- Paperback: 322 pages
- Publisher: Arrow Books Ltd; New edition edition (7 Jan 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0099248522
- ISBN-13: 978-0099248521
- Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 881,441 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Meet Jane Goodall--though not the scientist who has so beautifully revealed that apes have as much capacity for love and tragedy as do their human relatives. Jane Goodall, the 30-year-old narrator of Laura Zigman's fresh and funny first novel, has a revelation of her own: that the human male has as much capacity for love and constancy as an animal with rather distant DNA--the bull. Her discovery is the result of a botched relationship with a fellow PBS executive, the charming but increasingly evasive Ray Brown. Ray doesn't so much leave Jane as slip away, leaving her in depressed confusion and him having it both ways. Jane's bitter but hilarious revelation eventually transforms her from a fast-talking talk-show booker with a giant Rolodex (and an endless fund of excuses for failing to reach Kevin Costner) by day into "Dr Marie Goodall, delusional fraudulent obsessive monkey scientist by night". In one of Animal Husbandry's many delightful (and clever) twists, the false Dr Goodall achieves a high profile and a New York Times rebuff once her article is published in Men's Times. Zigman has clearly spent some time researching human mating behaviour, which her heroine is forced to see as a dance of male deception and female hope. If one occasionally wonders whether Animal Husbandry has its origins in revenge, no matter. It's an artful, sparky one.
Review
The old "let's just be friends" routine breaks a TV talk-show talent scout's heart, but when opportunity knocks, she recovers enough to assume the infinitely more satisfying role of masked avenger: a wisecracking and wonderful romantic comedy, a first from ex-New York book publicist Zigman. With a name like Jane Goodall, interest in animal behavior might seem preordained, but this Jane's life is taken up entirely with booking A-list guests for the hot, new late-night show on public television. Taken up, that is, until the show's producer comes along, with his washboard stomach and tales of woe about his man-hating vegetarian fiancee - and until Jane finds herself hopelessly in love. For a while the attraction seems mutual, but soon after suggesting to Jane that they live together, and just after she's given up her apartment, Washboard Ray goes to ground, and nothing she can do will flush him back into communication with her. The despair of the jilted casts its usual pall over her life, but her new living arrangement, a share with the show's leading Lothario, awakens her scientific curiosity, and she begins to study the behavior of her apartment-mate with an eye toward understanding male-mating imperatives. Voracious reading and lonely hours pondering give her the answer, the New-Cow theory: A bull mates eagerly with a new cow, but then refuses to do so the second time around - only a new cow will do. Jane deepens her investigation in the spirit of pure empiricism, but when there's a chance to go public, very public, with her findings, washboard memories and a crusader's zeal fire her up with spectacular results. Zinging alone with deadeye depictions of men on the make as accurate as smart bombs, this is a riot to read - and also happens to make a great deal of sense. (Kirkus Reviews)
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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First Sentence
LOOKING BACK NOW, of course, I can see that it wasn't just me who got dumped. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
LOOKING BACK NOW, of course, I can see that it wasn't just me who got dumped. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book, thinking an American novel would never match Bridget Jones' Diary as the cover claimed. I wouldn't say the books are similar except that they are both realistic and totally enthralling. This book both moved me and made me angry as I followed Jane's attempts to make sense of the way men behave. I think most women have met men like Ray and can identify with Jane's confusion when he dumps her seemingly out of the blue. I was also expecting a completely different ending to the one I got which can only be a good thing. Very enjoyable and a satisfying read.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
What a story! This book managed to capture me from beginning to end as it seems to be the true life story of many. New cow-old cow theory certainly sounds bizarre on first impressions but as you're reading this you'll be thinking "hmm, I remember that"! Fantastic, don't miss it.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
It's a book we can all identify with; being dumped by your true love/soul mate. The author goes into great detail about the heroine's feelings who is obsessed and bordering on the neurotic (been there...). However, although it can be very sad in places, it is also extremely hilarious making it a terrific read. I'd recommend it to anyone who has recently broken up from a serious relationship.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Animal Husbandry - Laura Zigman
Iv`e read this book 3 times.
It`s funny, Clever witted, and a must read for any woman wishing to try to understand the male species & why we get dumped! lol. Read more
It`s funny, Clever witted, and a must read for any woman wishing to try to understand the male species & why we get dumped! lol. Read more
Published on 20 Aug 2008 by Mrs. Lisa J. Barnes
Not impressed - a really weird book
I was really looking forward to this as the cover was great and the reviews sounded good - 'An American Bridget Jones' - can't be bad, I thought. Well, it was. Bad, I mean. Read more
Published on 10 Aug 2008 by A reader
Doesn't hit the mark
I read this book to try and get me through a relationship split, but I couldn't even finish it! I got to the point where I didn't care what happened to any of the characters, and I... Read more
Published on 10 Jun 2008 by LittleMoo
Not worth the effort to read it!
I found this book to be an utter waste of time. I read and loved Bridget Jone's Diary, and Animal Husbandry should not even be mentioned in the same breath. Read more
Published on 5 Oct 1999
This is the book every woman would write
This is a painfull story of a modern relationship. Its so true to life that it is hard to see it as a work of fiction and not Laura Zigman's own story. Read more
Published on 20 May 1999
Slightly too psychotic for me.....
I'll freely admit to being disappointed with this book. Along with many others, I've had the experience of being dumped on from a great height and there's nothing like a good... Read more
Published on 13 May 1999
Uh-huh, yep, uh-huh, yes, been there, THAT'S SO TRUE!!
That's what most women say whilst reading this book! Every girl has had a Ray and we've all been through what Jane has. Read more
Published on 8 April 1999
A little too observant
Follow the downfall of a relationship, and a girls attempts to understand the male psyche. Very revealing, for both men and women!!
Published on 4 Feb 1999
Been there, done that.
Oh please. Another bitter, boring, been dumped story. The "cleverness" of the prose sustained my interest for about twenty pages, after that, my annoyance was the only... Read more
Published on 6 May 1998
I recommend this book to everyone.
Having taken a course in college on this subject of human behavior, I was interested in reading this story. It, although not hard-core intense reading, was excellent. Read more
Published on 8 April 1998
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