Animal Husbandry

by Laura Zigman

Book Overview

If someone asked me a year ago why I thought it was that men leave women and never come back, I would have said this: New Cow. New Cow is short for New Cow Theory, which is short for Old Cow-New Cow... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385319037
• ISBN13: 9780385319034
• Release Date: March 2001
• Publisher: Dial Press
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.1" x 7.6"

Customer Reviews

Loved it

It will remind you of some movies you have seen. Very cute concept.

Before chick lit was cool, this book was better

Walk into any bookstore, look for pastel titles with curly writing on them, and you've easily found all of the shallow chick lit titles that have flooded the market. These are mostly the unfortunate spawn of really great books like "Animal Husbandry" and, of course, "Bridget Jones's Diary." Ignore the pastel sea and pick up "Animal Husbandry." Here you'll find a funny and sad story about a realistic woman--someone who has frizzy hair and reads the New Yorker, and who goes to pieces after the sort of breakup that happens to most people. This was brilliance on Zigman's part, and the book is a great story about how normal-ish things impact us deeply. Beneath the humor (which is great) is a very touching story that has more depth than most books.

Attention Grabbing

Great little book on the psychology behind relationships. Characters were well developed and interesting. Kept me hooked till the very end. Good ending.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder at its best...

Talk about a bitter woman! Jane Goodall has recently been dumped and wants to know why. She embarks on a mission to find out the reasoning behind her ex's strange behavior, and in doing so, finds some interesting parallels of the seducing, mating and moving-on habits between animals and men. Coming up with her own suggestion based on these ideals, Jane's Old-Cow-New-Cow theory is a sure-fire hit. Or is it?Laura Zigman has written a totally fun and witty novel about one woman's heartbreak and the desperation she has in proving it wasn't all because of her. I laughed, I sympathized. Jane Goodall embodies a gamut of emotions that comes with being dumped -- and believe me, we get to sample them all! This novel is wonderfully written and contains fascinating insight into male behavior. Easy to read and quick to get through, Animal Husbandry makes you a believer in the Old-Cow-New-Cow theory, and just as easily makes you think again. Bravo, kudos, applause, applause. Can't wait to read Laura's next book. Oh, how I love to be entertained.

Laughing through a broken heart

I found this book as I was wandering through a bookstore in a post break-up zombie fashion. As soon as I read the cover I knew my search for something to help heal my broken heart was over. This book was like therapy for me. I loved it so much I went out and bought it for every old cow I knew as a Christmas present. I know these reviews are supposed to be critical of the content, but how can I begin to critique a book that could make me laugh through my broken heart?

Think you are Bitter, Better read this one!!!

And I thought I was bitter when my ex "disappeared me." !! I love this book. I saw so many of the men that I have dated in the characteristics of Ray. While I would never go so far as the main character did to relieve her angst, I could most definitly identify with her plight. We have all been in the position that Jane was in and can feel for her. I must say that Zigman's writing pulls the reader right in to the head of Jane and her whirlwind obession. Zigman nailed men perfectly when she wrote the passage about men and how the "disappear you" when breaking up. As a recipient of this treatment, it was comical to read of a fictional character going through what an ex had put me through. I read "Message in a Bottle," and cried, saying that is what I want; I read "Animal Husbandry," and laughed saying that is what I have had. It was a phenominal read that left people staring at me while I laughed at Jane's antics. I have lent the book to all the women I know who might enjoy this book. I haven't had one turn me down yet!!! Of course all the men in my department are wondering why we have all become so interested in "animal husbandry". I am anxiously awaiting Zigman's next book.