Cowkind: A Novel

by Ray Petersen

Bob Scott's cows are worried. Farmer Bob is acting oddly, and his draft-age son, Gerry, is fearful too. It is the late 1960s. Gerry is struggling with his parents, his college-bound sister Renee, Vietnam, and all the pressures of his generation, pressures that will change the farm and the lives of every creature on it, especially the Bossy, whose tender affection for Farmer Bob is unrequited; Smitty, the wise elder tormented by disrespectful younger cows; Calvin, the prodigal calf; Peanut, who dreams of running away to join the circus; White John, the bull whose role and identity are threatened by progress; And Aretha, the abused cow whose unearthly visions may redeem them all - even Farmer Bob.

Hardcover

First published June 1, 1996

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why am I reviewing a book I read 7 or 8 years ago? I need a break from reading, that's why. The stack of books on my TV that I really, really want to finish or start is getting bigger than the TV they rest on. I'm talking about the big TV with the big pile of books on it, not the little TV with a precarious mound of books and magazines.

Cowkind is a unique experience that lights me up when I think about it. I always recommend it. It might be hard to find as it's likely out of print and I loaned my copy out years ago and it was never returned. Check Amazon or Abe, eh?

This book was another find at my junkyard. I would have never found it otherwise and might never have bought it. Growing up on a farm with lots of cows helped me appreciate 'Cowkind'. I always thought they were just dumb. Dumb ME!

The chapters alternate, as I recall, between the points of view of the human farmers and that of the cows. The humans are struggling with the son on the verge of going off to fight the Vietnam War. The cows reveal (veal...get it?) their traditions, folklore, wisdom, logic and reasoning. It makes sense why cows they do the things they do when you see life thru their eyes. It's a little like a bovine 'Watership Down'.

I give this book 5 cowpies as something completely different.

[Savanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cows are magic, the Vietnam war tore families apart, and being a farm boy is real rough. The end.

[Carrie Bee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really awful book. Bad writing. Bad plot. Poor character development.

[Duane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting concept. My only disappointment was the inaccuracy in the AI process by the author.

[Liz · Rating 1 out of 5]

People are mean to each other. People are mean to cows. Cows are mean to each other. And the dog dies. Nothing to like about this book at all.

[Peggy Schuster · Rating 1 out of 5]

I live on a farm, I grew up across from a farm (and spent much of my time there), I understand that animals all have their own "voice", I grew up during the Vietnam War, so I thought this might just the perfect quirky/meaningful/deep book for me. Nope. I was wrong.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much fun. May help that I'm a farmer's daughter, but I found this delightful.

[Mrs. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not expect to like this one, but after being sufficiently intrigued from the start, I couldn't put it down.

*Read for my 2015 challenge: Book with non-human characters*