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    Going Bovine
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    Going Bovine
    Unavailable
    Going Bovine
    Audiobook15 hours

    Going Bovine

    Written by Libba Bray

    Narrated by Erik Davies

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    From the author of the Gemma Doyle trilogy and The Diviners series, this groundbreaking New York Times bestseller and winner of the Michael L. Printz Award for literary excellence is "smart, funny, and layered," raves Entertainment Weekly.

    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.

    From acclaimed author Libba Bray comes a dark comedic journey that poses the questions: Why are we here? What is real? What makes microwave popcorn so good? Why must we die? And how do we really learn to live? 

    "A hilarious and hallucinatory quest."-The New York Times

    "Sublimely surreal."-People

    "Libba Bray's fabulous new book will, with any justice, be a cult classic. The kind of book you take with you to college, in the hopes that your roommate will turn out to have packed their own copy, too. Reading it is like discovering an alternate version of The Phantom Tollbooth, where Holden Caulfield has hit Milo over the head and stolen his car, his token, and his tollbooth. There's adventure and tragedy here, a sprinkling of romance, musical interludes, a battle-ready yard gnome who's also a Norse God, and practically a chorus line of physicists. Which reminds me: will someone, someday, take Going Bovine and turn it into a musical, preferably a rock opera? I want the sound track, the program, the T-shirt, and front row tickets."-Kelly Link, author of Get in Trouble, finalist for the Pulitzer Prize
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateSep 22, 2009
    ISBN9780739385586
    Unavailable
    Going Bovine
    Author

    Libba Bray

    Libba Bray is the New York Times bestselling author of A Great and Terrible Beauty and Rebel Angels, both of which have appeared on ALA's Best Books for Young Adults list.

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    Reviews for Going Bovine

    3.5/5

    818 ratings114 reviews

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    • 5/5
      We just started a book club and we're picking a new genre every month at random. Our first month's genre was "teenage angsty drama" and honestly I was less than thrilled. I stumbled upon this title, however, as I was searching what I would read. I love cows, so I was already half won over, but then I read the description and it was such a trip that I ordered the book from the library immediately.Man, did this book deliver! If you are a fan of Series of Unfortunate Events, Welcome to Night Vale, or anything else with self-aware humor or absurdity-that-is-considered-normal, you will love this book. But it's not just a good time, Cameron has a seriously deadly disease and it brings his mortality front and center a lot throughout his journey. And he's not the only character who is forced to look something in the eye that maybe he/she had been avoiding. Not a single word, character, object, or situation is accidental. Even as the pages began to thin out and I reached the end of the story, the final pieces fell into place in a way I didn't entirely expect, but also wasn't too surprised by.Come for the cult that worships happiness in a bowling alley, stay for the strong relationships built through discovering who you are together.
    • 5/5
      I absolutely love quirky, random books and Libba Bray has some great ones. The story of a boy diagnosed with BSE goes on a road trip with his friend Gonzo and a yard gnome named Balder in an attempt to find the man who will cure him. He is given advice and guidance by an angel that only he sees . He learns and experiences many things all the while avoiding the authorities who are on their tail. A great road trip tale.
    • 4/5
      A whacky meditation on humanity and the pointlessness of it all. There are some very humorous bits. I listened to the audio; the voice of Baldur is done particularly well. It was long, and I don't remember it all, in a few years I'ld probably be ready to read it again. There was a good deal of trenchant satire, especially of suburbia and academia.
    • 4/5
      Cameron is a disfranchised youth, disconnected, and disjointed from the world that could be wonderful, if he could take the chance and go there. In the end, through the slow and spiraling destruction of his processing he learns a lifetime of lessons in a short lifetime that hopefully we each will learn in a full, long, lifetime. In the spirit of a Don Quiotesque quest, Cameron learns life's lessons. Lessons about love, meaning, relationships, and value. I really enjoyed Cameron's character as an honest person. I found that he was irritating at first, and as he matured, I admired him in the end.
    • 4/5
      Took a while to get into, but ended up being a really interesting read that makes you think about your own life. The ending has a twist you begin to suspect, but nevertheless it is a good end. Lots of good quotes, and symbolism (feather).Cameron is diagnosed with Mad Cow disease, and is instructed by an angel, Dulcie, to set out on a road trip to find Dr. X, who will cure him and save the world. He takes along Gonzo, a agoraphobic dwarf, and along the way they pick up a talking garden gnome, Balder. They have many interesting encounters, and Cameron learns to live before his life ends.
    • 5/5
      Going BovineBy Libba BrayAfter reading The Diviners, I wanted more from this author and this was available from the library in audio. I am so glad I found it! What a gem of a book! It has wit, action, a cross country adventure with a skinny terminal ill boy, a teenage death obsessed dwarf, and a talking garden gnome. I shouldn't leave out the punk rock looking winged messenger that helps Cameron on his journey to find Dr X.See, Cameron has Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease, which is like Mad Cow only the human version. As an ICU nurse I have only seen one case in all my years in nursing. The doctors at the time told us this is rare and most doctors and nurses will never deal with a case like this.Well, Cam's punk rock angel came to his hospital and convinced him to go on an adventure to save himself and the world. The whole book is clever, touching, humorous, magical, and sad, yet hopeful.This is definitely one of my favorite books.
    • 3/5
      Hm. I liked the writing style, and there were some characters I really LOVED in here. Junior Webster, Eubie, and Balder topped my favorites list. Plus there are some great, laugh out loud funny moments. But. My major issues with it didn't crop up until the end, and discussing them would be spoilery. So I won't.

      Things I didn't love:

      The slightly schizoid writing style, which, yes, makes sense for the story and the character. It's just not a style I really enjoy, so. There's that.

      The plotline from pages 196-233. Yes, that's specific. It also really bugs.

      The end.

      To sum up! If you have the time, it's not a bad read. But I'm not going to tell you to run out and pick it up.


    • 3/5
      Teen fiction. It's Libba Bray, again, but this teen adventure story is boy-friendly.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this book--the character's voice was true, the story fun and scary and wild. Not the ending I would have written or chosen, but it was not totally unsatisfying. Great YA although some material that might be a bit too mature for pre-teen readers.
    • 3/5
      The back cover predicted that this book will be a cult classic. If so, it deserves it, but I will not be among its following. I couldn't bring myself to like the protagonist, no idea why.
    • 4/5
      This book is cotton candy on acid.
    • 4/5
      Really liked this book until it started getting too long . . . too many adventures. I would have enjoyed it much more if there were about 100 fewer pages.
    • 4/5
      What more is there to say??? I mean really, the backflap says it all.
      So, i was a little surprised when i heard about this book and saw that Libba was not doing a fantasy-type novel like A Great and Terrible Beauty but after watching the trailer she made for this book [wherein she dresses in a cow suit and walks around New York:] i knew that this was probably going to be better that AGATB.
      Well... it was something....
      Totally freakin' awesome, also, completely impossible to review!
      It was like... taking the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, putting a Libba Bray spin on it, and then throw in drug induced hallucinations.
      Who wouldn't want to read this book????
      The story is of Cameron, a total good for nothing who doesn't give a care until he develops Mad Cow Disease and told that there really is no cure.
      Enter Dulcie, the pink haired, combat boot clad, sugar obsessed angel who tells him this totally cosmic story about dark matter, parallel worlds, a Doctor that goes by X, and a cure.
      But, Cameron has to find this Dr X to get the cure. So, along with dwarf friend Gonzo. Off he goes.
      What results i can only describe as totally indescribable. Seriously, i am floored at how someone can even come up with such complete random awesomeness. It was hilarious, thought provoking, tear jerking, and totally amazing.
      On their journey they meet a cult of happiness [omg. that was one of my favourite parts:] a gnome who isn't really a gnome. And a plethora of random.... awesomeness....
      If you're a fan of Libba's previous work i would read this. If you like The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, you should read this. If you hate reading and don't even know why you're reading this post.... you should read this. If you have ever pondered [as i have:] just WHAT makes microwave popcorn so freakin' delicious, you should read this!
      It was deep and cosmic in an odd sort of way, it's definitely a book i plan on reading again... and again... until i at least vaguely comprehend the awesome.
    • 3/5
      This is an original, bizarre, quirky book filled with in-your-face humour. It's the first book I've encountered where I was captivated by the acknowledgements. Although protagonist is an irritating teenager, you can't help but love him. The main character's life spins out of control on two levels. It is mythic and mystical. However, I was a little disappointed that the ending wasn't more.
    • 3/5
      Bizarre, quirky, and at turns charming and grating. I really don't know how best to review this book. I hated parts and loved parts. Different from anything I've read recently.
    • 2/5
      Narrated by Erik Davies. Huh. How to explain this book? Is it simply a story about a boy named Cameron experiencing hallucinations as he increasingly suffers from mad cow disease? Is it a teenage "Don Quixote" on peyote? Or is it a story best enjoyed while totally loaded? All I know is, this book goes all over the place and you either enjoy the freaky ride or you're going to be frustrated. I was the latter.
    • 3/5
      I don't know if this is the worst young adult novel of a generation or the best.

      First, I think this would be a fabulous book to use in high school English classes to teach literary devices such as symbolism, foreshadowing, etc. ESPECIALLY symbolism. That being said, it'll never see the light of day in public schools because of the sex, drugs, and language.

      My parents never censored my reading as a kid, I think it was a good thing. But I am uneasy with the main character. I don't like him. He's, well, a teenager, I guess. Perhaps if I wasn't 30, his attitude wouldn't have bothered me as much.

      Definitely worth a go.
    • 5/5
      What is it about looming death that makes people finally appreciate life? This book is about the journey Cameron takes after he finds out he has mad cow disease, with his dwarf friend, Gonzo and a yard gnome named Balder. It is a an humorous, sad, hopeful journey. I understand completely why this book won the Printz. It is beautifully written, bizarre and absolutely hilarious.
    • 4/5
      This is one of those books that people either seem to love, or not like at all. And I have to say that, after reading it, I can see why. It's a strange story. Not only is the plot kind of wacky, but the underlying themes are not always happy ones. If you don't like to be confused and forced to face your own mortality, this book is probably not for you.BUT. If you can roll with some crazy, and if you don't mind a thread of serious mixed in, this book is truly worth the ride. Real or not (and when you read the book you'll know what I mean by that), it's hard not to love these characters and their tilting-at-windmills adventure. I'm glad Project TBR forced me to finally give it some attention.
    • 3/5
      eh really 2/12 stars parts of it bored me.
    • 3/5
      It took me a while to read this cause I had to interrupt myself and read other things with more pressing due dates. However this was a really good book and I totally see why it one a Printz award. It was a great adventure story that dealt with how important actually living life is without being overly heavy and messagey. The author makes sure that Cameron experiences the good things about life and the bad things and honestly I am really glad that they don't dwell on the disease. The adventure Cameron and Gonzo go on is all about parallel dimensions and possible time travel, but they don't get bogged down in the science of it, which is good for keeping non sciency people involved.

      ***Spoiler***I do have one gripe, to the blogger (and I am not sure who it was) that reviewed it and gave away the whole is this adventure happening in his head or not. I am pretty sure it was going on in his head and I kind wish you hadn't spilled the beans or had at least warned about your spoiler cause it kind of blew it for me a little.***spoiler ends***
    • 3/5
      Well, I honestly didn't expect much of this book, so I was neither disappointed nor impressed. The book is OK really. It's about a regular teenager who finds he has Creutzfeldt-Jakob (a.k.a. mad cow disease), which gives him god only knows how much more time of life. While he is at the hospital, a spunky angel appears to him purposing him one thing that could save his life: to find a certain Dr. X who would have the key to the cure of his disease... and to save the world from inter dimensional fire monsters.

      The story may sound stupid, childish and cheesy, but I found the progression of the whole thing rather plausible. I mean, you obviously won't meet Norse gods around the world trapped within the body of a yard gnome, but what's more... "common" than a teenager running away from the hospital and going on an adventure? There are several elements of fantasy, but the plot overall is very "realistic".

      Still, I feel that the story could have been much better. I found the characters were somewhat empty and superficial when they HAD the potential to be much more complex. There wasn't enough of them for me to feel captivated. It feels like the story was cold and distant.

      In spite of that, it's a nice quick reading.
    • 3/5
      Interesting concept and story. Could have done with a little less swearing, although it usually fit the characters.
    • 5/5
      "And there's nothing to say but wow. Wow. The same word backward and forward."I think it's going to take me a long time to process this book, just as it took me a long time to read it. But this is an instant favorite, just like Libba's other books. Though "Going Bovine" couldn't be more different from the "Gemma Doyle" trilogy if it tried. But all four are completely Libba, all the way, and I love that. Ms. Bray, I'll read your books till I die.
    • 4/5
      Libba Bray’s young adult novel, Going Bovine, took me on quite a trip- pun intended. And while I did enjoy the novel, it didn’t quite hit that top-notch mark I was expecting it to. I had loved Ms. Bray’s Gemma Doyle series but had never read any of her other work, so as a biased reader, perhaps I set the bar too high. But based on that personal experience and the positive, raving reviews, I was convinced it would live up to its hype.In terms of my personal response, I often felt there was an overabundance of detail, and specific moments that all sought to illustrate the same idea. I think this response applies more to the side of me that was attempting to read from a young adult’s perspective, rather than as an adult reader. With that being said, I understand that the novel was meant to have many layers and “dots” that needed to be connected, but you don’t want to make a young reader’s journey so multifarious or complex that it takes away from the simple pleasure of reading. I think there are certain details, even minor characters that could create some confusion as to their relevance, which in turn, could potentially hinder the story’s believability.For example, when Cameron asks for directions from the old man at the hardware store, he’s instructed to journey past a dead end at a guard rail to find what he’s looking for. Cameron’s wary about the old man’s directions and attempts to drive away, but his vehicle dies at that very moment. What originally seems like an ironic stroke of bad luck, actually leads to a significant, and still ironic, moment of insight in which we learn about the wishing tree and witness the relationship between Cameron and Dulcie continue to evolve. But then, as Cameron attempts to get back on the road, the old man is insistent that he enter the hardware store, upon which he is given a “magical” screw that the old man deems “necessary” and has the “power to change a life.” Yes, the screw serves a purpose later in the story, in which it inadvertently changes a college kid’s fate, one in which he was supposed to die, and instead lives. Personally, this did nothing more than to illustrate another example about the mystery of one’s fate. It wasn’t necessary for me to get the full effect of what the author was trying to reveal. And yet, for a different young reader, it could be an essential event, but the moments leading up to it weren’t. My point is that it can be too much- too much for a young reader to take in and comprehend. And I think too many layers and details can take away from the stories believability. On a positive note, there were moments of revelation and insight that I really connected with on a personal level. Near the end, when Cameron is standing by the entrance/exit of the Small World ride, he questions why he had loved Disney World so much as a child. As a young adult, the long lines, whining kids, and scorching heat make him question the validity of his own memory, but when he sees the “pure wonder” on the faces of the kids and their smiling parents trailing behind, he understands the power such a “contagious joy” has on any person of any age. These are the kind of rare moments that come unexpectedly and bring with them a sense of what it is to be human.
    • 5/5
      One of the most surreal and well-done contemporary novels I've ever read. Admittedly, the second time through I was a little less impressed with the characters but it's still awesome and the plot is just epic. All the little twists and turns and surprises and things that come back to haunt Cameron and the gang.

      And don't get me started on Balder. Easily my favorite character and a very noble and mighty warrior.

      Dulcie's also pretty cool, if maybe a little... cliché? Stereotypical? I'm not sure what the word I'm looking for is, but she's that. Nevertheless, I like her a lot more than lots of fictional heroines.

      The ending is also perfectly well done. Just perfect.Ultimately one of my favorite books and one I'd easily recommend to lovers of surreal fantasy and road trips and Norse gods.
    • 5/5
      Beyond fantastic. Epic. Deserving if every bit of praise it got. I honestly didn't think someone could pull off the classic hero's quest in a postmodern novel, but Bray has done it. HIGHLY recommended.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Cameron's main goal in life is to coast through high school and life. Then Cameron is diagnosed with mad cow disease and so begins the YA novel Going Bovine. While in the hospital Cameron meets Dulcie, a cute winged punk angel, who presents him with a quest to save the world and his own life . With nothing to lose, Cameron heads out on the ultimate of road trips. He is joined on his adventure by Gonzo, a hypochondriac little person, and Balder, a Norse god trapped in the form of a yard gnome. Along the way issues of time travel, life and death, love, sex, commercialism, happiness and existence versus living are brought front and center in a satirical, sometimes touching, sometimes hilarious, and often absurd way. Is this novel a book of Cameron’s hallucination or a journey into a parallel universe doesn’t really matter in the end. I loved this quirky little book—I kept thinking about it days after I finished the last page. A 5 out of 5 stars.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Unique plot and well-written characters with humor tossed in at all the right places made for one awesome read. I loved it and would definitely recommend this!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 2/5
      I gave up on this book. Usually, I enjoy the winners of ALA's Printz award, but this book just didn't seem up to par. It seemed very gimmicky, with lots of silly colloquialisms and teenage cliches thrown in. I gave it a good 80 pages or so, but I found that I was totally uninterested and even bored.