Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Going Bovine


All 16-year-old Cameron wants is to get through high school—and life in general—with a minimum of effort. It’s not a lot to ask. But that’s before he’s given some bad news: he’s sick and he’s going to die. Which totally sucks. Hope arrives in the winged form of Dulcie, a loopy punk angel/possible hallucination with a bad sugar habit. She tells Cam there is a cure—if he’s willing to go in search of it. With the help of a death-obsessed, video-gaming dwarf and a yard gnome, Cam sets off on the mother of all road trips through a twisted America into the heart of what matters most.

Nathan says 5 stars...
I literally just finished this book. As in I turned the final page about 3 minutes ago. I'm still in a state of shock. That's how good this book is. Note the lack of compound sentences. I'm incapable of complex thought. My processes are being dedicated to figuring out/savoring/loving Going Bovine. I knew that I would probably like this book, I mean, it's Libba Bray. The Gemma Doyle Trilogy is Victorian candy, and her blog is a must read if you like writing, laughing, or living. What I didn't know about this book is that it would, make me invested, make me think, make me laugh, make me distraught, and make me want to live my life to its fullest. Every moment was spectacular and beautiful. It felt organic. The writing was bold, fresh, and perfect. The dialouge felt both surreal and real showcasing Bray's skill. The most stunning thing about Going Bovine has to be her cast of characters. I loved every single character. They all made sense. They all helped the story. The protaginist Cameron is an appropriate semi-blank canvas on which Bray later paints life and love. Gonzo is the unexpected best friend who is dealing with his own identity issues. Balder is the indestructable Norse God yard gnome who brings an old world sensibility and new world kick-buttery to the table. Dulcie is a punk rock angel who tries to guide Cameron and crew through a road trip filled chock full of epicness. This mix of original characters sucks the reader in with a shocking immediacy into an impeccably crafted story. If you like life, laughter, and butt-kicking gnomes Going Bovine is absolutely necessary to life...whatever that is.

2 comments:

Jessica B said...

Awesome review Nathan! I REALLY want this book!

Cassie G said...

I want this book sooooo badly! It leaps out to me in bookstores, but i still don't have it! FML.

Post a Comment