Michael Perry ventures off to live with his pregnant wife and step-daughter on a many-acred property in a lopsided farmhouse. As a reader you are able to follow Perry on this adventure while also reliving his unique but charming childhood of growing up on a dairy farm with more then 10 siblings. Even though Perry may seem to have a hard childhood as the son of a dairy farmer he wouldn't have it any other way, and his recollections are magnificently dreamy and desirable. He elaborates on many other topics including his wife's home birth and his daughter's desire for a pony. Perry does finally achieve his goal of a somewhat subsistence life when he wakes one morning and everything that is on his plate for breakfast is from his backyard (minus the Salt, Pepper, and oil).
My Opinion:
Well I was intrigued by this book only because of my "dream" (yes it is referred to as the dream) of owning my own little farm somewhere, with animals (yet to be determined) and lots of homegrown vegetables and fruits. I obviously don't know how this will work hence the reading of "Coop". This book is by no means a "how to" but more of a funny narrative on how to do it with lots of laughs, curses, and lessons. My biggest problem with my "dream" is my sensitivity towards animals in otherwords to butcher or not to butcher? Perry has helped me with this overwhelming question by explaining on the morning of his pigs slaughter day he has a gut filling of guiltiness, but he goes through with the butchering thinking about all the times the pigs bucked him in the groin or escaped from their pen. As much as this sounds inhumane Perry explains it such a persuading way that it makes sense to me. I can almost understand and conceptualize actually having animals on my little farm for the purpose of nourishing myself with protein. Not only is Perry great at explaining farm-going life to the average urbanite he expresses stories that will make you heart grow fuzzies for a life of subsistence and family.
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