Holy Cow! cover art

Holy Cow!

An Indian Adventure

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Holy Cow!

By: Sarah Macdonald
Narrated by: Kate Hosking
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About this listen

After backpacking her way around India, Sarah Macdonald decides she hates the country with a passion. When a beggar at the airport reads her palm and insists she will one day return - and for love - she screams 'Never!' and gives the country, and him, the finger.

Eleven years later, the prophecy comes true. When the love of Sarah's life is posted to India, she quits her dream job as a national radio presenter to follow him to the most polluted city on earth, New Delhi. It seems like the ultimate sacrifice for love and it almost kills her - literally.

One dank, smoggy night, a naked Sadhu smeared in human ashes curses Sarah and she falls dangerously ill with double pneumonia. She defeats death, not before facing some series questions about her own fragile mortality and inner spiritual void, not to mention some unsightly hair loss. It's enough to drive a rapidly balding atheist to drastic action - in this case a wild journey of discovery through India in search of the meaning of life and death. And with the help of the Dalai Lama, a goddess of healing hugs and a couple of Bollywood stars - among many, many others - Sarah discovers a hell of a lot more.

©2002 Sarah Macdonald. By arrangement with Curtis Brown (Aust) Pty Ltd. (P)2003 Bolinda Publishing Asia Travel Writing & Commentary Witty Middle East

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Critic reviews

"Hilarious and incredible." (B Magazine)

"Kathy Lette meets Tom Robbins on a slow train to Varanasi with Bill Bryson supplying the onion bhajis ... very, very funny." (Peter Moore)

"Prepare for the fast-moving and masterful narration by Kate Hosking. Her characterization of the Indian characters is nuanced and fun. The contrast with the distinctive Australian accents of MacDonald and other ex-pats adds to the sense of adventure and excitement and provides a backdrop for spiritual understanding." (AudioFile Magazine)
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Fab book you can really relate to if you visit India. Highly worth the listen.

Fab book you can really relate to if you visit India

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If you're looking for a fun easy-to-listen-to story and are interested in India and its myriad cultures and religions this may be for you. The narration is consistant and expressive, which makes visualisation an easy feat.

Thumbs Up

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Having travelled to India and worked there (got to love that driving), if only for a short time with my job, I found myself chuckling away merrily to this a great deal. It perfectly portrays the chaos that surrounded my visit there and I found constant parallels between the authors experiences and my own.
For some reason though I found it really hard to get through and took nearly a month to listen to it. Some of this was my doing but some of it was the story is pretty much one level throughout and samey.
I'm not sure about the religious stuff, Im sure some will take offence although I don't see any malice, just observation.
Well worth the read and the time.

Worth a read

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love the authors voice (beautifully brought to life by narrator too) the way she tells it is fast paced witty and palpable.

I love it already and I'm only halfway into chap 1

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I remember seeing Holy Cow on the bookshop shelves back in 2002 when it was first published. I remember being drawn to it by its funky (possibly offensive) front cover. I remember reading the blurb on the back cover and thinking, “I have to read this, it sounds right up my street”. However, I didn’t read it. Don’t know why? Just never got around to it I suppose.
Fast forward seventeen years, and I find myself looking for some Indian travel writing. After some searching, I come across Sarah Macdonald’s Holy Cow. I read the blurb again and bought it.
It’s no literary masterpiece but I just couldn’t put it down. It’s definitely not meant to be taken too seriously. I suspect some parts were altered for effect of laughs. I don’t remember a dull moment to be honest. I do remember a fair bit of laughing.
The book starts off quite cynical and Sarah already has a very negative view of India from a previous trip. However, she shortly starts to explore various types of spirituality that can be found in and around India. Before long the writer starts to become more open-minded regarding the different religions and embarks on a journey of self-discovery.
I can understand how some readers may find parts of the book offensive, especially the first chapter with the very cynical outlook at India and culture. But if you persevere, the writer expresses a much more open-minded outlook as she grows and tries to find positives in her surroundings.
I thoroughly enjoyed Holy Cow and would love to pick it up again one day.

Should have read this years ago!

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Having also been to India I was disappointed when listening to this book.
It leaves out so much of the joy of this unique country, but maybe I'm biased.
Worth listening to however.

Disappointing

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It started off so well, thought it was going to be fun, but it was just boring!! I lost the will to live listening to this book, it felt like a very long lesson in Religious instruction

similar to Shantaram? I don't think so!

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If you have been to India you will love this book. If you are going then its a good read before hand. Or take it if you are to go! It brings Indian with all its colour, tastes, and issues back to your mind. And leads you into another life. A world away.

A good read.

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I am going to India for my first visit and this book was recommended as an introduction. It seems to give a good description of the country, the people and the different cultures and religions. I feel I have a better understanding of what to expect from everyday life. There really are a lot of experiences in this book too. A great insight.

Great introduction to India

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Couldnt sound less interested and makes the whole experience sound mundane and a pain in the arse. She has one accent for every single Indian person male or female. People tell me its a fun enjoyable book but I scraped by the first 4 hours over a 6 week period when usually go through one this long in 2 days with my job but iv given up. I cant stand her.

This womans voice is agony

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