilling to admit that the key to the shackles had a lean in the bottom of your pocket all along” 5/5

Perhaps I should stop thinking I am not a short story person. These were wonderful with some superb writing.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

Thought this was an interesting mix of short stories, with a varied blend of mythological retells, contemporary tales and intriguing plots. Thought it was well written and can see that it's a collection that is likely to polarise opinions. I enjoyed the book although I think the stories differed in their effectiveness with "The Quiet Limit of the World" being my favourite. What the stories have in common is that they are interesting, well written and always intriguing. I think fans of his earlier work (although not so much fans of his recent novel, The Porpoise) will be surprised by some of the darker themes within but will still enjoy this collection.

I enjoyed this series of short stories very much, the first one being my favourite. Some of the stories were based on Greek myths but for the life of me I can’t figure out how the guy with eternal youth got old. Interesting stories that kept me reading solidly until the end. The writing style was smooth and I didn’t tire of reading.

It is a bit of an odd one in terms of recommending to people as it’s off the beaten track but I will be recommending it to people who need ‘something different’ to read.

Many thanks to NetGalley & Random House Vintage for this ARC.

'Dogs and Monsters' by Mark Haddon offers a compelling journey through a collection of short stories that intertwine Greek mythology with contemporary themes. Haddon’s adept storytelling skillfully merges ancient fables with modern sensibilities, creating narratives that resonate with readers.

Throughout the book, Haddon deftly reimagines classic myths, infusing them with fresh perspectives and poignant insights. The retelling of the Minotaur myth, particularly in 'The Mother’s Story', resonates as a powerful parable of maternal love amidst the oppressive forces of patriarchy and prejudice.

One of the standout aspects of this book is its exploration of the human condition through various lenses. From the eternal struggles of immortality in 'The Quiet Limit of the World' to the psychological ramifications of genetic engineering, Haddon skillfully delves into the depths of human experience. The stories offer a thought-provoking examination of themes such as motherhood, community, mental health, and queerness, presenting a nuanced portrayal of the complexities of life.

Haddon’s storytelling prowess shines through in his ability to create distinct and compelling characters within the confines of short narratives. Each story is meticulously crafted, with rich detail and vivid imagery that captivate the reader’s imagination. While some may find certain stories drawn out in pacing, the overall impact of the collection remains powerful and thought-provoking.

As a reader who appreciates classical references, I found particular enjoyment in the stories of Asterion the Minotaur and Actaeon. Haddon’s reinterpretation of these myths offers fresh insights into timeless tales, enriching the reading experience with layers of depth and meaning.

Like any anthology, this volume presents a mixed bag of stories, with some resonating more strongly than others. However, even the darkest and most disturbing narratives are rendered with Haddon’s trademark clarity and readability. While not a book for the faint of heart, it offers a compelling choice for readers seeking a bit of darkness and depth in their literary exploration.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House, UK for the opportunity to read the ARC of Dogs and Monsters.

While I’m normally not one to pick up a short story collection, I will say I’m thoroughly glad I did. Dogs and Monsters treads from Greek mythology retellings to H. G. Wells inspirations and original works featuring stories of motherhood, community, mental health, queerness and the woes of immortality.

Whilst I thought some of the shorts felt a bit drawn out in their pacing, I found each story to be incredibly detailed despite their short length, and each character’s voice was incredibly distinct and made for a pleasant reading experience.

My favourites of the selection were the Greek reworking ‘The Mother’s Story’ about Pasiphaë and Asterion, more commonly known as the Minotaur, and ‘The Quiet Limit of the World’ a retelling of the immortal love story of Tithonus and Eos.

I think Dogs and Monsters does a great job in showing the darker details of the human condition in a short, entertaining and thought provoking manner whilst simultaneously denoting the strength of the good qualities that the few have, and the rippling impact it has on the lives of the many.

Fantastic collection of short stories - huge scope and variety and yet all thematically linked. Makes me wish I knew my Greek myths better. Gripping, thought provoking and superbly penned.

Mark Haddon has been one of my favourite authors for years so I was very excited to read this book. It felt different to his other books I have read but I enjoyed it overall, to see the intertwining of cultures and myths added a level of darkness and truth to humanity and who we are. It was a strong read overall.