217 pages
Published April 10, 2013 by Spetember Press Books.
Twenty-five-year-old Steven faces a bleak life with a sadistic mother and a job at a slaughterhouse where he is confronted with extreme violence and death.
Well I inhaled this book with a straw. Is it gross? Yes. Did the scene where Steven "makes dinner" for the Hagbeast for the first time make me gag? Yes. But damn I loved the talking cows. And I felt like Matt Stokoe was driving at a deeper meaning. So while I would need to know the person I was recommending it to, I would still think this a book some people would do well with.
The only novel that's ever made me feel sick was actually one of Tim Powers's. But this one didn't do badly, assuming the reader likes being made sick (and not in the manner of Dorothy Parker's 'Tonstant Weader Fwowed Up' which may have to do with the unreleased 'Christopher Robin Finds a Chainsaw'.) I dont think the author is barking but his characters certainly are (or mooing, possibly). If meat is murder, is murder meat?
Or as Black Daniel sing, "I love you but don't touch me 'cos you're sick." Which is pretty much the theme of the entire book.
Not as good as the same author's "High Life," which feels more like it's supposed to be really happening while in "Cows" a lot of it is might be in the narrator's head. I'd equate this book to Chandler Morrison's "Dead Inside" which is a vileness he has spent the …
The only novel that's ever made me feel sick was actually one of Tim Powers's. But this one didn't do badly, assuming the reader likes being made sick (and not in the manner of Dorothy Parker's 'Tonstant Weader Fwowed Up' which may have to do with the unreleased 'Christopher Robin Finds a Chainsaw'.) I dont think the author is barking but his characters certainly are (or mooing, possibly). If meat is murder, is murder meat?
Or as Black Daniel sing, "I love you but don't touch me 'cos you're sick." Which is pretty much the theme of the entire book.
Not as good as the same author's "High Life," which feels more like it's supposed to be really happening while in "Cows" a lot of it is might be in the narrator's head. I'd equate this book to Chandler Morrison's "Dead Inside" which is a vileness he has spent the rest of his (so far brief) career trying to get past, like a cow in an alleyway.
This book was pretty good! It was more indepth than your average splatter punk, although it had it's fair amount of gore and grossness, it also had a deeper message. It wasn't violence for the sake of violence or graphic sex for the sake of shock. Well, some of it! So twisted and weird and wrong, gotta love it. Plus, cows.
I think Stokoe got a new fan in me!
So, ummmmm, I’m not sure I can properly review this. This is the kind of book that no matter what you say, someone will call you sick. Lol. It is definitely different. It is definitely dark and twisted. Not for the feint of heart. It’s also not without merit. If you’ve got a strong stomach, just give it a go. Maybe…
Not since the time of Jane Austen has there been such an interesting romance story as you will find in Cows.
The first half of the book was weak, it was all about the shock value, look at how many times I can say c***. Not until Steven stands up to the Hagbeast does a plot start to develop. The evolution of the cows is great to read, I am pretty sure that you will find herds living under cities and those found in fields are just a front to distract you, I have never trusted them!
Looking forward to the sequel now.
The only novel that's ever made me feel sick was actually one of Tim Powers's. But this one didn't do badly, assuming the reader likes being made sick (and not in the manner of Dorothy Parker's 'Tonstant Weader Fwowed Up' which may have to do with the unreleased 'Christopher Robin Finds a Chainsaw'.) I dont think the author is barking but his characters certainly are (or mooing, possibly). If meat is murder, is murder meat?
Or as Black Daniel sing, "I love you but don't touch me 'cos you're sick." Which is pretty much the theme of the entire book.
