Others have told me how good Christopher Moore is, and I was always skeptical. I've been thinking about why, and I realized that I used to be skeptical about Terry Pratchett, too, before I read one of his books and realized how much meat there was to it.
And I think that's the essence of the problem; I mistrust a comic novel because I assume that comedy will be all there is. I'm not into slapstick, and I get really annoyed when a story doesn't make sense because the author's too busy being funny. I think this is the flip side of my mistrust of so-called "literary fiction." Something good has to happen. It has to fit together and make good sense, both practically and emotionally.
Holy crap, does Christopher Moore pull it off. I am fine with suspension of disbelief, and if this Britain isn't historically accurate, it's some damned fine worldbuilding. I try to keep this blog clean for the kiddies, so I won't tell you about my new favorite swearword, and I won't go on as long as I could about how absolutely FUN Pocket makes the F-word sound. I've been laughing out loud on the T.
I'm tempted to ask why you people didn't tell me about this guy before, but Brenda did suggest Lamb a long time ago, and I'll admit I was suspicious. Now, of course, I'm running right out. And trying really, REALLY hard not to end this post with a swear.
ps. JMLC, any other favorites of his?
Hmm. I liked Practical Demonkeeping as well but not quite as much. And I've heard good things about, um, Fluke? I think that's what it's called. But Lamb is my very favorite.
ReplyDeleteI think the deal with CM is that it's hard to find one that is better than the first one you read of his. For me that was Dirty Job. Later I read You Suck and it was good. But Dirty Job was better. My mom has read almost all of them and I think she still likes Lamb - the first she read - best. Definitely keep going though, they are still really good - but I'll bet you'll like Fool best even though I've never read it.
ReplyDeleteBtw, I think your assessment of comic novels is spot on. This is why Gaimen's Anansai Boys fell flat for me. Only one of his I didn't like...
The Stupidest Angel is the best I've read so far. Perfect Christmas-season reading.
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