Customer Reviews

Horseshoes, Cowsocks & Duckfeet: More Commentary by NPR's Cowboy Poet & Former Large Animal Veterinarian

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

 

 

I have heard Baxter Black on the radio for years and I finally bought one of his books(I plan to buy more). Well, it was worth every one of the 60 miles I had to travel to purchase it. His stories or poems are truly laugh out loud. I liked the story about the cowboy trying to do his laundry and getting in an accident and his truck caught fire and a box of ammo was in the truck. He writes about everyday happenings that happen to plain ordinary folk. Everyone hears stories such as these, but Bax's writing style make the stories highly readable. I felt as I was reading them that he was there tell the tales. I highly recommend the book.

I had no idea he was on NPR. When my neighbor loaned me Horseshoes, Cowsocks and Duckfeet I was a long time getting around to picking it up. When I did it was only because I knew I needed to be able to tell the neighbor I had done so (out of courtesy).
I'm glad I did read it. Black probably isn't for everyone. There's a body of experience required to understand the point of his anecdotes and laugh at his humor. If you are person who's been around farm animals and live in a rural environment you'll probably love this book. I did.
On the other hand, if you an urbanite and have never been anything else you'll most likely consider it a waste.
The humor is dry and the anecdotes have an 'insider' quality probably unintended by the writer. The cultural abyss between urbanites and rurals grows ever wider. If this book doesn't span the gap there are still enough people with rural experience to appreciate and enjoy it.

I have heard Baxter Black on a several occations on NPR (National Public Radio just in case you don't know. Check them out...) over the last couple of years. Most of what I did hear I liked so when I found this book I thought it would be great.

This is a collection of short, and I mean less than 2 pages short, stories as told by Black on NPR during 2001. (I think that's right...) Admittedly, something is lost in the translation from radio to book form. Baxter has a way with words and the way he says them is as meaningful a part as what he says. I was glad most stories had a brief introduction and for the glossery at the back of the book for those "non-cowboy" types like myself. I also liked the fact that I could read a story or two, put the book down and be able to come back to it a few minutes later or a week later.

I read all 75 (ish?) stories; I found my dad in one story (you know which one, Dad!), really enjoyed about 10, liked probably 40 or so and missed the point, didn't "get" or just didn't like the rest.
Perhaps it is the differences in age and sex (me being a 30-something married woman) or the generational differences or just the lifestyle differences but in some of the tales I had a hard time relating. I did, however, send the book on to my father who is older and wiser and much more learned in the ways of veterinarians, cowboys and politics and I bet he gets much more out of the book than I.

If you are already familar with Baxter's other stuff and like it then I believe you will not find any fault with this newest book. If this is your first Baxter Black book as it was mine then I suggest one of his more favored volumes to see if you like it first.

I personnally have not read this book. It was a gift to my son in-law. However, he LOVES it.