Cows by Matthew Stokoe book review

Here's my review of Cows by Matthew Stokoe.
/ jason
#horrorbooks #booktube #bookreview

[@Irvypop]

It looks like this book took a year off your life. Godspeed man.....

[@JeBoardCrabshorts]

Haha yeah it was a wild one for sure. Thanks.

[@nerdfatha]

I was interested in this one for ages but just never go around to picking it up. I already have too much of a back log, lol. With your break down, I think I can safely avoid it. When I was younger I probably would have revered it, but now that I'm older I don't have much interest in things that are effed up just for the sake of being effed up.

[@the_element_of_surprise_]

everyones horrible in this book expect the poor dog

[@AngelaRodriguez-en4oq]

This book sounds like a fever dream on steroids. Was thinking of reading it but now I realize theres no way I'd enjoy this book

[@Cloyce007]

With gross-out books like this, you gotta wonder what the point of writing it even was? Like, I know not all art needs to have some sort of deeper meaning but… like… why? Y’know?

[@adrianaslund8605]

The South Park episode "the tale of scrootie mcboogerballs" come to mind.

[@ConstantlyRead]

Geez I could tell how sicken you were with this book. Great review. Glad you read it and not me. LOL

[@randomretropie893]

If you thinks this one is gross you need to check out The Bighead by Edward Lee. Makes Cows looks like a kids book.

[@liquidgeorge]

I have to say that Cows made me angry when I was reading it. The absurdism of it combined with none of the characters having any redeeming qualities meant I found myself frowning throughout. I would not recommend this book to anyone, especially if you own a set of secateurs.

[@superblomper]

Loved hearing your thoughts on this one! It's one that I simultaneously want to discuss, but also want to erase all memories of it from my brain.

[@jessica-tq1sf]

Just finished this last night - I can't believe I missed the warning signs. If I think back to before I found a copy, I was so stupid. I assumed graphic books could never impact me because it's just words, right? GOD was I wrong

[@JeBoardCrabshorts]

It certainly leaves an impression. Not one you will forget. Thanks for watching.

[@kalynelizabeth3673]

I have NEVER had an issue with a book but this one made me physically sick

[@bloodymary7651]

I can't believe you called Lucy depraved!!! She was such a complex character

[@JeBoardCrabshorts]

Haha yeah you're right. What was I thinking? Thanks for watching.

[@bloodymary7651]

It was a good video 😀

[@witchypoo13]

Thank you for the review. I will definitely skip this. Unfortunately, the sad truth is the statistics of people that work in slaughter houses and violence is very high. There is a very high percentage of child, animal, and spousal abuse from them. And please, I’m not saying all slaughterhouse workers abuse animals and people, but the percentage compared to other jobs is extremely high.

[@waxenapple1195]

Agreed. It's a very bad working environment (the point is literally to kill animals and "process" them as quickly as possible) and slaughterhouses intentionally hire immigrant workers or other workers that aren't able to speak up for safer working conditions and can't easily leave their jobs. The entire environment has negative effects on mental health. It's sad for both the humans and the animals.

[@Paul_Bond.]

Please can you provide me with some statistics on that?

[@rdvrlrn]

as i saw it, the book is a grotesque description of somebody failing to enter into society on account of generational trauma, the dredge of everyday capitalism, and toxic masculinity. steven and his mother are in an isolated position. the width of their relationship is limited within their apartment, a place that echoes with dull isolation. they’ve become marionettes of the life that is expected of them, especially since steven is a loser, almost a caricature of the modern reddit incel. his relationship with his mother has long soured. the social act of eating together as a perfect family would do is corrupted: the act, like the food, is foul, quite literally rotten. the only empathic being in their living space seems to be steven’s dog, a symbol for his innocence, his naiveté. while steven watches tv all day, indulges in escapism and the dream of a perfect “nuclear family” type of life - hope is not entirely lost for him - his mother is entirely disillusioned. she’s the archetype of a woman who abandoned herself, and this is why she is hateful towards her child. she makes him taste the bitterness of life by giving him spoiled food, and bitterness is bound to poison their entire home life. steven’s mother does not want him to improve because her own life has derailed. she ties her own trauma to the day of his birth, which she becomes obsessed with. it’s possible that she lets her menstrual blood flow freely because she’s trying to compensate for the one time her period just wouldn’t come. human life is mechanic. as steven makes the first step and gets a job - bringing the narrative from a dark apartment out onto the city streets - it’s revealed that the outside world is no better. society has become empty: people rush by only in order to fill streets, everything is grey and dirty, capitalism and labor rule the world. steven’s job is not emotionally fulfilling. he’s been hired to murder, to desecrate. the workers at his plant torture and violate cows because this act has become a substitute for sexual fulfillment, masculine approval, and the pursuit of power. that is what other men teach him: in a world so advanced that it has become uncivilized again, knowing how to rape and kill is a man’s biggest power. the lesson is fruitful. as soon as steven feels empowered by violence, he learns to use it against others for his gain. his neighbor lucy learns this as he begins to develop desire for her. ironically, the only human beings in this book are the animals. primitive as they are, it’s animals who learn to take the reins as humanity deteriorates. cows learn to speak, to build a society that isn’t much different from orwell’s “animal farm”. a young society in early stages of development where the individual means something to the group and harmony and sexual acts are still sacred. as he ends up becoming a negotiator between the two worlds, human and animal, steven’s humanity is toxic enough that it poisons even the cows’ society. he introduces them to the concepts of hierarchy, power, and war. thus begins another cycle in the ongoing downward trajectory that is society - this time transferred to a new level, a new species, and promising a new social apocalypse.

[@gracex3217]

soooo similar to animal farm and although i hated reading this this take is great

[@elvislover341]

Such a wonderful analysis! This is the kind of discussion I was looking for. Most people just talk about the shock value but I felt like there has to be more to it.

[@rdvrlrn]

@@elvislover341 thank you very much! though it really does take a lot of effort to look beyond the depravity.

[@struggler7079]

Don't ever mention the term 'toxic masculinity'. It doesn't exist.

[@pockets8108]

first book I’ve ever tried to return. It was so bad and the lack of solid storyline or it’s inability to make any sense was terrible

[@talkingtobugs6124]

I was curious but I assure you it’s not worth it

[@LeonC0704]

lol It's hilarious how you actually seem affected by it

[@NoMoeMistaNiceGuy]

Did the cows Represent something like, They weren't really cows? Like i didn't get the book. I was like, is he really talking to cows?

[@saicopk2110]

Lmao, I thought the same, in the beginning everything was so "realist" and then when the cows appear gets a little crazier

[@4nsk]

“I wish I hadn’t read it.” Well… that’s enough for me to avoid it!

[@misslady2470]

Just finished this one ! Theres just no words ! I only rated it above 1 star on GR because I don't want the genre to fail lol . Super gross and dumb imo. The cattle talk like dudebros lol stupid . So mad. I'm now melancholy from the extent of the depravity I've found myself reading lol. Totally felt it was a story that didn't need to be written at all lol. Once the cows started talking I realised it was absurdism of some sort but by then I wanted to see what would go down with the mom etc. Out of all the filth on my TBR I was drawn to this one because of the cows on the cover god why

[@liquidgeorge]

I don't know what Stokoe was going for with the whole dudebro talk from the cows. If it was for levity, it failed miserably.

[@jonsmith20766]

7:02 That was a book on my TBR that is now spoiled, thanks(!)

[@fouzya8310]

oh man I really wish he hadn't spoiled american psycho like that, I wanted to read that book 💔

[@JeBoardCrabshorts]

The book is amazing. What i said is a very reductive analysis. The ending is much more nuanced than that and I think that book is great because the ending is ambiguous and open to interpretation. You should still read it, it is one of my favorite books.

[@fouzya8310]

@@JeBoardCrabshorts ohh, thank you! I'll definitely read it then☺️

[@fouzya8310]

@@TRaWi okaayy!😯

[@narddog1237]

This was the worst book I've read this year. If you want a similar gross book that is well written read Tender is the flesh.

[@JeBoardCrabshorts]

Yeah its's not great. Tender is the flesh is great though. Thanks.

[@NoMoeMistaNiceGuy]

Not as bad as the Book of Leon

[@Izabela.LizKing]

I hoped there'd be something symbolistic with this story. Something about society or mental health. As I kept reading I thought maybe he was dealing with multiple personalities. This book was highly disappointing and disgusting. Just for the sake of being gross, not to tell a story. I regret reading it. Honestly it just made me feel sick. I feel like the author just thought of the worst most disgusting literature and put it on paper, there was no relevance or realism to it. It just didn't make sense, if anything the only positive I have for this book is it's notoriety for being gory, which does stand true

[@joekiddyshaw5757]

I love the way you review this book, hilarious lol ... Btw checkout "The Last Days of Jack Sparks", really good book

[@Pwruss25]

I couldnt get past about page 50? of this...too much for me.

[@savagesinema]

One of my favorite novels of all time. Definitely confronting. But a study of a fascinating "society" in the slaughterhouse. For context, other favorites are FUCKNESS, SOCIOPATHS IN LOVE, THE TIN DRUM, THE OUTSIDER (Camus, not King), CHILD OF GOD, BAXTER, THE LAND OF LAUGHS, THE DARK (Herbert), CHRISTINE (King), THE WASP FACTORY, GEEK LOVE, CHILDREN OF THE ISLAND, UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING, WATERSHIP DOWN, and anything Enid Blyton, so my tastes aren't all extreme. Stokoe's COLONY OF WHORES and HIGH LIFE are both excellent, too, though very different.

[@machine_daddy]

This book showed me what cows are for

[@JeBoardCrabshorts]

Haha not for eating.

[@SunsetViewful]

Wow, this sounds like a crazy read!!

[@DaRealSnappyPappy]

Literally just ordered this book lol

[@JeBoardCrabshorts]

Haha well enjoy it. Say one thing about cows, say it's a wild ride. Thanks for the sub!

[@foultarnished0101]

I stopped reading it.....should of known better 😐

[@silversun1203]

I think this is the book version of A Serbian film. No thsnks, on both, I'll pass. 😑

[@DamnableReverend]

I haven't read this but ..I am curious about it, and your review actaully didn't subtract from that notion. From other reviews I've read I feel like maybe this book is supposed to be funny? Humour, like horror, is rather subjective, i guess...

[@bmaiceman]

I have watched all videos of FACES OF DEATH... And RED ASPHAULT... SO YA How bad can it possibly BE???

[@MrDilkington15]

lmao there weak as S look up funkytown

[@BalorBallora]

imma level with you, faces of death and red asphault arent that bad. at all. Cows isnt really the most disturbing book ive read. its the A Serbian Film of disturbing books