The Jesus Cow - Paperback

by Michael Perry (Author)

New York Times bestselling humorist Michael Perry makes his fiction debut with this hilarious and big-hearted tale, a comic yet sincere exploration of faith and the foibles of modern life that blends the barbed charm of Garrison Keillor, the irreverent humor of Christopher Moore, and the audacious insight of Chuck Klosterman.

Life is suddenly full of drama for low-key Harley Jackson: A woman in a big red pickup has stolen his bachelor's heart, a Hummer-driving predatory developer is threatening to pave the last vestiges of his family farm, and inside his barn is a calf bearing the image of Jesus Christ. His best friend, Billy, a giant of a man who shares his trailer house with a herd of cats and tries to pass off country music lyrics as philosophy, urges him to avoid the woman, fight the developer, and get rich off the calf. But Harley takes the opposite tack, hoping to avoid what his devout, dearly departed mother would have called "a scene."

Then the secret gets out--right through the barn door, and Harley's "miracle" goes viral. Within hours pilgrims, grifters, and the media have descended on his quiet patch of Swivel, Wisconsin, looking for a glimpse (and a percentage) of the calf. Does Harley hide the famous, possibly holy calf and risk a riot, or give the people what they want--and raise enough money to keep his land--and, just possibly, win the woman and her big red pickup truck?

Harley goes all in, cutting a deal with a major Hollywood agent that transforms his little farm into an international spiritual theme park--think Lourdes, only with cheese curds and t-shirts. Soon, Harley has lots of money . . . and more trouble than he ever dreamed.

Front Jacket

The New York Times bestselling humorist Michael Perry makes his fiction debut with this hilarious and bighearted tale--a comic yet sincere exploration of faith in the face of the modern world.

Life is suddenly full of drama for low-key Harley Jackson: a woman in a big red pickup has stolen his bachelor's heart; a Hummer-driving developer hooked on self-improvement audiobooks is threatening to pave the last vestiges of his family farm; and inside his barn lies a calf bearing the image of Jesus Christ. Harley's best friend, Billy, urges him to sidestep the woman, fight the developer, and get rich off the calf. But Harley takes the opposite tack, hoping to avoid what his devout, dearly departed mother would have called "a scene."

Then the secret gets out--right through the barn door--and Harley's "miracle" goes viral.

"A fun commentary on small-town America and today's insatiable appetite for goofy stories to fill the Web."--New York Post ("Required Reading" lead pick)

"A hilarious glimpse into small-town life . . . combined with meditations on the meanings of faith, environmentalism, development, and romance."--Library Journal (starred review)

Back Jacket

The New York Times bestselling humorist Michael Perry makes his fiction debut with this hilarious and bighearted tale--a comic yet sincere exploration of faith in the face of the modern world.

Life is suddenly full of drama for low-key Harley Jackson: a woman in a big red pickup has stolen his bachelor's heart; a Hummer-driving developer hooked on self-improvement audiobooks is threatening to pave the last vestiges of his family farm; and inside his barn lies a calf bearing the image of Jesus Christ. Harley's best friend, Billy, urges him to sidestep the woman, fight the developer, and get rich off the calf. But Harley takes the opposite tack, hoping to avoid what his devout, dearly departed mother would have called "a scene."

Then the secret gets out--right through the barn door--and Harley's "miracle" goes viral.

"A fun commentary on small-town America and today's insatiable appetite for goofy stories to fill the Web."--New York Post ("Required Reading" lead pick)

"A hilarious glimpse into small-town life . . . combined with meditations on the meanings of faith, environmentalism, development, and romance."--Library Journal (starred review)