Customer Reviews

Barking Her Way to the Top : A Collie Pursues a Career in the Civil Service

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4 star:		(6)
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Rarely do you get as strong a feeling of an author so delighted as he wrote, positively grinning ear to ear. Refreshingly un-PC at times, Howard Rowland takes you on a quirky and surreal ride that unleashes an insider's contempt of government bureaucracy, as well as the depth of his love for the canine and linguistic worlds.

I'd highly recommend this tour de force, I enjoyed it immensely.

Anyone who loves animals and scorns bureaucracy will find "Barking Her Way to the Top" a treat. Our heroine, Kukushka, is a beautiful female collie with an unusual ambition, and the talent to realize it. Together with her master (?) and co-conspirator, one Roger Pyle, Ph.D., she sets out to be more than "just a house dog," and in the process turns a Government institute on its ear. That this institute lurches between political correctness and ingrained devotion to regulations, makes it ripe for the machinations of this dynamic duo. Dr. Pyle is a seemingly "normal" academic, and polyfluent (no kidding) linguist. His deceptive charm masks a truly Machiavellian cunning and inventiveness. When danger to his canine beauty turns her professor protector into a beast, he morphs into a slavering fanged avenger! Here the plot becomes thick with psychological, and even supernatural complications. A multinational cast of characters careens through these wittily illustrated pages, provoking grins and groans by turns. Most of all, this book--despite its surface risibility--shows to what lengths a man will go to honor his beloved animal companion.

Roger Pyle's s six-year old collie, Kukushka, is not an ordinary pet, as she is able to be understood by her master. The often irreverent dog demands that Pyle get her a job in the civil service.

This humorous and creative story keeps you turning the page, wondering what will happen next. Although the story does get a bit absurd at times, you rarely get the sense that the author, Howard Rowland, is trying too hard.

Everything in the story is crafted seamlessly and nothing ever seems to come out of left field. All in all, this is a great little book that anyone with an open mind and a sense of humor should check out.

Reviewed by Carrie Cantor

Working in the public sector, I really appreciate this book. Made me laugh. I love the author's humor as he shared his insight into the mentality of civil servants as well as the intelligence of his beloved canine.

"Lassie Come Home" is for kids; "Barking Her Way to the Top" is a grown-ups' collie story. Dog lovers, convinced their dogs are smarter than we give them credit for, can't help but laugh at the heroine Kukushka's treatment of her "dumb animal." Howard Rowland really got the collie personality down, pant. I mean, "pat." Since it's written by someone familiar with the excesses and clever hindsight government bureaucracies serve up, this book will also find fans among bureaucratic employees who think there might be a better way around all the red tape of their jobs.

Mr. Rowland makes the journey of this intelligent dog working her way to the top of a prestigious government language school in the Monterey area surprisingly credible. Read it. And enjoy it. I did.

A charming read for anyone who acknowledges the true intelligence and potential of their dog friend. The author also explores the idea that perhaps these animals help us in deeper ways than any of us realize. And by doing so redefines what truly makes up a family as we travel through our lives.

Mr. Rowland makes this journey of an intelligent dog working her way to the top of a prestigious government language school in the Monterey area surprisingly credible. Read it and enjoy it. I did.

Mr. Rowland makes this journey of an intelligent dog working her way to the top of a prestigious government language school in Monterey, CA surprisingly credible. Read it and enjoy it. I did.