(This review contains spoilers) Boy oh boy is this a strange and twisty tale. I almost didn’t make it past the first chapter because I found the main character, Cameron Smith, to be a whiny, wasted-space specimen of a human, lacking substance and not contributing much to society, but I convinced myself to give it a chance. There are so many fans online who love this book, so there had to be something to it. So I did. And I grew to like Cameron over the course of the book.
At times this book feels like a drug-enhanced trip, other times it’s a depressing monologue about Cameron’s journey toward death, and still other times there are poignant points as Cameron discovers his own humanity.
The tale is a surreal, twisty ride with so many elements thrown in it almost feels campy at times, everything from a pink-haired angel to dwarves, wizards, gnomes, and fire giants. There’s also the sinister United Snow Globe Wholesalers group and the cult-type Church of Everlasting Satisfaction and Snack ‘N Bowl.
I felt like the ‘journey’ in the middle went a little long and could have been shortened a bit, but the story is never predictable, so if you’re looking for a zany take on a hard topic this is worth a read. I give it three stars in my five star rating system.
Going Bovine, available here.