The Book of the Dun Cow

Rating:
Summary: An excellent book to read aloud, to adults or to children.
Review: When I was 9 years old, my father read this book to me. It stayed with me. I am now 30 and after re-reading Watership Down last month I was reminded of this book, and of how good it was. Last weekend, I spent three days reading it to my new bride. We both cried. There are some people who chose to read this novel as some kind of radical religious parable. Those people are missing the point. It is a pure story of how everyone, everyday, fights against the urge to be the worst they could be; and how sometimes, with the right circumstance they become the best they can be. Without this hope, we are all alone and simply, ""marooned.''

Rating:
Summary: Very Readable Account of Good and Evil
Review: While I admit I loved this book mostly because of Mundo Cani (probably one of the most wondrous characters in American Literature,) it was also a genuinely compelling read. The combat between Wyrm and Chauntecleer is only the first level of the story...but it seems to go deeper than that. There are elements of biblical allusion scattered throughout, and animalistic ritual that add to the epic tone of this novel. Wangerin's beautiful language make it understandable, and while it's a formidable tale, it's a very quick read. I highly recommend it.