Pajiba

For the last two sentences alone, I now have to read this book.

Wow, so he has cool hat! But what is it?? HOHO, WHo cares... I met a nice man on http://Agegaplove.com but he is 18 years older than me. Wow, what should I do??

I'm reading A Dirty Job now. It is, without a doubt, the funniest book I've read in a years. Anyone who hasn't read it - go pick it up. If you liked Dead Like Me (and who doesn't, I mean, really?), you'll love A Dirty Job.

Fluke is next on my list, and then I'll jump on The Gospel According to Biff.

Moore is awesome.

I love, love, love this book. I want to marry it and have its babies.

"I love all the little children. Red, yellow, black, green."

"What?"

"I'm just fucking with you."

I think you are forgetting to mention the best part of this book: JESUS KNOWS KUNG FU!

Much as I loved this book, I felt like it was a fairly radical departure from his other work. This is much more serious throughout, though still frequently hilarious, and the climax is, obviously, tragic. I suppose the denouement could be called a let down, but how does an author top the crucifixion?

But "A Dirty Job"? Haaaaaaaaated it.

My favorite Christoper Moore is Practical Demonkeeping, but I'll have to try this next!

I read this for the first time a couple years ago and I have to agree with Linda about the ending. I cried like a baby, and that's not a normal reaction to literature for me. I couldn't recommend this book more highly.

Heh. I've told the ,daughter a few times, "Jesus hung out with fishermen. You think personal hygiene was a big deal to a 0 B.C. fisherman, guy out in the hot sun all day pulling crap out of the water? Imagine how that smelled. And if one of them lost a finger in a tangle of net, or got a hook buried in his thigh, do you think he just said 'Oh, ouch, golly, that sure hurts' in Hebrew or Aramaic or whatever they spoke? You think the disciples didn't curse and belch and fart and shit over the side of the boat and get pissed off and laugh and tell raunchy jokes around the fire at night, like bunches of guys have forever and ever? And that Jesus probably did too?"

Anyway, after Monty Python, Moore captures that kind of idea better than anyone I know. I haven't been able to find "Lamb" at the library but I've read "Dirty Job" and several others and while I think he strains too hard to be funny sometimes, what the hell, I still get a laugh from his work.

Bacon.

It's been a while since I read this book, but doesn't Jesus know judo, not kung fu? Isn't judo invented for him and named after him - Jew-Do?

Also: Jesus becomes BFF with a yeti!!!

Totally awesome book. Among the few I recommend to just about anyone. Moore manages to bring the funny yet he never disrespects the foundations of the religion. That's a fine line to walk. Also, of all his books, this is the tightest in terms of writing. Sandwiched between Good Omens and American Gods on the religion shelf. The works of Thomas Aquinas and Boethius are not amused, but I am.

I love anything by Moore, and I've read most of his books. But Lamb is his best. I completely agree with Linda - I was sobbing at the end.

"Don't let anyone ever tell you that the Prince of Peace never struck anyone."

Holy Crap! I overslept this morning, finally woke up, and my review was published on Pajiba! Today is going to be awesome!

My review really doesn't do this book justice. This book was simply wonderful. I just finished Practical Demonkeeping, and that review will be up shortly. I'm addicted to Moore. Can't wait until Bite Me comes out in April!

Hoof Hearted, I think this book actually reads better if you are familiar with the New Testament. It's slightly irreverent, but I wouldn't go so far as blasphemous.

Good job with a good book, Commander Strikeher!

Hoof Hearted, both my mother and my girlfriend's mother are incredibly devout Catholics and both of them enjoyed Lamb a lot. If you're open to ribbing, I'd say this book'll do fine by you.

Hoof Hearted, GO READ THIS BOOK

At no point in the narrative does the character of Jesus "break"- He remains a good man through and through, all the hijinks are perpetrated by Biff. I have given this book to literally a hundred people, several of them clergy members, and every one of them has loved it.

I have enjoyed all of his books, some more than others. But of all of them, to me, Lamb is his masterpiece- he hit it out of the park with that one. I have met him several times at book signings. He seems like a very nice guy.

Moores newest book, "Fool" is also very good. It is a retelling of "king Lear" from the point of view of Lears fool, who Moore has named "Pocket". Very raunchy Shakesperian fun.

Thanks Kate the Great, Alexandra, TheMaskedEmu and JFD. I'm putting it on my list!

Yes! Another person becomes addicted to Moore! Oh, and I'm with MCMC--do not under any circumstances skip Fluke. I know a lot of people dislike it, but it's one of my absolute favourites. So, give it a shot.

AM, you do realize that these Cannonballers have committed to write 52 book reviews in a year, on a volunteer basis (for charity, no less), on top of their normal everyday life responsibilities, eh? Don't get me wrong, in-depth analysis certainly can be helpful, but not everyone has time for that sort of attention to detail every single week. Anyway, I think it's pretty obvious that the reviewer thought this was an enjoyable read, as opposed to a quirky but ultimately disappointing premise.

AM - bite my fucking ass - I ain't getting paid for this shit and I work two jobs, volunteer for TWO organizations, and still find time to read and write reviews, which I am doing purely for entertainment, not for anybody else's approval. I did this for my blog, for me, not for you.

P.S. Go fuck yourself.

I loved this book - there is tension in the plot even though the outcome of the story is/should be known tot he reader, the characters are relateable and their development is realistic (within the confines of the supernatural elements of the book, of course), and it's freakin' HILARIOUS.

AM - I believe that the (brief) summary of the plot reveals a great deal about the book. It tells us that Moore did a lot of research and gives a fresh look at historical figures by creating a character who sees them as people instead of icons. Also, you know it's very funny. I'm sorry if you were unable to deduce that from what was written, but I think it's rather obvious.

If you need to be assured that Moore can write well, I think the enthusiasm Commander Strikeher has for the work, bolstered by the immediate agreement of many regular commenters, is a good start. And, for extra measure, the comparison to Good Omens should give you an idea of what sort of writing/tone to expect. The review may not be up to snuff for academic purposes, but there's plenty to mine if you have any familiarity with close reading.

The thing is, AM, is that there isn't much to Christopher Moore except a bit of silliness. I guess the review could have made up something New York Times-ish about zeitgeist or the precedents for Moore's over-the-top turn of phrase. But really, what's the point? The books are escapism, pure and simple.

It would be like comparing Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure to de Tocqueville's Democracy in America (yes, one is a book and the other is a movie, but couldn't think of a silly road trip book). It would make the reviewer look well-educated, but wouldn't say much about the pleasures of enjoying silliness for the sake of itself.

AM, you may have a clearer understanding of the book, but not of Cannonball Read. Commander Strikeher did not publish to Pajiba, he published to his personal blog, and as a member of Cannonball, his review was published at random by Pajiba so we could all be exposed to a new book/book we read and loved/hated. It is not intended to be "high criticism". Though you may desire such elements to be in the book review section of this website, it has not been in that format for quite some time now. I hope this alleviates your confusion. I really do.

I really must say that this book is one of my favorites of all time. I just picked it back up again and am about 3/4 the way through it...laughing as hard as i did the first 3 times i read it. It is wonderful to see that people are reading it for the first time still. This book, while it is edgy, humorous, and potentially very controversial..is a must read for EVERYONE! It is a book that really should be mandatory in schools...i know it sounds crazy...but what it can teach is an open mind and acceptance of pretty much anything that comes your way. Through sarcasm (thank you Biff) and creative liberties, Christopher Moore has written a book that has changed my life. Wether he would like to admit it or not...he is a brilliant author. Lamb is a book that is not for the faint of heart...and only for those of strong Faith...if someone tells you they wont read it because they think it is Blasphemous..tell them that humor is the best teacher and that their faith, should be strong enough to be tested. Tell them to read the f---ing book, poke them, then call them an untouchable!

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