Cows

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In a lot of ways, this is a 5-star book, and in a lot of other ways, it is a 1-star book, so I'm leaving my review at 3. Her years of experience tending to animals is a fitting testament (if you still needed it) to the fact that all creatures, including cows, have their own unique personhoods - thoughts, feelings, imaginations, desires - just like humans do.

Steven is 25, he lives with his mother, the Hagbeast, and they attempt to best each other in abusiveness within a no exit scenario. Direi più interessante per chi è vissuto da sempre in centro a Manhattan e non ha mai visto una mucca viva che per chi vive in Alto Adige e incontra nella sua vita più mucche, cavalli, maiali che esseri umani. COWS’ has become a cult classic, much in the way ‘A Serbian Tale’ has for the movie watching community. It’s a big job, considering that much of the current conversation around cattle centers around the undeniable problems stemming from the farming industrial complex that raises them—the deforestation of Brazil’s rainforest, the methane emissions caused by cow farts, the challenge of what to do with the staggering quantities of manure produced by feedlots. Connell’s memoir also charts our long relationship with cattle, our companions for some 10,000 years: “To speak of cattle is to speak of man.

I completely understand the frustrations that the author has regarding mass-farming and I agree, but on the whole I found that the book was more about describing the personalities of particular cows on her farm rather than a more scientific approach which would have discussed cows as a species.

The author thinks that because she has never observed something before it must be something that is unique and a sign of intelligence. Photograph: Photograph taken by Alan Hopps/Getty Images ‘To speak of cattle is to speak of man’ … beef cattle on a farm. It was after a couple of practice days on a dairy farm that I saw that cows aren't just 'things': they've got feelings, a hierarchy, social contacts, deep friendships. In telling the stories of her animals, there are amusing anecdotes, moments of sadness and examples that show just how highly intelligent they can be.Another way to put this would be to say that COWS makes a rum mixture of a large number of important provocations: morality, ethics, sexuality, perversity, nihilism, sadism… nearly every concept I have mentioned in this review, including beauty and harmony, is contested. Being a vet tech student I needed to learn about cows, but only for their use, the breeds and a little bit about their behaviour. I can understand readers giving the book one star based on gut reaction or effect or just plain dislike. Already he could feel the wind against his skin, the unstoppable power of the stampede, see the tracering splash of dim lights and the rush of tunnel walls, feel the glory of motion and power, his expansion into being … and the blessed communion of belonging.

Stephen lives holed up in his room, watching perfect lives on TV, dreaming of what it would be like to be safe, to be happy, to be loved and to be normal. But that doesn’t influence the fact that, while they were alive, every single person on this farm gave their everything to make the lives of these animals as comfortable as possible. It's not the typical farm we know, but the more sustainable and organic farm, like there need to be more of that.

are to be found in large black lumps mixed in with the organs, and ceaselessly dissects things trying to find them; Steven is convinced the Hagbeast is trying to kill him by feeding him undercooked pork; the thing in the vents is getting more insistent; Cripps wants to teach Steven the ins and outs of cow-killing. This situation we have here is like Bret Easton Ellis finding himself alone in a room full of women in 1991 just after you know what was published. Stokoe : I can’t believe this is happening, what a nightmare – (he scrabbles for his cellphone, which is roughly knocked out of his hand and then stepped on by Helen, a particularly stroppy cow.