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kjurewicz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
That book was a wild ride! Cameron’s narrative voice was great - he reminded me of a modern day Holden Caufield, but better. I will say that this book was a bit dense and had a lot of different references that were sometimes hard to follow. Additionally, the entire structure/premise of the book was predictable. But this would be a great book for anyone looking for a modern hero’s journey with lots of wackiness.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Terminal illness
Moderate: Sexual content and Cursing
Minor: Drug use
spcandybars's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book has been sitting on my list for YEARS and now that I've finally ready it, I enjoyed myself! I loved Libba Bray books when I was in middle school and I remember Going Bovine feeling like it would be a good introduction to more mature, young adult books coming from her Gemma Doyle series. It lost me early on because it was so rooted in reality at the start and my high school self quickly moved on but I've always found myself wanted to say I've read the book in the library with the cow holding the garden gnome.
The story is adventurous and zany with plenty of nonsensical scenarios that you would hope for going into a book that looks like this. I appreciate that it doesn't try to bury the end as some sort of twist - dropping you into reality throughout the narrative so you're prepared. Of all the YA books I've read where teen characters are facing death and mortality directly, this one is somehow the most grounded
despite also being the most fanciful. The romance is unnecessary and very clearly a sign of the time this was written but I found myself enjoying the ride throughout save for a few slow parts as we moved from one setting to another.
For a book written in the mid 2000s, the humor and language hold up pretty well. The representation feels like it could be hit or miss (refer to own voices reviews for views on the representation of little people) and there is some language that I don’t think flies today but it didn’t feel like anything was used for shock which kept these instances from feeling terribly uncomfortable to read. I wouldn’t want to see it in a 2023 book but for 2009 when diversity wasn’t even as much of a priority as it is over a decade later, I applaud that Libba Bray successfully included multiple types of people through this narrative and that it felt like a real PLACE most of the time. I don’t think this is ground breaking YA fiction or Libba Bray’s best - The Diviners series ultimately makes more of an emotional impact than this - but it is a good ride that I’d recommend if you want to read something that isn’t too taxing.
For a book written in the mid 2000s, the humor and language hold up pretty well. The representation feels like it could be hit or miss (refer to own voices reviews for views on the representation of little people) and there is some language that I don’t think flies today but it didn’t feel like anything was used for shock which kept these instances from feeling terribly uncomfortable to read. I wouldn’t want to see it in a 2023 book but for 2009 when diversity wasn’t even as much of a priority as it is over a decade later, I applaud that Libba Bray successfully included multiple types of people through this narrative and that it felt like a real PLACE most of the time. I don’t think this is ground breaking YA fiction or Libba Bray’s best - The Diviners series ultimately makes more of an emotional impact than this - but it is a good ride that I’d recommend if you want to read something that isn’t too taxing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness
Moderate: Sexual content and Death
Minor: Drug use, Infidelity, and Medical content
aylaravenstar's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I'm a fan of Libba Bray and I think she crafted a unique take on the "dying teenager" genre with Going Bovine, however I had a hard time enjoying this book because I found the main character to be almost completely unlikable. I'm not the target audience for this book though, and I encourage any fans of Libba Bray to give it a try, particularly young adults that may identify more directly with the protagonist.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, and Terminal illness
Minor: Animal death, Drug use, Grief, and Medical content
kommatator's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use
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