*** - There was a lot to laugh at here, but after a while the 'knob-polishing' got pretty old. Not something I'm likely to re-read, but I will be looking at some other Christopher Moore books to see if I find something more to my liking.
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal is the funny, quirky story of the lost years of Jesus' (here Josh) young adulthood. According to Biff, the Prince of Peace had no compunction about smacking Biff on occasion (usually well-deserved). The two of them travel to visit the three Magi in Afghanistan, China and India where Josh learns various kinds of magic, meditation and kung fu! I was actually surprised that any poking fun at Christianity seemed largely good-natured rather than mean-spirited (that was my impression, but a devout Christian might feel otherwise).
I was far more entertained by this than I expected to be. The scenes with Raziel the archangel (especially the ones involving Soap Opera Digest) had me giggling the whole time. I really enjoyed the parts of Josh and Biff's childhood running around Nazareth and such. Once they started going off on their travels, I was less impressed. An awful lot started to revolve around sex jokes, and I'm just not that interested or amused by Jesus learning kung fu or Biff getting it on with eight concubines... That said, Josh is exposed to some real spiritual lessons in his travels that could easily have informed his teachings.
So, it was funny, definitely. Not all the bits that were supposed to be funny worked for me, but enough did that I'm glad I read it. I just enjoyed the frame story more. I'm now looking forward to a chance to read Moore's Fool.
Interested in other opinions?
6 comments:
You might try Moore's Fluke: I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings. It's one of my favorites by him. (In interest of full disclosure, I should tell you that Lamb is the other). Island of the Sequined Love Nun is also fun. It deals with black market organs transplants, cannibalism, and cargo cults - without getting gross!
I think somebody loaned me the Sequined Love Nun, so that'll probably be the next one I try. Thanks for the recommendations!
Great review Lana and thanks for linking me...as a reader, I love seeing multiple reviews in one spot :)
Days after reading this book, I was still making references to it & cracking up laughing. Raziel & his soap opera, lol. He shows up again in The Stupidest Angel http://www.amazon.com/Stupidest-Angel-Heartwarming-Christmas-Terror/dp/0060842350/ref=oe_popover_img
I just may have to read this one over the holidays :)
Thanks Riva, I'll check have to check out Fluke as well!
Oh wow, The Stupidest Angel definitely sounds up my alley. Thanks Mel!
I loved the scene where Josh is hopped up on caffeine and running around the marketplace smacking people in the head and curing them of warts and stuff.
Personally, my favorites of Moore's books are The Stupidest Angel, Lamb, and A Dirty Job.
Fyrefly - That was a great scene. I loved that he was chanting everything that was wrong with them while he essentially played hopscotch with their heads. So funny!
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