Dog Days

This satire of the Swift Boat August 2004 nightmare from the perspective of a sardonic female political operative of the Democratic party kept my interest and included at least a dozen laugh-out-loud moments. The unique aspect of this work over other political novels was the further level of Ms. Cox, the Wonkette, satirizing herself and the blogosphere within the context of the presidential campaign. This multilevel approach at the same time provides entertainment and exposes the tragedy who's manipulating who (the media versus the politicians and vice versa) in the campaign. In my opinion, the makers of Bombay Sapphire should hire Ms. Cox as their spokeswoman in light of her creative weaving of alcohol anecdotes. I recommend this book to anyone interested in the inner-workings of political campaigns who has a good sense of humor. And it's a perfect gift!

Dog Days captures the consistently hilarious and deeply intelligent political voice of Ana Marie Cox, founder of the sharp witted and savvy political blog Wonkette. Dog Days holds a lantern to the murky inner workings of Washington politics, and reveals the salacious affairs, drunken confessions, and personal vendettas of the most prominent--and fascinating--characters in Washington. Smart, sharp, hilarious and captivating, Dog Days is the best book I've read in quite some time. I recommend it as highly as possible--and then some.

DOG DAYS is so full of penetrating observatoins and sharp wit that it was almost impossible for me to put down. This isn't just funny for the sake of a laugh, what Ms. Cox really gets at is how Washington works--not from the point of view of the really powerful on the bridge of the ship, but from the point of view of those sailing in the engine room of Washington. I thought this was extremely instructive and I learned a lot about the way young people, at the start of their careers among the powerful, come of age around the power they hope to inherit, earn or steal. But more than that, Cox really thinks like a novelist and is always looking to entertain the reader with a witty turn of phrase or a nuanced observation. I dare you not to find something funny on almost every page. (I think that's why the negative reviews don't quote from it!) This is not Wonkette. She's created a whole, funny, believable world that sounds too real to be all made up and too full of self-importance to be totally real. It's a complete delight of a novel and unless you've got an axe to grind, you'll love it, too.

Dog Days reminds us that the ugly side of politics is the most fun one to read about as it exposes all the sex, scheming, and backstabbing that happens during a hotly contested presidential campaign. It follows a young campaign staffer who tries to tamp down two scandals (one professional, one personal) by creating a fictitious one. The plot zips along, and the dialogue, especially that between the main character and her partner-in-crime best friend, positively sparkles. This is a book that is both laugh-out-loud funny and frighteningly insightful about the people who are running the country.

For all of us who dwell in the 'fly-over' world between coasts, Ana Marie Cox has crafted a wonderfully readable novel which, unlike the contrived crap Maureen Dowd has excreted for her friends inside the beltway, genuinely portrays Washington, D.C. at the dawn of the twenty-first century. Between vignettes which are laugh-out-loud funny, Ms. Cox paints a vividly real portrait of a life gone terribly awry. The protagonist, a woman who is basically honest (but lies when expedient) navigates the losing campaign of a hapless Democratic presidential candidate. In the final analysis, as in any good allegory, there is a 'Hallmark Ending' (to quote a braindead critic). Between the beginning and end of this book is a rollercoaster ride which is impossible to put down, whatever one's political stripe. Whether you are a political junkie (and have www.wonkette.com as your home page), or have never come closer to the 'modern age' than to have a digital watch, you will not regret this wonderful read on the life and times of the flaming a**holes we have elected to the highest offices in our land.