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shalini_gunnasan's review against another edition
3.0
This was an alright read, finished it in one day actually. Quite funny and while the plot is predictable, it was a merry ride. Some of the jokes were puerile though, but maybe it was a matter of taste. Good for a day trip. Terry Pratchett he is not, although clearly inspired by the great man.
katyanaish's review against another edition
5.0
I freaking love this book. Charlie Asher, a man bumbling through life, somehow bumbles into the job of Death. But don't let all the laughing fool you - underneath it all, this is a very touching story.
xeyra1's review against another edition
5.0
I love Christopher Moore. And this book is hilarious and cute and amazing and Charlie Asher is just an absolutely incredible character in all his Beta Male glory. Highly recommended. One of the best reads I had in 2007.
bridgetbjorna's review against another edition
3.0
So-so. I didn't mind getting through it but I feel like it's like chick-lit for married guys maybe?
labunnywtf's review against another edition
4.0
So, I'm like a Santa's helper of death?
Huge respect to Christopher Moore, I loved [b:Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal|28881|Lamb The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal|Christopher Moore|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1331419009s/28881.jpg|3346728] so much, but I still hesitated when it came to reading a new one by him. I don't know why, it's a thing I do.
I have a serious love for Grim Reaper stories, and this is such an amazing spin on it. I loved it so much that I turned around immediately and got the audiobook for [b: Secondhand Souls|23460830|Secondhand Souls (Grim Reaper, #2)|Christopher Moore|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1434397134s/23460830.jpg|42753848] so that I wouldn't have to wait to finish the story.
There's so many fun bits of mythology here. The idea that when you die, your soul transfers to an object that held special significance for you. This can be a book, CD, umbrella.
Breast implant.
Anything!
And it transfers to another person, when that person finds your soul vessel. It calls to them, a person can't just randomly get another's soul by grabbing their old Doc Martens. Reincarnation via commerce.
Which means that there are people walking around with no soul. It affects nothing, they aren't the antichrist or anything. But the idea is kind of amazing. I'm obsessed with the mythology.
Charlie, and his fellow Death Merchants, own some form of second hand shop, where they sell these. And they're tasked with running around getting the soul vessels. They don't take the souls directly from the person's being, they just have to find the bright red glowing soul vessel before...well, before the Underworld rises and everything goes to Hell. Which seems like poor planning on their part. What if someone in the family threw away the person's soul vessel before they got there?
Though the scene where collecting a soul is like collecting a debt was freaking genius.
I saw the twist with Sophie coming right at the beginning, but it was fun waiting for it to play out. I like all of the characters, most especially Mr Fresh. So fun.
Jane's description makes me think of Desire from the Sandman series. I was tickled and wondered if we'd get someone who looked like Delirium and Dream, but let's face it, Charlie is no Death.
Well, sweet tidy bowl Jesus skipping on the blue toilet water!
Steeeeeealing.
Huge respect to Christopher Moore, I loved [b:Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal|28881|Lamb The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal|Christopher Moore|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1331419009s/28881.jpg|3346728] so much, but I still hesitated when it came to reading a new one by him. I don't know why, it's a thing I do.
I have a serious love for Grim Reaper stories, and this is such an amazing spin on it. I loved it so much that I turned around immediately and got the audiobook for [b: Secondhand Souls|23460830|Secondhand Souls (Grim Reaper, #2)|Christopher Moore|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1434397134s/23460830.jpg|42753848] so that I wouldn't have to wait to finish the story.
There's so many fun bits of mythology here. The idea that when you die, your soul transfers to an object that held special significance for you. This can be a book, CD, umbrella.
Breast implant.
Anything!
And it transfers to another person, when that person finds your soul vessel. It calls to them, a person can't just randomly get another's soul by grabbing their old Doc Martens. Reincarnation via commerce.
Which means that there are people walking around with no soul. It affects nothing, they aren't the antichrist or anything. But the idea is kind of amazing. I'm obsessed with the mythology.
Charlie, and his fellow Death Merchants, own some form of second hand shop, where they sell these. And they're tasked with running around getting the soul vessels. They don't take the souls directly from the person's being, they just have to find the bright red glowing soul vessel before...well, before the Underworld rises and everything goes to Hell. Which seems like poor planning on their part. What if someone in the family threw away the person's soul vessel before they got there?
Though the scene where collecting a soul is like collecting a debt was freaking genius.
I saw the twist with Sophie coming right at the beginning, but it was fun waiting for it to play out. I like all of the characters, most especially Mr Fresh. So fun.
Jane's description makes me think of Desire from the Sandman series. I was tickled and wondered if we'd get someone who looked like Delirium and Dream, but let's face it, Charlie is no Death.
Well, sweet tidy bowl Jesus skipping on the blue toilet water!
Steeeeeealing.
jaredwill_'s review against another edition
5.0
More Moore. I don't really know how to give a pithy description to a book with a wide and ever evolving series of ridiculous plot points. Death, second-hand retailers, sewer harpies, Buddhist monks, and tiny animal Frankensteins, what's not to love.
barbarianmissy's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was a surreal experience. This book was a dark comedy about an awkward man processing his grief while trying to raise a baby girl as a single parent. However, in the process of it all he somehow becomes a merchant of death and has to deal with the forces of darkness trying to take over San Francisco.
This book was very very funny, and I did really enjoy the absurdity of it all, albeit sometimes the humour wasn’t my particular cup of tea. I also saw the ending coming from a mile away and there was almost too much emphasis on Charlie being a “beta-male”, so therefore my lack of stars. But it was a fun ride overall! I really enjoyed the surrealism and the hell hounds and the squirrel people though!
I would recommend this book as a nice palette cleanser if you’re looking for a fun easy going read!
Good pick, book club!
This book was very very funny, and I did really enjoy the absurdity of it all, albeit sometimes the humour wasn’t my particular cup of tea. I also saw the ending coming from a mile away and there was almost too much emphasis on Charlie being a “beta-male”, so therefore my lack of stars. But it was a fun ride overall! I really enjoyed the surrealism and the hell hounds and the squirrel people though!
I would recommend this book as a nice palette cleanser if you’re looking for a fun easy going read!
Good pick, book club!
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content, Blood, Gun violence, Racism, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Death of parent, Death, and Grief
kpbake427's review against another edition
5.0
I wouldn't recommend this to just anyone but I thought it was hilarious. I look forward to reading more Christopher Moore.