Today for my first review entry to the Australian Women Writers 2012 Reading Challenge, I bring to you ...
Black Cow by Magdalena Ball
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Magdalena Ball is a remarkable wordsmith. Her prose hovers above your skin like ‘need’ and never drifts away. Her latest novel, Black Cow, is yet another masterpiece which I will keep treasured on my bookshelf. The characters in this story are on the hunt for happiness, for refuge, clawing their way through the stark reality of unfulfilling wealth, corporate hierarchies, fatigue, stress-related illnesses, and family neglect. Ball’s seamless exploration of the faulty human-condition and the urgent notion that money means success is brilliantly interwoven with the gentle quietness of unconditional love, invoking sighs and gasps and the sudden realization that life is so much more than what we are conditioned to expect. Life is precious, and small enough to cradle in the palm of a baby’s hand.
View all my reviews
I'm also going to add that last year I reviewed her debut novel Sleep Before Evening, which is also absolutely brilliant. You can check that out HERE.
Black Cow by Magdalena BallMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Magdalena Ball is a remarkable wordsmith. Her prose hovers above your skin like ‘need’ and never drifts away. Her latest novel, Black Cow, is yet another masterpiece which I will keep treasured on my bookshelf. The characters in this story are on the hunt for happiness, for refuge, clawing their way through the stark reality of unfulfilling wealth, corporate hierarchies, fatigue, stress-related illnesses, and family neglect. Ball’s seamless exploration of the faulty human-condition and the urgent notion that money means success is brilliantly interwoven with the gentle quietness of unconditional love, invoking sighs and gasps and the sudden realization that life is so much more than what we are conditioned to expect. Life is precious, and small enough to cradle in the palm of a baby’s hand.
View all my reviews
I'm also going to add that last year I reviewed her debut novel Sleep Before Evening, which is also absolutely brilliant. You can check that out HERE.
I am fascinated by your remarks concerning this book. Carole.
ReplyDeleteYour comments have me intrigued. I'll be checking it out.
ReplyDeleteBut what's it about? Just kidding. You make it sound great, Jess.
ReplyDeleteOh, sounds like a great book! Fits my value system anyway, and oddly enough reminds me a little of the ideas behind Bonfire of the Vanities (which was good, but could have used a female lens)
ReplyDeleteJessica, life is precious. I love the babys hand analogy.
ReplyDeleteLOL on Matt's comment. :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great read!
This sounds so intriguing, I'm definitely going to have a peek!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like one really special book. :-)
ReplyDelete:-(
ReplyDeleteNot on Kindle.... will have to waite or find a book store with it in stock. No instant gradification.
;-)
Jessica you're amazing and your review is so beautifully written that it deserves a review of its own. Book is now on Kindle:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.amazon.com/Black-Cow-ebook/dp/B007BRFNAW/ref=pd_rhf_se_p_t_2
(for those who want instant gratification - who am I to deny them!). THANK YOU!