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Summary: Classic fantasy!
Review: This book is really good. It was a nice blend of mythological animals, fantasy, simbolizm, and morals. If you like such fantasy books as redwall, the hobbit, Dune,etc. Then you'll love this book.
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Summary: One of the best five books I have ever read
Review: This book, quite simply, is amazingly profound and wonderful genuine. The characters are all archtypal but nonetheless deep and extremely compelling.I couldn't think of a better book to offer as a gift to just about anyone I know. This is a true honest to goodness masterpiece. If you love allegory and you have a strong sense of the need for faith, this book will take you on an amazing journey.
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Summary: a simple fable - but so much more
Review: This is a simple fable of Chauntecleer, a rooster. He is in charge of a small animal kingdom and is confronted by the evil Coctrice, a half snake/half rooster who is the son of the devil, an evil serpant that is trapped beneath the surface of the earth but is trying to get out to destroy God's creation. The book revolves around the efforts of the animals to come together to confront the evil threat and the costs that such action entails. It also has much deeper themes such as the nature of love and forgiveness.
I really was not looking forward to reading this book - in fact, I only picked it out of my pile of books because I thought that I had remembered a friend had read it while we were in high school. Much to my surprise, however, I loved it. It was well-paced and the main characters had depth. I recommend this book enthusiastically.
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Summary: Enjoyable reading, best for teenagers.
Review: This is a well-done fantasy. The book's blurb compares it to "Lord of the Rings" and "Watership Down," and with those comparisons I would generally agree. I wasn't that enthused about it because I prefer fantasies (and myths) with human characters instead of animals and it suffers by comparison with Orson Scott Card's "Worthing Chronicle," a human myth that I read immediately prior. The blurb also says "Dun Cow" should be of interest to all age groups. I think young adults would be most likely to appreciate its characters while not being taken aback by its fairly violent and scary parts.
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Summary: This is one of the best books i have ever read
Review: This is an amazing story that is uplifting and just plain good. Wangering did an awesome job of writing that makes you feel like you are actually there. The characters are believable and endearing, not to mention animals. Everyone, who dosn't mind a little violence, should read this book.
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Summary: A unique read
Review: This is the first book I ever read which, upon completion, I flipped to page one and started reading again. It centers on a rooster named "Chauntecleer" who's life revolves around keeping his coop in line. He is somewhat arrogant and pompous, but he takes his duty seriously, and his concern for the hens he "governs" is obvious. He is assisted by a masochistic dog whos presence provides humor while simultaneously invoking a deep sense of sympathy. Another rooster gives in to vanity and unwittingly looses the ultimate evil of the world. Chauntecleer and his allies must stop this evil, or the world is lost. This brief synopsis does not even begin to do the book justice. The characters are vibrant and vivid. the story is engrossing, and even the most jaded fan will find the plot twists and imagery irrisitable. All I can say is read this book, you will not be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: A unique read
Review: This is the first book I ever read which, upon completion, I flipped to page one and started reading again. It centers on a rooster named "Chauntecleer" who's life revolves around keeping his coop in line. He is somewhat arrogant and pompous, but he takes his duty seriously, and his concern for the hens he "governs" is obvious. He is assisted by a masochistic dog whos presence provides humor while simultaneously invoking a deep sense of sympathy. Another rooster gives in to vanity and unwittingly looses the ultimate evil of the world. Chauntecleer and his allies must stop this evil, or the world is lost. This brief synopsis does not even begin to do the book justice. The characters are vibrant and vivid. the story is engrossing, and even the most jaded fan will find the plot twists and imagery irrisitable. All I can say is read this book, you will not be disappointed.
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Summary: delightful wounderfullness
Review: This was a great book. Wangerin writes in a style that makes you giggle. Whimsical wording and some words that you don't know the meaning of make this book just plain fun. This book is inexplicably reminiscent of the Harry Potter books in a weird and wonderful way. Both books posses delightfully fantastic plots and a distinctive British tone, more so in The Book of The Dun Cow. Although at times I wondered if a minister wrote it, due to the many references to God, lord of the universe, and the fact that Wyrm is a very strong symbol obviously representing Satan. As it turns out, I was exactly right, Walter Wangerin Jr. is a Lutheran minister, never the less, this book is a lovely romp through a fantastical Earth before time began.
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Summary: Fantastical and Poetic
Review: Wangerin has written a book that begs to be read aloud, but is a joy to read to yourself as well. His use of language is breathtaking -- evoking both a classic fairy tale and stylized character study. Do NOT let the fact that the main characters are talking animals throw you. TBODC is fable about Chauntacleer the Rooster, his Coop (and the surrounding lands), and their battle against a monstrous, mythic evil. Both intimate and epic, the story of the animals' battle are filled with heartrending sadness and soulcleansing joy. I would hard-pressed to label or categorize this book. Many have called it an allegory, and there ARE allegorical elements to it, but it is much more (or much different) from straight allegory. I consider myself a reasonably intelligent person, and a skilled reader, but Wangerin layers his story with meanings and submeanings, many of which I am sure escaped me. I didn't care, though. The wonderful language and emotion of the story immersed me into Chauntacleer's world, and I could marvel at the depth without knowing exactly HOW deep it went. If you're searching for a new fable that feels familiar but not predictable, one you can treaure and read aloud to friends and family, The Book of the Dun Cow is for you.
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Summary: Imagine animal farm with religion instead of politics.
Review: What Orwell's Animal Farm did for politics, Wangerin's Book of the Dun Cow does for religion. A previous reviewer commented on its place in the canon of animal myths, etc., but what he missed is the fact that this is a damn entertaining, don't-stop-turning-the-pages-until-the-fingers-are-blistered read filled with deeply flawed characters, believably-motivated action, and stunning language. Make sure you have the sequel/continuation The Book of Sorrows, handy. And, oddity of oddities, Wangerin has assisted in the creation of a musical theater piece based on The Book of the Dun Cow. It has yet to have a major production, but the workshop I saw indicated that his adapters are well on their way to helping this remarkable book reach a much wider audience
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