Even Cowgirls Get the Blues: A Novel

(finished 3/28/12). Wow. While the criticism that his writing is precious and maybe a little too self-promotional is apt (I mean, he is a character in the book AND the narrator), this thing is filled with gems. I loved it. It's a really great read, and the characters are amazing. As in the last thing I read by him (Jitterbug Perfume) I finish with this weird feeling that he is some sort of "feminist" author in the sense that he has a very feminine voice, and a fearlessness about crossing gender lines in his writing in a way that emphasizes his message. This book has so many great little one liners that I often felt like it was written by an observant comedian, yet it's not "funny" per se, but far more, is an absurdist novel about cowgirls. The guidance of the mis-named Buddha-like character ("the Chink") is often tear-inducing and insensitive at the same time. I don't know - there are limitations to it, since it is kind of silly at some level - but when I was done with the book I felt great. That's something that's hard to define in a review, but it's deep and meaningful and creative and funny and smart. And there's a ton of info about Whooping Cranes (some of which may even be true) if you're into that - sort of the Moby Dick of the Whooping Crane set.

I won't say it's a bad book, just wasn't for me. If you're into Cowgirls and lesbian sex maybe it's for you. I'm glad to read that I want the only one who could not finish this one...

Is this book for a general audience? Absolutely not. Could I even tell you succinctly what this book is exactly about, having read it? Again, nope - 'Even Cowgirls Get the Blues' is about a lot of things. Do I love this book? Hell yes. Read this book!