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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
It Ain’t Christmas Until A Fruit Bat Bites Someone
What’s a holiday story that doesn’t start with bloodshed, cursing, and a little good-old-fashioned graveyard sex? Moore’s holiday tale begins with a bang (eyes) and keeps it up throughout. His trademark quick humor elevates what could have been an ordinary tale of holiday murder and turns it into something special. Despite the often-dark events and themes, The Stupidest Angel manages to stay hilarious, and occasionally heartwarming.
The best holiday tales have a bit of darkness interlaced with cheer and familiarity (A Christmas Carol, Gremlins, the classics). The Stupidest Angel is no exception covering themes of infidelity, biblical miracles and backyard marijuana growing operations. Moore finds and captures his holiday spirit through a cast of characters ranging from a B-movie star on the verge of a psychotic break to a DEA pilot and his Ray Ban-wearing fruit bat. All of Moore’s characters are beyond batshit (except the bat, funnily enough) and watching them interact is an absolute joy.
While the overarching story is predictable in the sense that most holiday tales are, the details were not. The bizarre actions of the characters and the surprisingly high stakes, had me burn through this book in about a week (I’m generally a slow reader). It’s a quick story with some excellent twists and turns that I didn’t expect, and a wonderful antidote to all of the terrible, saccharine, streaming movies that I’ve been binging (we’ve all made our choices).
If you’re looking for a good, sometimes crude, blood-bathy laugh this holiday season, I recommend picking this book up. As with most of Moore’s work, I laughed out loud through most of it and I’m still thinking about the story after I’ve put it down. Moore has cemented himself as one of my favorite authors, and I highly recommend checking out some of his other work: Lamb (the story of Jesus’s life outside The Bible, hilarious) and A Dirty Job (a tale of Death and the many workers who carry it out).
What’s a holiday story that doesn’t start with bloodshed, cursing, and a little good-old-fashioned graveyard sex? Moore’s holiday tale begins with a bang (eyes) and keeps it up throughout. His trademark quick humor elevates what could have been an ordinary tale of holiday murder and turns it into something special. Despite the often-dark events and themes, The Stupidest Angel manages to stay hilarious, and occasionally heartwarming.
The best holiday tales have a bit of darkness interlaced with cheer and familiarity (A Christmas Carol, Gremlins, the classics). The Stupidest Angel is no exception covering themes of infidelity, biblical miracles and backyard marijuana growing operations. Moore finds and captures his holiday spirit through a cast of characters ranging from a B-movie star on the verge of a psychotic break to a DEA pilot and his Ray Ban-wearing fruit bat. All of Moore’s characters are beyond batshit (except the bat, funnily enough) and watching them interact is an absolute joy.
While the overarching story is predictable in the sense that most holiday tales are, the details were not. The bizarre actions of the characters and the surprisingly high stakes, had me burn through this book in about a week (I’m generally a slow reader). It’s a quick story with some excellent twists and turns that I didn’t expect, and a wonderful antidote to all of the terrible, saccharine, streaming movies that I’ve been binging (we’ve all made our choices).
If you’re looking for a good, sometimes crude, blood-bathy laugh this holiday season, I recommend picking this book up. As with most of Moore’s work, I laughed out loud through most of it and I’m still thinking about the story after I’ve put it down. Moore has cemented himself as one of my favorite authors, and I highly recommend checking out some of his other work: Lamb (the story of Jesus’s life outside The Bible, hilarious) and A Dirty Job (a tale of Death and the many workers who carry it out).
DNF on page 1 upon encountering the simile "as inviting as a drunken prom queen." Learning that this book is apparently intended for readers who find underage girls incapacitated by alcohol "inviting," I concluded that it was probably not for me. It's a bummer! I really liked "Lamb," one of this author's other novels.
How else but in a mad lib could you have a book involving an idiot angel, a pot smoking sheriff, a zombie Santa, a talking fruit bat, and Kendra, Warrior Babe of the Outland? From the mind and pen of Christopher Moore, that's how!
This is typical Moore fare, which is to say, atypical, irreverent, and funny as hell. It's a short, quick read that never takes itself the least bit seriously, and, best yet, it's a Christmas story (I really hope they make a movie out of this, as is allegedly in the works. I would watch it every holiday season, assuming they didn't fuck it up).
I honestly don't want to say more about the plot, because it's probably funnier if you don't know what is coming, but I will leave this quote, which comes from the end of Chapter One, to give you an idea of the tone of the book.
This is typical Moore fare, which is to say, atypical, irreverent, and funny as hell. It's a short, quick read that never takes itself the least bit seriously, and, best yet, it's a Christmas story (I really hope they make a movie out of this, as is allegedly in the works. I would watch it every holiday season, assuming they didn't fuck it up).
I honestly don't want to say more about the plot, because it's probably funnier if you don't know what is coming, but I will leave this quote, which comes from the end of Chapter One, to give you an idea of the tone of the book.
In another Christmas story, Dale Pearson, evil developer, self-absorbed woman hater, and seemingly unredeemable curmudgeon, might be visited in the night by a series of ghosts who, by showing him bleak visions of Christmas future, past, and present, would bring about in him a change to generosity, kindness, and a general warmth toward his fellow man. But this is not that kind of Christmas story, so here, in not too many pages, someone is going to dispatch the miserable son of a bitch with a shovel. That's the spirit of Christmas yet to come in these parts. Ho, ho, ho.
Time to start reviewing some of my seasonal favorites, starting with my absolute favorite Christmas book, at least my favorite modern Christmas book. Subtitled A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror, this book doesn't stint on the seasonally heartwarming. Or the terror. Or the laughs!
"Fear not...for I bring you tidings of great joy. Behold, your Christmas wish has been granted...Not what I would have wished for..."
By the time Raziel, the common sense challenged angel of the title, makes this proclamation, a bizarre cautionary tale has spun out. In this season of not just giving, but of asking Santa for stuff, being careful what you ask for is excellent advice. Even the simplest wish can have unintended consequences.
Christmas is coming, and in this neck of the woods...
"Christmas crept into Pine Cove like a creeping Christmas thing: dragging garland, ribbon, and sleigh bells, oozing eggnog, reeking of pine, and threatening festive doom like a cold sore under the mistletoe."
Into this cozy setting comes Raziel, a Nativity angel on a mission to fulfill the Christmas wish of a child. He finds Josh, who believes he has seen Santa Claus killed (in reality, a local asswipe in a Santa suit). And he wishes...
I don't want to spoil the ensuing mayhem other than to say I can't believe I didn't figure out this particular part of the chaos until it was actually spelled out that this tale would involve...
A subplot of the book alludes to one of my favorite Christmas classics, The Gift of the Magi. It doesn't really give away much if I mention that See? Heartwarming! O. Henry would be proud.
Anyone who has read other Christopher Moore books will recognize many of the characters from several of his other books. Lena, Theo, and the town of Pine Cove itself feature in The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove, Tucker and Roberto the Fruit Bat are from Island of the Sequined Love Nun, etc. Even Raziel the angel made an appearance in Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal. While it's fun seeing all these characters thrown together if you've read about them before, it's not at all necessary to know anything about them going in.
Lastly, one small warning. The cover art could lead to the impression that this might, just might, be a book for children. It's not. In fact, there's an author's warning at the very beginning...
"If you're buying this book as a gift for your grandma or a kid, you should be aware that it contains cusswords as well as tasteful depictions of cannibalism and people in their forties having sex. Don't blame me. I told you."
In fact, the phrase "I-AM-SO-GOING-TO-WASH-YOUR-VOLVO..." may enter your lexicon.
Enjoy!
and
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
"Fear not...for I bring you tidings of great joy. Behold, your Christmas wish has been granted...Not what I would have wished for..."
By the time Raziel, the common sense challenged angel of the title, makes this proclamation, a bizarre cautionary tale has spun out. In this season of not just giving, but of asking Santa for stuff, being careful what you ask for is excellent advice. Even the simplest wish can have unintended consequences.
Christmas is coming, and in this neck of the woods...
"Christmas crept into Pine Cove like a creeping Christmas thing: dragging garland, ribbon, and sleigh bells, oozing eggnog, reeking of pine, and threatening festive doom like a cold sore under the mistletoe."
Into this cozy setting comes Raziel, a Nativity angel on a mission to fulfill the Christmas wish of a child. He finds Josh, who believes he has seen Santa Claus killed (in reality, a local asswipe in a Santa suit). And he wishes...
I don't want to spoil the ensuing mayhem other than to say I can't believe I didn't figure out this particular part of the chaos until it was actually spelled out that this tale would involve...
Spoiler
zombeeeez!A subplot of the book alludes to one of my favorite Christmas classics, The Gift of the Magi. It doesn't really give away much if I mention that
Spoiler
Lena, former B-movie actress known for playing Kendra, Warrior Babe of the Outland, saves money by going off her antipsychotic meds in order to buy her husband Theo, a cop, a hand-blown glass bong, and Theo, the cop, starts his own little grow op to get enough money to buy Lena an authentic broadsword, which totally feeds into her Kendra-Warrior-Babe-of-the-Outlands delusions.Anyone who has read other Christopher Moore books will recognize many of the characters from several of his other books. Lena, Theo, and the town of Pine Cove itself feature in The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove, Tucker and Roberto the Fruit Bat are from Island of the Sequined Love Nun, etc. Even Raziel the angel made an appearance in Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal. While it's fun seeing all these characters thrown together if you've read about them before, it's not at all necessary to know anything about them going in.
Lastly, one small warning. The cover art could lead to the impression that this might, just might, be a book for children. It's not. In fact, there's an author's warning at the very beginning...
"If you're buying this book as a gift for your grandma or a kid, you should be aware that it contains cusswords as well as tasteful depictions of cannibalism and people in their forties having sex. Don't blame me. I told you."
In fact, the phrase "I-AM-SO-GOING-TO-WASH-YOUR-VOLVO..." may enter your lexicon.
Enjoy!
and
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
It wasn't my favourite Pine Cove story, but it's still pretty good.
So funny and well-written. Will definitely read more of his books now.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A light plot used as an excuse for very backwards not funny jokes that try to be edgy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Misogyny, Racism, Antisemitism
I wasn't expecting zombies!!! I always love a book that can make me laugh out loud this much.