Cows Can't Jump by Philip Bowne

Cows Can’t Jump by Philip Bowne

Release: 24 Sept. 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Neem Tree Press
Source: Random Things Tours
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon UK, Amazon

17-year-old Billy has just left school and is desperate to escape middle England. It’s 2016, and as a gravedigger, he’s working the ultimate dead-end job. To make matters worse, he’s a virgin, and there’s no hope of him meeting a girl any time soon. The only women at work are in coffins.

Moreover, Billy’s home life isn’t any better. In the evenings, he observes his dysfunctional family: his grandad is engaged to a woman half his age, his dad’s become obsessed with boxing, and he suspects his mum is having an affair. All the while, celebrities are dropping like flies and Britain is waiting for the EU referendum. Everything is changing, and Billy hates it.

Billy’s life gets a jump start when he falls in love with Eva, an older girl from Switzerland, that’s passionate about Russian literature, Gary Numan, windfarms and chai tea. To Billy’s despair, Eva travels back to her home in Switzerland at the end of summer. But he won’t give up on her that easily. He gambles everything for a chance to be with Eva again.

When things start to go wrong, Billy’s journey across Europe involves hitchhiking with truckers, walking with refugees, and an encounter with suicidal cows. But the further he goes, the harder it is to be sure what he’s chasing – and what he’s running from.

About the Author:

Philip Bowne lives in London and works as a writer for The Wombles, a children’s entertainment brand.

Like his protagonist, Billy, Phil attended a failing and severely under-resourced school in Bicester, Oxfordshire. However, unlike Billy, Phil ended up studying English Literature and Creative Writing at university.

While studying, Phil published short stories in literary magazines and anthologies in the UK, US, Canada and Germany. After graduating, Phil spent time in Europe and the US, working and volunteering in various roles and settings: repairing boats at Lake Como, housekeeping at a mountain lodge in California and working with charity Care4Calais in the former Calais ‘jungle’ refugee camp.

Cows Can’t Jump is Phil’s debut novel, which he worked on while managing a bar in London. As well as a writer for The Wombles, Phil also works on a number of independent writing projects, including a musical set in 1970’s Soho and a sitcom set in a failing leisure centre

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Cows Can’t Jump Review:

Cows Can’t Jump is one of those stories that is bizarre, random, unconventional, yet completely immerses you in its unique plot.

There is never a dull moment in this story. Every chapter reveals a new adventure that Billy embarks on with a mission. From digging graves, travelling across Europe, meeting refugees, to gambling money, Billy learns something new in each story. Moreover, Billy is a very unique protagonist. He is one of those characters who initially makes you roll your eyes. He acts on impulse and does things which you know will not go well. Yet, the author writes him in such a quirky manner that a part of you wants him to succeed in his quest for Eva.

Also, I just loved the author’s style of writing. His style is simple, fluid and easy to follow. You really don’t know what Billy will encounter in his journey. I never thought I would read a story where cows commit suicide! I enjoyed so many scenes in the story like Cooper and Billy going on a road trip to Zagreb, and where he talks with the people like Yusuf and Abbas about the situation in Aleppo. I enjoyed characters like Klara and Christoph. Billy’s parents are also hilarious while they deal with GG’s wedding to Benny.

However, while I loved the story, I have to say it took me a good two chapters before I really enjoyed it. It took me a while to adjust with the theme of the story, as the chapters initially felt disconnected. However, I could not put it down once Billy goes on his adventure.

Overall, this is the perfect book to read if you want something light-hearted, funny, emotional and fresh.