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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
This was something I've never seen in a Moore book: Trite and boring. A mythical sea creature wakes up horny and wanders onto shore. A group of disparate people who are supposed to be intriguing but come across as dull, as spliced in a story that jumps between them. I was surprised as how little I cared.
Moore forces the reader to keep track of a ton of characters, but the overall story is engrossing and amusing. For some reason, maybe because I've been watching old episodes of Parks & Recreation, I kept picturing Louis CK as Theo Crowe despite the physical description of the character not being remotely close to matching the comedian. I think it's just easy to picture CK smoking a lot of pot. Moore appears to have a set criteria for the character in his books that revolve around the California coast: dudes and/or ladies that need a change in life, a supernatural or out-of-this-world yet misunderstood creature, and some figure of authority that is corrupt beyond words in need of comeuppance. This is my third Moore book and each one has followed this formula. The formula is sound and each of the books has been incredibly entertaining and fun to read. In fact, this was my favorite Moore book yet. Now that I'm moving on to Lamb, it'll be nice to see him switch it up.
Also, his depiction of how a dog thinks through Skinner, especially calling Gabe "Food Guy," was brilliant.
Also, his depiction of how a dog thinks through Skinner, especially calling Gabe "Food Guy," was brilliant.
I've only JUST started this, but I already like the flow of perspective. The story is passing from one person to the next, seamlessly transitioning the focus. It keeps you interested, because you aren't getting caught up in the mundane details, so when the action drops off in one place, it picks up somewhere else.
So that turned out to be how the characters were initially introduced (the flow from one to the next), but I liked the changing of focus through the story from one character to the next.
This story is just a riot, very twisted, but laugh out loud throughout.
So that turned out to be how the characters were initially introduced (the flow from one to the next), but I liked the changing of focus through the story from one character to the next.
This story is just a riot, very twisted, but laugh out loud throughout.
After reading Lamb by Christopher Moore, this book was a slight let down. While still humorous, Mr. Moore fails to grab my full attention as he did in his hysterical tale about Jesus' life. Not bad by any means, but not his greatest work.
One of Moore’s better tales, this is a silly, quick read and just what I needed in a book at the time.
Great book if you can/want to suspend reality, not think too much, and just read for entertainment. It kind of reminded me of those multiple series of books out there (like Sue Grafton's) but so much more edgy, funny, slightly uncomfortable, and off the beaten path. It would be a great beach or vacation book.
Christopher Moore is one of my favorite authors, and I delight in introducing him to others. I selected this having never read it myself for my Book Club. You would think I might have gleaned a bit about it from the title, buuuut I didn't really think about it. It was, shall we say, a vivid step into the crazy and humorous world he has created in present day Pine Cove, California, and warrants a very health suspension of disbelief.
Primordial lizards, randy citizens, murder, zealots, drug dens, blues, anti-depressants. There is something for everyone, and by "everyone" I mean "anyone who is intrigued by this concoction of things." This is a great summer read: easy, zany, and laugh out loud fun. Overall everyone in my book club enjoyed it, so I'd put that in the w column.
I really enjoy that he uses the same characters/location in many of his other books. I have read his Christmas book, "The Stupidest Angel" several times and it takes place chronologically after this one, but it was still fun to revisit these characters, and travel a little back in time.
All in all, a solid hilarious showing by Moore who likes to throw fun characters together, shake them all up, and watch what happens.
Primordial lizards, randy citizens, murder, zealots, drug dens, blues, anti-depressants. There is something for everyone, and by "everyone" I mean "anyone who is intrigued by this concoction of things." This is a great summer read: easy, zany, and laugh out loud fun. Overall everyone in my book club enjoyed it, so I'd put that in the w column.
I really enjoy that he uses the same characters/location in many of his other books. I have read his Christmas book, "The Stupidest Angel" several times and it takes place chronologically after this one, but it was still fun to revisit these characters, and travel a little back in time.
All in all, a solid hilarious showing by Moore who likes to throw fun characters together, shake them all up, and watch what happens.
funny
lighthearted
medium-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:
Complicated
Re-read as an audiobook, same narrator as Pine Cove series #1, who is so great at being these wacky characters to life