Rating
'The books has all the makings of a light-hearted comedy, and in many ways it is, but to me it does so much more. It touches upon issues incredibly relevant to the day and age we live in.'
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There is so much more to The Cows than meets the eye. Underneath its swanky cover, it has a lot to recommend itself.
The Cows tells the story of three women whose lives suddenly become connected after a series of, at first, seemingly distinct incidents. Tara, for whom a single moment of public intimacy will trigger a dramatic chain reaction. Cam, the successful, mother-of-none blogger whose controversial views on motherhood make her the target of the self-righteous out there. And Stella, who is still struggling with the grief following her twin sister's passing.
The books has all the makings of a light-hearted comedy, and in many ways it is, but to me it does so much more. It touches upon issues incredibly relevant to the day and age we live in. Topics that have come to rule our daily lives.
Like the impact of one's online presence and how isolated mishaps can blow way out of proportions.
The fact that society at scale is often too ready to jump the gun and dive into public shaming with full-force, especially when the so-called offender is a woman.
The taboo around the growing number of women out there leading a child-free life, especially when it's by choice.
The long-lasting struggle it can be to find your own way and your own identity when growing up in someone else's shadow.
The often misunderstood drowning power of grief.
The many challenges of being a woman in the twenty-first century and of the different facets of womanhood out there - the good and the not so good, the strong and the vulnerable, the level-headed and the somewhat-crazy.
The Cows is a book that tackles all of these modern taboos head-on. It speaks of the importance and the difficulty of going counter-current against some of the unhealthy stereotypes that plague our society. It makes you question your own reaction to the situations its characters have to face, in ways bound to remind us of times where we ourselves partook in those behaviours.
Through the book, Dawn O'Porter's writing is on point and enjoyable. The story is credible and oh so current. I'm ready to bet that anyone reading the book will think twice before passing judgement on someone else's actions.
The Cows is an lovely read with a social conscience, perfect for anyone who's ready to look just beyond the comical to its underlying message. Though, even if you're not in the mood of too much over-analysing, it's still a highly entertaining read.