Rating: 
Summary: Nothing new here
Review: While Ms. Zigman writes a snappy text in her first book, the content itself was nothing we have not read before. Men are pigs (or bulls) who leave women when the novelty wears off. The Cow theory is merely designed to make the whole premise seem new, but the whole book deals with no new territory.
I found the book hard to recommend and hope Ms. Zigman's next book does not waste her witty writing on mediocre content like this.
Rating: 
Summary: Acerbic, Insightful, Wry--And I am a Guy
Review: Laura Zigman's debut is one of the most intelligent books I've read this year. But unlike academic novelists, (Peter Carey, for one) Zigman's novel is accessible, tightly drawn and real. The anecdotal relation of scientific and literary material as a framing device both mimics and subverts the Mars-Venus culture we've become. I'm a firm believer that literature reflects the moral condition of our time, and Laura Zigman reflects a segment of our moral condition as accurately as some of our strongest moralists, writers like Denis Johnson and Harry Crews, yet does so from a precise, female-centered point of view. And she manages to accomplish this feat while being laugh-out-loud funny, in the manner of the early novels of John Irving. My only complaint is that, at times, the novel spins a bit within its jokes, an affliction this writer shares with people like Michael Chabon; the humor sometimes gets in the way of the hard work, examining the more excruciating parts of the way we live.
Rating: 
Summary: LOVED IT
Review: Without a doubt one of the funniest books I have read in years. If you have ever been a victim of a disappearing male run, do not walk, to the nearest bookstore for this book. To see, laid out in such ascerbic detail, some explanation of all that he didn't bother to communicate is sssooo wonderful.
Rating: 
Summary: I that drone I hear supposed to be humor?
Review: I got an "advance copy" of this book at a book show namely because I thought the title was a riot. Well, that is just about the only funny thing I could discern from a.)meeting the author b.) hearing her interviewed on NPR and c). getting 100+ pages into the book. Not only is the book not funny, its narcisssistic & cynical 'humor' is offensive because of its lack of depth. Blech. All I can say is I'm glad it was free.
Rating:
Summary: I could've wrote this book!
Review: This book takes me back to a time that I wished never happened. I enjoyed the fact that I was able to identify with her emotions, practically using the same thoughts and words! Sorry if this seems like a male-bashing novel, but hey, if I can identify with it, I love it!
Rating:
Summary: Great book! Bad ending
Review: I thought that Animal Husbandry was a very good book. Especially, the little similarities between bulls, man and other members of the animal kingdom. I had a hard time putting down, unitl I reached the last chapter...Though insightful, thoughtful, witty, and frightfully similar to my own life, I felt the book only had one flaw...the ending. Unless Laura wanted the story to come "full circle", where the characters ended up almost exactly where they all started. Maybe being an American I wanted a happy ending.(?) Pulling for Jane to finally find happiness, even if it was in an unusual place (Eddie). But for the last chapter to start out with "Well what did happen to everyone..." was a bit of a let down. But entertaining and hunorous all the same.
Rating:
Summary: A Highly Entertaining First Novel
Review: I am surprised that some people would find this book male-bashing. Perhaps it hits a little too close to home. I couldn't put this book down. The main characters are funny, smart, and interesting, and I would want to be friends with them. This is one of the most entertaining first novels I've ever read.
Rating: 
Summary: Male Bashing Bull
Review: Laura Zigman's book is sure to become popular among the male bashing feminists who have confused self empowerment with discrimination.It's male characters stereotypes all men as insensitive, thoughtless animals incapable of sincere compassion for another person. If a book was written characterizing women in this manner, I'm sure the political incorrectness of such a book would get ample press coverage in the ensuing protests and outrage. This is unfortunate as Ms. Zigman displays a true zest with literature displayed in her dialogue, character building, plots and humor. However at the end of this book I couldn't help but wonder if Ms. Zigmans writing ability will fade into obscurity...much as the suffering from her jilted relationship, which obviously propelled her to write this book, will fade. Learn your lessons and get over it Ms. Zigman. And don't give up on love as one bull does not a herd make.
Rating:
Summary: Not promise, but threat
Review: A novel about women-hating men (one in particular) and a self-loating woman narratrix who describes herself as having "frizzy" hair and being "Semitically-challenged" (which is what, not being Semitic enough?) who have a brief "relationship" that leaves the latter with enough "how stupid was I" anecdotes to string together what might, most charitably be called a long, maybe R-rated, Seinfeld script.The premise, first hinted (!) at by the title, is that "bulls" are always looking for a "new cow" to replace the "old cow". In the off-chance that the reader has dropped in from outer space, this sophmoric (is there such a word as freshmanic?) theory is further limned at the start of each episode with a revealing quote from a reputable source on biology, psychology or cultural anthropology. Thus we are informed that the book is serious. Perhaps the emphasis on biology contains a sub-text of forgiveness; the poor fellow couldn't help himself - it was imprinted on him to be a cad. What, however, was imprinted on her? Here's a man who carps about his fiancee/roommate (of six years, if we are to believe him) at every turn. The narratrix apparently is an orphan only child with no mother or sister, or even father or brother, to suggest she connect the dots between bad behavior/loyalty and bad behavior/casual sex. This book would not be considered an example of modern deconstructed fiction because that would imply it was once constructed. The narrative is herky-jerky, the dialogue unconvincing and the characters described almost entirely by their choice of beverages and smoking mannerisms. The focus shifts only minutely from the heroine in "love" to the heroine in heartbreak, describes a brief whiff of revenge (based on conceit and deceit) and then, granting the faithful reader no knowledge, no resolution and no drama, brings the curtain down. The heroine says her "mouth watered at the sight of his washboard stomach". I, too, experienced physical symptoms related to the digestive tract. This first novel holds not promise, but threat.
Rating:
Summary: A brilliant comedy for anyone who has been in a relationship
Review: You'll find a lot of laugh outloud moments here, a lot of wisdom and a lot of humor in the lovely comedy. And I'm speaking as one of the male readers. Trust me: This book isn't really a exercise in male-bashing...other than where bashing is due, of course. I have three copies and one is now making the rounds of my office. So men, read this book. Laugh out loud. You owe it to yourself to know what almost every women will be reading soon.
|
