Customer Reviews

Hey Cowboy, Wanna Get Lucky?

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Those who read this first attempt at fiction by Baxter Black purely for the pleasure of it will come away with both an increased appreciation for Mr. Black's razor sharp wit and a newfound respect for rodeo cowboys. Those who read it (Seabeck, WA) while attempting to force it into some category will simply miss the point. This story does not pretend to be anything but pure entertainment, and the word "tedium" simply cannot be applied to a book that the average reader will finish in one or two readings. Trim it down to novella length? It's only 210 pages long! Simply sit back and enjoy yourself without constantly thinking about how you would have written it differently, and your jaw muscles will soon be aching! And when was the last time you laughed out loud while reading?

Most reviewers talk about this book as bust-a-gut hilarious, which it certainly is at points, but it's also a whole lot more than that. If you have an interest in rodeo cowboys and their life on the road between those hoped-for 8 seconds of adrenalin in the arena, this book is primarily about that. Exaggerated, you bet, but compared to the yarns told in Bill St. John's book of real rodeo cowboys, "On Down the Road," not all that much.

Baxter Black captures and celebrates the comical that exists in the self-deprecating and unpretentious manner of cowboys. The story of his two cowboy pals doing the summer rodeo circuit all over the western states, with hopes of winning enough money to make it to the national finals, explores that rich vein of American humor between guts and glory and human comedy. There is a fine line between fearlessness and foolishness, and few sports make failure not only ignominious but dangerous (being thrown and getting not only a faceful of dirt but broken bones to boot). It's no accident that in the rodeo arena the hardest working cowboys are surely the clowns.

Black's book achieves one other enjoyable objective; it represents the friendship between two men, a subject that has found its way into the buddy movie, but is seldom treated in literature of any kind. These two guys are different enough to play off each other's strengths and weaknesses, but they're no odd couple. Their devotion to each other, their companionship on the road, their late night talks attempting to make sense of the world they inhabit -- not to mention their adventures with porcupines and "wild women" -- all of it is an entertaining celebration of being best pals.

St. John's book about rodeo cowboys is out of print, but if you can find a copy, I heartily recommend it as a companion to this wonderfully entertaining novel by Baxter Black.

There's no doubt that Baxter is a talented writer, but his style and this story didn't hold my interest throughout. Some parts of the novel were funny, but they weren't rip-roaring funny like some reviewers suggested. If someone bumping their head on a car door makes you laugh, you'll enjoy Baxter's humor.

Another complaint I have about the writing style is that Baxter continually interrupts the reader with his own remarks. Most of the time he does this to point out something that was either implied in the writing or common sense. The constant interruptions took away from the flow of the story. When uninterrupted, the story was a good one. Lick and Cody were very likeable characters. This was a great novel about the lifestyle they led and the friendship they shared.

Baxter Black does it again with this book. His stories are insightful, humorous, and relational. My husband can't put this book down.

This is a very funny book. all the different situations and problems that Lick and Cody get into are hilarious. This book also has a serious side, in that through everything Lick and Cody were there for each other and thats what friends need to be.

This is a wonderful book. I've ALWAYS wanted to know what rodeo cowboys do whenever they're travelling from rodeo to rodeo. Mr. Black has caught the flavor of rodeo for his frist novel.

I like Baxter Black - his writings and singing. You have to enjoy his type of humor and some knowledge of horses and being a cowboy often helps. He writes what he is and what he knows.

There are two breeds of cowboys in this world: Working and rodeo. Though often the two will overlap, particularly in their younger years. Both versions are renowned story tellers.
In fact, there's an old joke that the only difference between a fairy tale and a cowboy story is that the fairy tale starts out "Once upon a time..." and the cowboy story starts out, "No $#!+! This really happened...!"

This book is one long version of the latter.
Whether you cowboy for a living or for fun, or just know someone who does, I guarantee you'll recognize both Lick and Cody. You know them. You've heard them tell their hair-brained back-when-I-was-rodeoing stories...

Hey Cowboy is a collection of every wild story those buddies of yours have ever told, turned in to an actual book. And it is a riot!

Even better, read it aloud with someone else who'd appreciate a sorta-true, might've-happened type cowboy story. So much is lost by just keeping it quiet, in your own mind. A true cowboy story is supposed to be loud, boisterous and most importantly, shared.

Be very careful when reading this book!! I nearly fell out of the saddle laughing so hard.. Totally enjoyable.

In my opinion this is what a fiction book should be.The characters are interesting and well developed, the story engaging, there is philosophical intelligent commentary, and it has a happy ending. And, it is hilarious.
If you do not enjoy this book I do not want to sit on a long bus ride or airplane ride next to you.
Thank you Mr. Black!!