The Hundred and One Dalmatians / The Starlight Barking

The Hundred and One Dalmatians #1-2

by Dodie Smith, Alex T. Smith (Illustrations)

The Hundred and Once Dalmations

Pongo and Missis have fifteen delightful Dalmation puppies, who mysteriously disappear. The alert Pongo suspects a sinister neighbour, Cruella de Vil, and with Missis he sets out to find his family...

The Starlight Barking

Pongo and Missis are now living happily at Hell Hall with most of their puppies. One summer day a 'mysterious sleeping' begins, affecting all humans and creatures except dogs. Something tremendous seems about to happen - but will it be good or bad?

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Childrens, Animals, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Adventure

484 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1956

About the author

Born Dorothy Gladys Smith in Lancashire, England, Dodie Smith was raised in Manchester (her memoir is titled A Childhood in Manchester). She was just an infant when her father died, and she grew up fatherless until age 14, when her mother remarried and the family moved to London. There she studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and tried for a career as an actress, but with little success. She finally wound up taking a job as a toy buyer for a furniture store to make ends meet. Giving up dreams of an acting career, she turned to writing plays, and in 1931 her first play, Autumn Crocus, was published (under the pseudonym “C.L. Anthony”). It was a success, and her story — from failed actress to furniture store employee to successful writer — captured the imagination of the public and she was featured in papers all over the country. Although she could now afford to move to a London townhouse, she didn't get caught up in the “literary” scene — she married a man who was a fellow employee at the furniture store.

During World War II she and her husband moved to the United States, mostly because of his stand as a conscientious objector and the social and legal difficulties that entailed. She was still homesick for England, though, as reflected in her first novel, I Capture the Castle (1948). During her stay she formed close friendships with such authors as Christopher Isherwood and John Van Druten, and was aided in her literary endeavors by writer A.J. Cronin.

She is perhaps best known for her novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians, a hugely popular childrens book that has been made into a string of very successful animated films by Walt Disney. She died in 1990.

Reviews

[Emily W]

101 Dalmatians: Cute, fun, a familiar story about dalmatians being rescued from an evil woman who's obsessed with fur.
Starlight Barking: Dogs hosting a cabinet meeting in the British parliament building while their owners are in a supernatural slumber the most normal thing to happen in this sequel. Go in blind reading it for the most unhinged sequel of your life.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's cute and nostalgic (especially when paired with the original Disney animation), but a little outdated in its gender roles and views on class. Cruella is hilarious. The Starlight Barking was downright boring.

[Ruthie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just learned this summer that the Disney movie is based on a book. It’s delightful!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

Very cute kid story. I never really liked the movie as a kid, but I can see now why they made a movie of this book because it was rather charming.

[Lauren Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Hundred and One Dalmatians - 5 stars
The Starlight Barking - 2.5 stars

[Chloé Manz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every second of my reading! I felt like a child again, watching the 101 dalmatiens movie ! The second story was also very entertaining !

[Janette · Rating 5 out of 5]

As good as it ever was.

[Jimmy Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Smith's original book, and both the Disney animated film and (although I wanted to hate it) the live action film. Each added new dimension to the original concept. So when I found there was a sequel to the book, I snapped it right up. But I'm still mulling it over - such an interesting and unusual story - and thinking about where could have been better. It takes the characters we love, puts them in a new situation, but the situation seemed so off balance at first.

Pongo and the Missus wake up one morning and, thanks to Pongo's ability to tell time (from playing with blocks years ago), discover it's after 10 in the morning and all the people are still comfortably asleep. (Not unusual at all for me, but apparently his people are early risers.) So are all the other animals - all but the dogs. Clearly something usual is afoot. What's more, it seems like the dogs are able to communicate clearly to each other from farther away than ever before - not by the old Twilight Barking we all remember, but by thought. Now all grown up and ensconced at #10 Downing Street, Dalmatian pup Cadpig is deeply concerned and is calling for help from distinguished dogs all over Europe. Of course her parents come from the country to help, and are confronted with decisions that will affect all the dogs, and ultimately the people, in the world.

Adding science fiction to anthropomorphism, Smith's story still has an immense amount of heart. I could see how the fantasy was necessary to get all those dogs transported over long distances quickly, and in and out of locked rooms, but it felt awkward, and in reading other reviews I see other readers also had difficulty with the contrivance.

However, her basic story, of a love that transcends love of self, is incredibly generous and warming. Written in 1967 - 11 years after the original - at a time of societal turmoil and change, I can understand how such an affirmation might have been important. That story is one worth finishing, however we, and the dogs, must travel to reach the end.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read the first book, "The Hundred and One Dalmatians," several times, and I love it. (Better than either movie version, although the movies were cute). Adventure, drama, character growth - this little children's story has it all, and is easily enjoyed by adults.

This was my first time reading the sequel, "The Starlight Barking." It was so very different from the first book that the only reason it could be called a sequel is because it was about the same set of dog characters.

My recommendation for reading "The Starlight Barking" is to go into NOT expecting anything like the first one. Don't expect the high tension and mad-cap escapes of the first book, or the same cast of varied supporting characters (although the Persian cat and the Sheepdog do feature in this book).

In my opinion, "The Starlight Barking" is more of a psychological exploration of love, loyalty, and the idea that we need struggles and difficulties to overcome in order to give our lives and the idea of happiness any meaning. It could also be viewed as a treatise on ESP and the potential of the mind to achieve "impossible" things if it were not burdened down by mundane thoughts and everyday living. And it also glorifies dogs as man's best friend, and perhaps more human creatures than humans themselves. While I am more of a cat person, I don't disagree with that sentiment.

While the book is a bit thin in the plot department (and I repeat, it's basically NOTHING like the first book), "The Starlight Barking" is a unique and thought-provoking read, and well worth a 4 star rating all by itself.

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars for The 101 Dalmatians part... This book is a lovely read, and even though it's a kids book from the 50s it wasn't too simple or too stuffy to be enjoyable. The dogs had their own quirks which were amusing and you love each of them. Overall, I'd definitely say it deserved its Classic status.

However, the Starlight Barking is wild. Just unhinged! I still kind of enjoyed it, again I think because all of the characters are just so endearing, but this is nothing like the first book. While the first book bends reality a bit, in so far as the animals can clearly talk to each other (but not the humans) and are clever but clearly still dog-like and simple, in the second book they gain mysterious metaphysical powers and 'swoosh' around and can talk telepathically. I won't spoil the ending as to why they suddenly have these powers, but it honestly just gets weird! Worth reading once, but kind of reads like that weird dream you had once and had to write down because it was just so weird.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this because I Capture the Castle is one of my favorite books, and I was interested to see if the writing style would be similar. I had never read either of these books. I really liked the characters (the dogs), the illustrations, and the "swooshing" in The Starlight Barking (fun!). On the other hand, the gender roles are dated (this was written in 1956). Pongo is the brains, and Missis is frequently told not to worry her pretty head. She's daffy. Also, Cruella is really, really scary. When she is telling the Badduns to skin the puppies, it's really graphic, disturbing, and too much for children. I realized that this is not a book I would read to kids because of the gender issues and because I fear it would induce nightmares. The second book also dragged... but it picked up in the end and I liked the way it resolved. I did like this British edition.

[Timothy Burbage · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this is both stories and let's review them individually.

101 Dalmatians is great. It is a bit different from the film, but not too much. Cruella is such a great villain and she really is enjoyably wretched. I also like how it talks about dog abandonment and has a nice fulfilling ending. 4 stars.

The Starlight Barking is insane. Everyone is asleep. The dogs can fly. The dogs have telepathy. Why? Because an alien wants to take them home. What? Just, what? The problem was that although it was insane, it wasn't super fun to read. The reveal took too long and there wasn't a villain. 2 stars

[Cheryl Licata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pongo and Missis and their fifteen puppies live with Mr. and Mrs. Dearly. All is well with the Dalmation family until the puppies disappear. A mysterious and sinister Cruella de Vil is a likely suspect as Pongo and Missis solve the case of the missing puppies and end up with a few more pups in the process. Well, more than a few actually. This book published in 1956 was made into the famous Disney movie a few years after the book was enjoyed by countless children and adults. It's still a good read!

[Lara Vehar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the first part of this book - The one hundred and one dalmatians was a cute story with dogs and adventure, but the second story in this book - The starlight barking made me not like this book as much. It was waay too fantastical and it strayed soo far off from the first book. Dogs can suddenly fly and telepathically communicate with each other and it just went way off the rails for me to enjoy it. It's still an okay story... but it's not as good as the first one was.

[Amy James]

I read this as a child but really enjoyed reading it to my baby. During our reading of this book, we moved her to her own bedroom so I think I will always associate it with this new era of her life. The main story is charming but the sequel is absolutely unhinged and does not need to exist. I enjoyed it all the same.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book, 'Hundred and One Dalmatians' was amazing, I loved every second of reading it and the illustrations were beautiful. The second book. 'Starlight Barking' I found much harder to get into and not as enjoyable as the first.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pongo’s and Misses’ puppies have grown up and one of them is even with the Prime Minister! When strange things start happening all over the world, the dalmations have to figure out how to fix it. From a Dog Star to swooshing dogs, every dog has a mysterious, but miraculous day.

[Whitney]

I have always loved 101 Dalmatians movies and the book they are based on did not disappoint.
I must admit that I didn't like Starlight Barking as much and ended up DNFing it - for now. I may return to it later on.

[Katie Pitts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute read. 101 Dalmatians has some fun human relationship tidbits and the story is just fun. Starlight Barking takes a very different direction than the first book into the sci fi world. I’d read 101 Dalmatians again I think, not sure about Starlight Barking. More like 3.5 stars.

[Jennifer Fann-Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful!
Love an adventure about dogs!

[Jane White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely delightful. Highly recommend. Lore, world building, characterization, plot... High quality.

[Jo Beale]

1961 edition

[Tom Myer · Rating 5 out of 5]

As delightful now as when I first read it 45 years ago. Pongo, Missis, Perdita, the colonel, Roly poly, patch, lucky and cadpig — the best.

[Annelise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d give 101 Dalmatians 5 stars, but the Stalight Barking only 3-4, so I settled for a 4 overall. My boys LOVED the first book and liked the second.

[Ana T · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cute enjoyable story :)

[Arlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ohhhh what a lovely, adorable, charming book this is. The Hundred and One Dalmatians is a great heartwarming festive read, and The Starlight Barking is just absolutely mad. Very enjoyable.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating more for nostalgia than anything, given how many times I listened to the audio book on long journeys as a child. First time reading ‘The Starlight Barking’, and it’s as weird as everyone says.

[Dora Tihanyi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished the first story of the two.

[Carissa Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a great chance to read another part of 101 Dalmatians after watching the movie and knowing about the first book the second book brings another journey of the Dalmatians.