"Going Bovine" by Libba Bray Post 4

"Going Bovine" by Libba Bray was a fun and enjoyable read. It was intriguing and kept me on my toes as I didn't know what was going to happen next. Looking at the books on the list, this one stood out when I saw the title. I didn't know what the word "bovine" meant so I thought I'd click on it. After reading the short passage about the book I knew I would like to read it for the summer and for this blog. I like fiction a lot and Bray easily hooked me into reading the book.

Although I didn't have any personal connections to the book, I was able to relate to it because I am in high school and so is Cameron. Because of this connection I have with the book, I would recommend it to any teen and some adults that could look back into high school years and like the book. This book is recognized as one of the best books written for teens and I agree with that title it has been given. Students in college could possibly relate to the book like I did and like the book as well. This is a great book and I rate it 5 out of 5 stars.

"Going Bovine" by Libba Bray Post 3

Here is a cool part of the book that I like how Bray wrote it. "A sonic boom of thunder drowns me out. Lightning crackles around us, and I get a glimpse:Big dude. Black armor glistening like oil. Spiked helmet, steel visor. Sword. The light bounces off the sword in arcs that hurt my eyes. Sword. He's got a fucking sword! Darkness falls again, and after the intense lightning, the night seems thicker than before. I can't see, can't move, can't think, can't do anything but breathe quick as a fish washed up on the beach, hoping to catch a wave back to safety. Lightning shreds the dark for another two seconds. He's gone. (Bray 71)"

In this part, Cameron was just biking home from, his friend, Eubie's music shop and he takes a back road instead of his normal direct route. This is before he is diagnosed with Mad Cow Disease. He sees giants made of flames as the storm forms itself over the fields. When trying to escape them, he runs into this knight or samurai. Cameron makes it home alive and then has another encounter with a fire giant coming out of his toaster. Nobody else in his family sees the fire giant. He is frozen with fear and is shaking and fighting. After this he ends up in a hospital bed where he expects to live the rest of his life at.

"Going Bovine" by Libba Bray Post 2

Cameron leaves the hospital with Gonzo after Dulcie give Cameron a watch like thing that gives him some strength to go out on the mission given by Dulcie. Having completed the mission, Dulcie said he would be cured and something would also be given to Gonzo as well. Cameron's main motivation and what he really wants is to be cured. He will also need to save the world along the way but he really wants cured. I don't know what Gonzo wants exactly, but I would guess that he desires safety. Gonzo would probably like to not be short, too.

One theme I could see is that family is important. Even though Cameron didn't have the best relationship with his family, he still misses them. Especially after hearing his parents worried voices when he makes sure they know he's alright. 

This book is structured with mountains and valley's as Cameron and Gonzo progress on their adventure. They walk down a hill moving along smoothly towards the end goal. Then, they have to climb up a mountain and not tire out as they hit a conflict in the trip towards a cure and saving the world. I hope they don't give in, but when does that ever happen?

"Going Bovine" by Libba Bray Post 1

In the book, there are 3 major characters. One of them, the most main of them all, is Cameron Smith. His new friend that accompanies him throughout the story is Gonzo. The last major character is an angel that Cameron sees within his disease given the name, Dulcie. She appears multiple times and leads Cameron through his adventure causing some conflicts as well. In the beginning of the book, Cameron was diagnosed  with "Mad Cow Disease" which has no cure at the moment.

Cameron goes to high school in his home town in Hidalgo, Texas and is bullied regularly. He refer's to himself as a being a loser, too, and doesn't care about much going on in his life. One thing I see Bray gave him is a bad family life. He doesn't get along with his uber-popular twin sister, Jenna, and his parents don't plan family things very well. The Smiths' don't have a very strong bond with each other. In the end, I would think that Cameron and his family will get along better.

Gonzo is a dwarf and seems to have a fear of everything. His mother is very protective of him as Gonzo is always in the hospital for any small problem. Dulcie told Cameron that Gonzo should go with him on the trip to find his cure as there is something Dr. X has for Gonzo, too. I would think his fear of disease and danger would change and maybe even become normal size with some machine Dr. X has. Can't wait to see.

Last Post

In the previous post, I showed good in depth analysis of the book for the post. Here is the link to it.

http://www.nijakowskireading.blogspot.com/2015/04/another-book.html

I gave a good and detailed description of the book that would have people like to read it. I used words like "struggle" and "exciting" to describe the trip of the characters. I was able to relate to the book as well which helped me understand the plot and describe it to others because I went to the Appalachian Trail over spring break which is where they went.

Another Book

Because of spring break, I started reading another book. Now I have 3 books being read at the same time. Oh well! They're all great books. The one that read while hiking the Appalachian trail is called "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson. It is about the author and his friend from high school, and they are both a bit heavy, attempting a thru hike of  the trail. Which is walking all 2,100+ miles of it at once. Spoiler, they don't make it. But it is very funny and entertaining as they struggle through the long and hilly hikes along with the troubles of the weather and bears. All of which I have experienced, without the bears, over the spring break. About 80 pages in, it is a great book.

Back to this Series

The next book of the series that started from Tunnels, they have dug Deeper, and they are now in Freefall. Getting closer and closer to the center of the earth, how will they be able to stop the Earth-wiping disease. They find interesting creatures and things as Will and Chester survive the jump into the Pore. Many characters, bad and good, have gone down into it also. I wounder if they all survived, Elliot, Sarah, and the Rebecca's. It will be interesting in the low gravity and pitch black to see how the plot will turn out. So far so good, only a couple pages in to clear me of the cliff hanger ending of the last one.