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Fool by Christopher Moore

Cannonball Read / Brian Prisco

Book Reviews | June 12, 2009 | Comments (9)

I love Chris Moore. So much so, that I wrote to him long ago, commending him for his work. I was equally stunned when the dude wrote back. And not some kind of stock “Thank you for your kind response.” type bullshit, but an honest to God thoughtful response. I also introduced him to the word “douchewaffle.” You’re welcome, America.

Part of the reason I’ve been drawn to authors like Chris Moore, JA Konrath, and Jim Butcher is that they are very accessible to their fans, and seem to express a genuine appreciation that people like their work. And so I try to find their work and pimp it out whenever possible.

Now with Christopher Moore, his work has been really hit or miss. Lamb is probably one of the most enjoyable novels ever written. And Stupidest Angel banks extremely well on all of his previous canon. But for all the good stuff, I really disliked Fluke and Coyote Blue. So it doesn’t mean I automatically give him a free pass.

Our superbook gal Jennifer already gave a brilliant review of this, so I won’t wax poetic on it too much. It’s right in my wheelhouse, a sort of mash-up of Shakespeare with his usual sardonic wit. The problem with this is that I think he’s pushing a little too much of his wocka-wocka in the material. It feels like late Mel Brooks, and I don’t mean that as a compliment. It’s funny, and that’s the problem. The material’s almost a little too schticky, but since I laughed so much, I feel strange in complaining. When Pocket - Lear’s fool — gets wistful, it’s got a really belabored feel to it.

If you’re a Moore fan, you’ll enjoy it, and I am, so I did. It’s not his best work, but it was slightly better than You Suck, and a little less so than Dirty Job.

This review is part of the Cannonball Read series. For more of Brian’s reviews, check out his blog, The Gospel According to Prisco.


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Comments

Wait, The Gabriel Method thinks I want to look like that dude?! What Method will help me look nourished? That guy is all elbows and dick cheese.

Posted by: Kballs at June 12, 2009 9:13 AM

wow, really kballs, elbows and dick cheese?

please try not to make me snort when i am drinking my coffee. damn you for my wet spacebar!

Posted by: gp at June 12, 2009 9:52 AM

Q: Why isn't Jennifer's review up instead of this one?

Posted by: Maryanne at June 12, 2009 2:26 PM

Oh come on, what IS it with people not liking Fluke? I adore Fluke--it's one of my favourite of Moore's! Maybe you have to have worked with whale researchers to fully appreciate it?

I know what you mean about Fool seeming a little forced, but like you said, there were plenty of laughs to be had. Also, it dawned on me early in the book that Pocket reminded me oddly of a co-worker of mine, which added a whole new level of amusement.

So cool that he wrote you a personal note!

Posted by: meaux at June 12, 2009 7:43 PM

Meaux! I LOVED Fluke too, and I don't work with whale researchers. It wasn't my favorite, but it certainly wasn't the worst (I didn't care for You Suck, and I concur with Coyote Blue).

I'm waiting for Fool to be in paperback to complete my Moore collection.

Posted by: Sadie_Rue at June 12, 2009 10:02 PM

I just bought Fool, and it's good to know it's worth the investment.

I read Lamb based on a bookstore recommendation. Actually, I read most of it in the bookstore, then convinced my (very Christian) mother that it was the perfect book to read aloud as my family drove to Florida.

Lamb is pee your pants funny. My entire family loved it. Which made it really disappointing to read other Moore offerings. It's good to know that Fool is better than Fluke, which I couldn't even finish.

Posted by: ashleigh at June 12, 2009 10:07 PM

When are you pajibamonkeys covering Terry Pratchett, godammit?!?

(...Unless you already have...in that case, would you please provide me with the link? I don't come here often....)

Posted by: brownribbon at June 13, 2009 1:49 AM

Christopher Moore. Ooohhoowwhhoooooooooooo...I'm going all squishy. Purely by fluke (ha!) a few months ago, I came across Island of the Sequined Love Nun in a thrift store. The title alone struck me as just weird enough to make it worth a read, and I've been in total fawning book geek love ever since.

Posted by: Edwina the Magnificent at June 14, 2009 6:34 PM

I can NEVER thank you enough for introducing Mr. Moore to "douchewaffle". It pops up on my cell phone every time I receive a call from my ex-husband.

Posted by: babymomma at June 15, 2009 2:40 PM