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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
Think Lamb by Christopher Moore for intelligent humor and messed-up histoical fiction
Think The Old Testament by God for the horror
Think Pulp Fiction by Quentin Tarantino for dark humor
If you liked Lamb (it's one of my all-time favorites), you gotta try Unholy Night.
Think The Old Testament by God for the horror
Think Pulp Fiction by Quentin Tarantino for dark humor
If you liked Lamb (it's one of my all-time favorites), you gotta try Unholy Night.
I FINALLY finished this book. These was nothing wrong with it, but life got busy and it took me six days to read! Luckily this is the kind of book that's set up so that you can take a day away from it and come back without being totally lost.
My only real issue with the book is that, well, I don't really know much about the actual bible. I know the stories, sure, and I know the main "characters", sure, but I don't know the specifics. The problem with that is I occasionally found myself wondering which people and events mirrored those in the bible, and which ones were products of Grahame-Smith's spectacular imagination. When I finally just accepted it all as part of this story things were much smoother. (I could have researched the parts I was unsure of, but I eventually realized I didn't really much care either way. I actually only researched the creep-fest that is locusts, and found out a lot of interesting bits of information about them!)
I do have to agree with others though, and say that this was a rather moving story and that I didn't think it would be. Grahame-Smith has a way with words, there is no doubt about that! (He also tends to write rather violent events, and while I love his skill I'm not so much a fan of the be-headings and spurting blood!)
My only real issue with the book is that, well, I don't really know much about the actual bible. I know the stories, sure, and I know the main "characters", sure, but I don't know the specifics. The problem with that is I occasionally found myself wondering which people and events mirrored those in the bible, and which ones were products of Grahame-Smith's spectacular imagination. When I finally just accepted it all as part of this story things were much smoother. (I could have researched the parts I was unsure of, but I eventually realized I didn't really much care either way. I actually only researched the creep-fest that is locusts, and found out a lot of interesting bits of information about them!)
I do have to agree with others though, and say that this was a rather moving story and that I didn't think it would be. Grahame-Smith has a way with words, there is no doubt about that! (He also tends to write rather violent events, and while I love his skill I'm not so much a fan of the be-headings and spurting blood!)
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Quick and easy read, depends on a basic knowledge of the bible surrounding jesus’s birth and the land around it. author thinks he’s funny and is right about 60% of the time. themes aren’t too challenging.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Violence
Minor: Rape, Xenophobia
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was a fun and interesting read. SGS is very talented! I started this book because of how much I enjoyed Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and I was not disappointed.
Well written but a little too descriptive in the details of the violence.
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Xenophobia
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I didn't care for his Pride and Prejudice mash-up, despite my abiding love of zombies and zombie media, but Seth Grahame-Smith's historical-remix-whatever novels are just plain fun. After reading and loving Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter, I was eager to pick this one up, and I wasn't disappointed.
The appeal of this subject matter was even bigger for me, as a Christian who grew up steeped in Biblical stories, and I love the way that Grahame-Smith treated every aspect of the birth of Christ and the historical events surrounding it - without alienating either a secular or religious audience. The Three Wise Men as lowlife thieves was an interesting spin on the story. Though there were some parts that were a little predictable, the humor and pathos of the story was enjoyable. I recommend it to anyone, but I think history buffs will like it in particular.
The appeal of this subject matter was even bigger for me, as a Christian who grew up steeped in Biblical stories, and I love the way that Grahame-Smith treated every aspect of the birth of Christ and the historical events surrounding it - without alienating either a secular or religious audience. The Three Wise Men as lowlife thieves was an interesting spin on the story. Though there were some parts that were a little predictable, the humor and pathos of the story was enjoyable. I recommend it to anyone, but I think history buffs will like it in particular.
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Fittingly enough read around Christmas time.
What do we really know about the three wise men and how would the Nativity of Jesus be told from their perspective? Seth Grahame-Smith bends the story to shift the point of view to master thief Balthazar.
Amusing.
What do we really know about the three wise men and how would the Nativity of Jesus be told from their perspective? Seth Grahame-Smith bends the story to shift the point of view to master thief Balthazar.
Amusing.