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Moo Audiobook
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(3.00) - 4,191 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Jane Smiley, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of A Thousand Acres, instantly captured the admiration and laughter of readers everywhere when Moo was published. A New York Times best- seller, it is a hilarious tour through the inner sanctums of a Midwestern university. 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. See 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.
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"I work at an University and our book club picked this book and I thought it would be fun to listen to and see if I could compare the characters with people I knew. I could and I also could relate to some of what was happening on the campus of Moo U. Especially some of the comments about Administrators vs. secretaries, which I found funny! While the book was good, I would not say that it will stick with me for long. Maybe one or two characters, including Earl Butts, but overall this is not a book I would return to. Working in Higher Ed, made it definitely more enjoyable for me, I'm just not sure it is for everyone. There were so many characters to keep track of that maybe it would have been easier if I had actually read the book rather than listen to it. An interesting "read". Would I recommend? Perhaps yes. "
— Samantha (4 out of 5 stars)
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“Smiley delivers a surprising tour de force.”
— Publishers Weekly
Moo Listener Reviews
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" I actually laughed out loud at how astutely Jane Smiley captured university politics and dynamics, as well as the tragedies of college social life. Not one character comes out of this book unscathed. "
— julia, 2/15/2014 -
" Tongue-in-cheek, right? Poking fun at university and farm life, right? Well, it wasn't so bad, it had its moments, I'm glad I was there but now I'm out. "
— Dennis, 2/12/2014 -
" I never knew . . . this was the first of my mom's I ever read. She's amazing, and you should buy it. "
— Lucy, 2/9/2014 -
" A University epic...now I've seen everything. The only other Smiley I've read is "The Greenlanders" and it is amazing how different these two books are. Smiley has an amazing range, and I'm sure I'd only be more amazed if I got further into her sizeable list. This book is impressive in scope and is both imaginative and carefully developed. I'd still call it an epic, and I'm not the biggest fan of those, but it is definitely enjoyable. "
— David, 1/31/2014 -
" I didn't expect this book from Smiley, having read A Thousand Acres and another one I'd like to forget (Good Faith). This is a satire on university life and she keeps the humor flowing all the way through...a difficult task. If you've ever spent too much time in the world of academia, this book is for you. "
— Syd, 1/22/2014 -
" Fun, especially if you went to a Midwestern college or university ! "
— Jenny, 1/21/2014 -
" If you work in Academia, you will find this amusing. Otherwise, you may find this tiresome. "
— Shannon, 1/20/2014 -
" Got bored, stayed bored, couldn't finish it. "
— Priscilla, 1/20/2014 -
" Tried to like it. Couldn't get hooked on paperback, so listened to audio through Chapter 21. I know this is where the action picks up, but I have better things to do and other books I'd rather read. "
— AngelaGay, 1/17/2014 -
" So far reminds me ALOT of CNR. Almost to the people. Which is awesome and scary. "
— Maggi, 1/16/2014 -
" Hilariously funny to anyone who's ever worked in a University setting. "
— Linda, 1/1/2014 -
" ... i remember checking out a jane smiley book for my mom from the library when i was like 10. i figured i'd give it a try. there were definitely some humorous parts - and jane is quite a good writer. i wasn't super into the story though -- more soon. "
— alana, 12/25/2013 -
" I can see why people like this book - especially folks in academia. It was fun and fast to read, but ultimately left me feeling a little empty. "
— Mia, 12/9/2013 -
" Well written, great metaphors, easy to read, deeper than it seems. Memorable. "
— Bren, 12/1/2013 -
" Feel like I should like this book more than I did. "
— Chris, 11/17/2013 -
" A great read for anyone who has put in time at a university! "
— Jenny, 10/2/2013 -
" I really like how Smiley is outlining the subjectivity of administrative processes..intermingling raw emotions with mundane affairs. "
— Lindsey, 7/4/2013 -
" I went from Moo to other books by Smiley and was disappointed. Moo rocked my boat pretty thoroughly. There are many reasons to read it, not the least being that it is fun to read a book that makes you smile and LAUGH. "
— marcia, 5/17/2013 -
" I couldn't get through it, nothing ever happens, no plot, no antagonist, protagonist, nothing. I put it down after 100 pages or so. "
— DJ, 3/1/2013 -
" Loved it. Quite witty. And if you work anywhere in higher education, you will relate in some way or other. "
— Leticia, 10/16/2012 -
" Another book that, though quirky, has gripped my attention with the crazy but somehow respectable world of acedamia. Whether comparable or not, books involving this subject make me want to pick up Kingsley Amis' Lucky Jim once again. "
— Karyn, 10/2/2012 -
" very slow....i actually didnt finish it which is something i very rarely do. Think i'll try her Thousand Acres inStead!! "
— Tracey, 7/7/2012 -
" I was really surprised that I didn't enjoy this as much as I did A Thousand Acres, but, well, there you have it. I felt like there were too many characters, too much buildup with too much delay in resolution, and, well, I guess the book simply didn't speak to me. "
— Lara, 5/28/2012 -
" Marly Hellmich, the secretary, really runs the university Contains over a dozen overlapping plot lines and multiple protagonists "
— Sandra, 2/24/2012 -
" Honestly, one of the best books I have read in years, from one of our greatest living authors. A sprawling, often hilarious tale of university politics. (Hmmm, wonder why that appeals?) "
— Jack, 2/4/2012 -
" I wanted to like this more than I actually did.... The wry humor was fun, as was the academic setting, but I kept forgetting the backgrounds of the myriad characters, meaning that I'd have to catch up anew with what was going on each chapter. "
— Marjorie, 7/22/2011 -
" it's been a while since I read this book, and would like to reread it to confirm my impressions, but at the time I found it uproariously funny and, until Russo's Straight Man came along, the best satire of American university life that I'd ever read "
— Rick, 7/10/2011 -
" Oh hum. Kept expecting more from this book. "
— Deanna, 6/13/2011 -
" Fun, especially if you went to a Midwestern college or university ! "
— Jenny, 5/6/2011 -
" Hilariously funny to anyone who's ever worked in a University setting. "
— Linda, 4/11/2011 -
" Not entirely impressed by this one. Mildly entertaining, but the climax of Earl Butts' situation was a letdown. Loved the student who wrote fiction about his roommates. Interesting characters that left me hanging in the end. "
— Courtney, 4/7/2011 -
" Academia skewered. I laughed myself silly. "
— George, 3/6/2011 -
" couldn't finish it...too many characters to keep track of. "
— Katie, 2/17/2011 -
" I can see why people like this book - especially folks in academia. It was fun and fast to read, but ultimately left me feeling a little empty. "
— Mia, 1/22/2011 -
" Especially fun if you work at a university or went to a land-grant institution "
— Nora, 1/8/2011 -
" Got bored, stayed bored, couldn't finish it. "
— Priscilla, 12/28/2010 -
" Love it! Engaging and hilarious read of a big land-grant UNIV in the Midwest. "
— Anne, 12/17/2010
About Jane Smiley
Jane Smiley is the author of numerous novels, including A Thousand Acres, which was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, as well of works of nonfiction and books for young adults. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, she has also received the PEN Center USA Lifetime Achievement Award for Literature. In 2001 she was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
About Suzanne Toren
Suzanne Toren, award-winning narrator, has over thirty years of experience in narration. She was named a “Golden Voice” by AudioFile magazine in 2019. She has won the American Foundation for the Blind’s Scourby Award for Narrator of the Year, AudioFile magazine named her the 2009 Best Voice in Nonfiction & Culture, and she is the recipient of multiple Earphones Awards. She performs on and off Broadway and in regional theaters and has appeared on Law & Order and in various soap operas.