Moo

By: Jane Smiley

Narrated by: Suzanne Toren

Everyone at the large agricultural college dubbed Moo U. has an agenda. Whether it's massaging data, running secret experiments, or seducing the powerful, each person is dedicated to a plan. Meet Dr. Lionel Gift, who feels that his economic principles come directly from God. Visit with "Earl Butz", who is being groomed to be the biggest hog in history. Mull over The Common Wisdom, what every secretary knows. As these agendas begin to collide, Moo trots toward a deliciously loony climax. Although Moo focuses a sharp eye on academia, its satire is tempered by loveable characters who ring absolutely true. Through narrator Suzanne Toren's performance, you'll soon feel like part of the lively herd at Moo U.

Jane Smiley, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of A Thousand Acres, instantly captured the admiration and laughter of readers everywhere when Moo was originally published. A New York Times best seller, it is a hilarious tour through the inner sanctums of a Midwestern university.

©1995 Jane Smiley (P)2006 Recorded Books LLC

Critic reviews

"Delectably entertaining....An uproariously funny and at the same time hauntingly melancholy portrait of a college community in the Midwest." (The New York Times)
"Fast, hilarious, and heartbreaking....Not for a minute does Moo lose its perfect satiric pitch or pacing." (People)
"Stuffed with memorable characters, sparkling with deliciously acid humor, Moo is a rare bird in today's literary menagerie: a great read that also makes you think." (Chicago Sun-Times)

Totally hilarious and too true

This is such a dead-on accurate satire of what goes on at a university. Thank God it's a comedy because it would just be too painful otherwise. Companies have competing departments but universities have competing classes of stakeholders: the administration, the faculty, the athletics group and their boosters, the maintenace staff, the alumni, and the students, and probably a couple others I've left out. Each group has their own agenda and Smiley portrays each one perfectly. Most books about college seem to focus on the students but Smiley correctly captures the fact that students are merely transitory citizens in the life of a university. Multiple intersecting storylines, quotable passages on every "page" and entertaining characters abound. Smiley's prose never flags through it all. She is an extraordinary talent.

2nd Read & Still Great

I listened to MOO several years ago from a library loan and decided to buy it from Audible. Just as fantastic today as it was the first time I read. I have to agree with Keith Rosen (reviewed on Goodreads) …"Listen, Jane Smiley is a [f***ing] straight-up genius, and MOO is a hilarious, intricate and brilliant send-up of academia. She effortlessly weaves together dozens of character viewpoints, all while keeping a sort of empathetic humor at a slow boil throughout all of it. It's really impressive." Couldn't have said it better myself.

Hilariously accurate

Well developed characters that accurately capture the micocosm of culture at a land grant/agriculture college. Anyone working in academia facing budget cuts and program elimination will be able to relate to the characters' struggles amid funding priorities that often have little to do with the mission of the university.

Don’t like this satire

Snarky reader, writer makes fun of people looking for a laugh. Subject felt dated. Gave myself permission to quit after finishing 1/2 of the book. Much better literature out there

couldn't finish it

I got this because, as an art instructor who went to college in Iowa, I thought I could relate.
I couldn't.
It had a zillion characters (which I usually like) but they all became to stupid to care about.
I didn't finish it. 'nuf said.

Too Many Characters

A Google search led me to a list: "books you'd like if you liked Straight Man by Richard Russo", which is how I found Moo. I loved Straight Man but disagree that Moo deserves to be on the same level. It's a messy tangled web of too many characters at a midwestern university whose trials and tribulations are not all that interesting. Still managed to listen to the whole thing -- a credit to the narrator.

MOO

I just could not get into this book. After 2 CDs I gave up.