So, I’ve just finished GOING BOVINE, Libba Bray’s newest work. And wow, was I seriously impressed. Not only was it fabulously written, with an intriguing story line and absolutely unique and impeccable narrative voice, it was different. Massively different. Especially when held up against her previously-published Gemma Doyle trilogy.
Though I would have enjoyed the book immensely no matter which author engendered it, to see this thoroughly modern teen boy – complete with cursing and pot-smoking and raging hormones – spring from the pen of a woman known for corsets and secret Victorian societies made me want to stand up and applaud. How incredible to be so flexible! It’s the writing equivalent of being able to do the splits.
It’s true that both of the books contain fantasy elements, but it wouldn’t be possible for them to be more different. Especially in her latest effort, Bray does an excellent job of blurring the lines between the fantastic and the real, creating a world in which the two live so closely side-by-side that a miniscule Norse god seems like the most logical next narrative step in the world. It’s got everything. Adventure. Excitement. Fantasy. A driven plot happening on an urgent timeline. The writing is contemporary without having the timbre of prose that will be outdated in five years.
If you haven’t already (and there are plenty who have jumped me on this review, since I’ve been in a slow reading phase,) run out and buy a copy of GOING BOVINE. Seriously. It’s good, people.