SEPTEMBER 2015 - AudioFile
Michael Perry takes a direct, wry approach to narrating his own bizarre work. Around Christmas, on the outskirts of a small town where several secretive doings and business propositions are slowly coming to a head, a calf with markings in the likeness of Jesus Christ is born. Perry's pacing neatly embodies the ebb and flow of life in a small town; depictions of everyday life are interspersed with flutters of fervent activity. The story, and Perry's delivery, are simultaneously wholesome and irreverent—a multifaceted web of narratives laid out with ceremonious detail. Evocative of the work of David Sedaris and Garrison Keillor, Perry's story and delivery are idiosyncratic, honest, and likable. K.S.B. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine
Publishers Weekly
03/30/2015
Perry’s (Population: 485) latest is an amiable and quirky exploration of Christian beliefs, set against the backdrop of economically depressed rural Wisconsin. Bachelor Harley has been forced to sell portions of his family’s farm to developers over the years just to stay afloat. But on Christmas Eve, his beef cow goes into labor, delivers a calf that bears the unmistakable image of Jesus on her hide, and Harley knows his life is about to change—whether it’s for the better or not, however, is unclear. Harley initially attempts to hide the Jesus Cow, but word quickly gets out, and soon everyone in town has an opinion. There’s Klute Sorensen, the Hummer-driving developer intent on suing Harley right out of his home. Carolyn Sawchuck, a disgraced academic, rents the old water tower and shack on one edge of Harley’s land. And then there’s Billy, Harley’s friend, whose help is well intentioned but usually comes in the form of old country lyrics dispensed over a bottle of beer. Perry’s novel wrestles with some big issues—religion, environmentalism, community—but he resists letting his narrative get too bogged down in them. The result is a purposeful story that doesn’t overwhelm, an often charming read that rarely takes itself too seriously. (May)
From the Publisher
A fun commentary on small-town America and today’s insatiable appetite for goofy stories to fill the Web.” — New York Post (Required Reading — lead pick)
A hilarious glimpse into small-town life and cowboy/farmer/”Scandihoovian” philosophy, combined with meditations on the meanings of faith, environmentalism, development, and romance. Highly recommended for fans of Christopher Moore.” — Library Journal, starred review
“Perry once again delivers his own brand of outlandishness through rich, endearing characterizations of quirky small-town folks....By deploying humor in depicting the often painful truths and absurdities of life, Perry successfully makes much larger statements about society and the human condition.” — Shelf Awareness
“A loveable, kind-hearted, and hilarious romp. Michael Perry has done it again - written another winning book that will satisfy his legions of already devout fans, and bring many more new devotees into the fold. Perry is a small-town American treasure.” — Nickolas Butler, author of Shotgun Lovesongs
“After successful memoirs such as Population: 485 and Truck: A Love Story, this is Michael Perry’s first novel for adults, and it’s a good one. The tale....is laugh-out-loud funny and propelled by plot lines that come together in an explosive climax.” — Minneapolis Star Tribune
“The Jesus Cow, is a fun, effortless read that lends itself to audible chortles in readers. It’s populated with average folks who could....be standing in line at the local grocery store or filling their gas tanks next to you at the all-night Kwick Pump.” — Eagle Tribune (Mass.)
“The Jesus Cow is Michael Perry at his best.” — VolumeOne
“Perry’s simple pleasures grow mighty complicated as his aw-shucks pastoral dabbles in love, riches, barn sex, local politics, and finally a municipal catastrophe. And all because of a special cow, er, steer.” — Milwaukee Magazine
“Perry’s novel wrestles with some big issues-religion, environmentalism, community-but he resists letting his narrative get too bogged down in them. The result is a purposeful story that doesn’t overwhelm, an often charming read that rarely takes itself too seriously.” — Publishers Weekly
“Humorist Perry’s first novel combines irreverence with just the right amount of sweetness in a genuinely funny satire of religion and morality in small-town, contemporary America.” — Booklist
“Good fun abounds.” — Kirkus
“A wildly comic and deeply felt examination of faith, combining politics, scandal, farming, love, environmentalism and rural philosophy. This is a novel only Michael Perry could have written.” — Julie Schumacher, author of Dear Committee Members
“Readers of Perry’s nonfiction books will want to know that this is perfect Perry-as-usual, only in novel form. If you’re a fan, in fact, you’ll eat this up. If you’re not a fan yet, well, The Jesus Cow will change that.” — Bookworm Sez
Booklist
Humorist Perry’s first novel combines irreverence with just the right amount of sweetness in a genuinely funny satire of religion and morality in small-town, contemporary America.
New York Post (Required Reading — lead pick)
A fun commentary on small-town America and today’s insatiable appetite for goofy stories to fill the Web.
Shelf Awareness
Perry once again delivers his own brand of outlandishness through rich, endearing characterizations of quirky small-town folks....By deploying humor in depicting the often painful truths and absurdities of life, Perry successfully makes much larger statements about society and the human condition.
VolumeOne
The Jesus Cow is Michael Perry at his best.
Milwaukee Magazine
Perry’s simple pleasures grow mighty complicated as his aw-shucks pastoral dabbles in love, riches, barn sex, local politics, and finally a municipal catastrophe. And all because of a special cow, er, steer.
Minneapolis Star Tribune
After successful memoirs such as Population: 485 and Truck: A Love Story, this is Michael Perry’s first novel for adults, and it’s a good one. The tale....is laugh-out-loud funny and propelled by plot lines that come together in an explosive climax.
Eagle Tribune (Mass.)
The Jesus Cow, is a fun, effortless read that lends itself to audible chortles in readers. It’s populated with average folks who could....be standing in line at the local grocery store or filling their gas tanks next to you at the all-night Kwick Pump.
Nickolas Butler
A loveable, kind-hearted, and hilarious romp. Michael Perry has done it again - written another winning book that will satisfy his legions of already devout fans, and bring many more new devotees into the fold. Perry is a small-town American treasure.
Bookworm Sez
Readers of Perry’s nonfiction books will want to know that this is perfect Perry-as-usual, only in novel form. If you’re a fan, in fact, you’ll eat this up. If you’re not a fan yet, well, The Jesus Cow will change that.
Julie Schumacher
A wildly comic and deeply felt examination of faith, combining politics, scandal, farming, love, environmentalism and rural philosophy. This is a novel only Michael Perry could have written.
Booklist
Humorist Perry’s first novel combines irreverence with just the right amount of sweetness in a genuinely funny satire of religion and morality in small-town, contemporary America.
New York Post (Required Reading — lead pick)
A fun commentary on small-town America and today’s insatiable appetite for goofy stories to fill the Web.
Library Journal
★ 04/01/2015
Perry, a New York Times best-selling nonfiction author (Population: 485), radio host, songwriter, and self-proclaimed amateur pig farmer, makes his fiction debut with this expansive yet grounded novel. Harley Jackson is trying to hold onto the remaining 15 acres of his parents' farm in Swivel, WI, as well as his meager eight head of beef cattle in the face of pressure from a local opportunistic developer. On Christmas Eve, Harley's lone dairy cow gives birth to a calf with the unmistakable face of Jesus Christ imprinted on its side. Harley, recognizing immense amounts of trouble in store, does his best to cover the image, but his hapless attempts are no match for the calf destined to become known to the world as #JesusCow. Before long, the young bovine has an agent, a full-blown media circus camps outside Harley's front door, and our hero has money and plenty of accompanying headaches. VERDICT A hilarious glimpse into small-town life and cowboy/farmer/"Scandihoovian" philosophy, combined with meditations on the meanings of faith, environmentalism, development, and romance. Highly recommended for fans of Christopher Moore. [Prepub Alert, 11/10/14.]—Julie Kane, Sweet Briar Coll. Lib., VA
SEPTEMBER 2015 - AudioFile
Michael Perry takes a direct, wry approach to narrating his own bizarre work. Around Christmas, on the outskirts of a small town where several secretive doings and business propositions are slowly coming to a head, a calf with markings in the likeness of Jesus Christ is born. Perry's pacing neatly embodies the ebb and flow of life in a small town; depictions of everyday life are interspersed with flutters of fervent activity. The story, and Perry's delivery, are simultaneously wholesome and irreverent—a multifaceted web of narratives laid out with ceremonious detail. Evocative of the work of David Sedaris and Garrison Keillor, Perry's story and delivery are idiosyncratic, honest, and likable. K.S.B. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2015-03-04
In Swivel, Wisconsin, a cow named Tina Turner has birthed a calf with Jesus' image on its flank, "the standard doe-eye Lutheran hippie iteration." Drawing small-town characters out of central casting, Perry's tale ripples with simple-life nostalgia. Tina Turner's owner, Harley Jackson, says, "Well, that's trouble" after seeing the calf's "above average stencil of the Son of God." Forty-something Harley lives alone on the remnants of his parents' farm. Most of the land was gobbled up by an interstate highway and the machinations of developer Klute Sorenson, who learns business strategy from audiobooks like Stomp Your Way to Success: A Clodhopper Walks All Over Wall Street. Harley's best friend, supersized Billy Tripp, a trailer-living, clog-wearing cat fancier, wisely knows there's money to be made when folks begin "assigning meaning to coincidence." At a staff meeting over bottles of Foamy Viking beer, Billy urges reluctant Harley to cash in and finance "undevelopment" of Klute's tacky McMansions. Then the calf is seen by Harley's mail carrier. Believing it miraculous, she calls the Rev. Gary at the Church of the Roaring Lamb. Soon, Sloan Knight of International Talent Management jets in, because there's "a hard horizon on long-term marketability thematics." Another fly in the ointment is Carolyn Sawchuck, former professor and current environmentalist, who survives on EarthHug tea and Little Debbie Zebra Cakes while secreting used motor oil in Swivel's abandoned water tower. Add a tow-truck-driving, junkyard-owning widow; a techno-gadget-entranced fire chief; a Barney Fife constable; and town newcomer Mindy, a sculptwelder who breaks Harley's heart, and it's sure to end with a bang. Good fun abounds when JCOW Enterprises sets up business and Harley's life becomes "a rough approximation of things hoped for."
