Brilliant, irreverence...not for the faint of heart!

books:

	• Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal Christopher Moore Harper Paperbacks, 2003 - 444 pages average customer review:based on 496 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

highly recommended

Laughing this much must be a sin!

This is one of the few books that I joyously read over and over. From the moment I read that Biff's mother was beset by demons... I knew he was my kind of guy.I have given this book to several of my friends as a must read. The best way to describe this story is to say that it is an irreverant satire that becomes reverant. Wonderful, READ IT! You wont be sorry.

Humanizing but Reverent

While it may not be the expected response, this comedic novel on the missing 30 years in the Gospels helps my faith, in both Christ and humanity in general.

In spite of its fictional base and outlandish experiences based at least partly in myth, Moore uses a logical and solid grounding in both the Bible and history that resonates strongly. While the poetic license in some areas is strong (the Messiah using the power of his mind to cram himself into glass jars) in others the facts speak for themselves (Jewish customs both honored by Christ after the "coming" and those dismissed).

Almost no one's faith is ridiculed in this novel, with Moore instead using Biff as the catalyst for the humor focused on a personal level. Instead of ridicule, between bizarre experiences and funny anecdotes, Moore goes about methodically answering how Jesus became Jesus, and not just some poor kid from Nazereth. It may not be a convincing or even possible explanation, but it carries its own logic and the reader is carried along a natural progression.

Moore has to create a character of the Son of God, no easy feat. I think he accomplishes this end very well, since I found myself wrapped up in the plight of these two childhood friends, even though I already "know" how the story turns out.

for more information click here

mildly humorous

More like science fiction than anything else. A peculiar, inventive, sometimes humorous retelling of the biblical story of Jesus. Gets pretty grim at the end (not surprisingly).

Brilliant, irreverence...not for the faint of heart!

From the moment "Josh" (Aka: Jesus) was described as babysitting his younger brother...quietly sitting with him and occasionally putting the lizard in his mouth that his brother had just whacked on a rock...thus bringing it back to life....then handing it back to his brother.....*whack* goes the lizard....*pop* back into Josh's mouth...*whack* and so-on.....Josh was described as calm, patient, everything you'd hope and expect him to be...even as a babysitter...(and no, that's not exactly a spoiler there.) Biff on the other hand was Josh's alter-ego. His other half. He was the one who could get away with everything Josh couldn't - and then Josh would in his way live vicariously through Biff and his adventures. The book goes into the missing years of Jesus's life. What DID he do in those missing years? Well, the Bible doesn't exactly say. Christopher Moore gives a fascinating account of what he could have been up to. He certainly could have gone out on a hunt for the Three Wise Men. He could have. Did he? Who knows? But oh, wouldn't it be fun if his adventures were something like this? Christopher Moore's irreverence and humor makes Jesus more approachable. In his way, Moore turns this foray into Biblical history into an enjoyable and yes, sometimes disgusting tale. You delve into different belief systems - different Traditions. You see that Jesus himself respecting other beliefs and even following those Traditions and religions as a student of all things. I found myself thinking more than once that it's a shame more people who claim to follow Jesus's teachings don't do the same.
If you can look at Jesus with a sense of humor, read this. You won't be sorry. What you will do, however, is laugh until you cry, so you'd better be prepared with some of those funny little incontinence pads just in case. Don't say I didn't warn you.

for more information click here

Funny.

This was very funny up until Moore's take on the passion story, when it gets serious. I especially liked all the things Biff invents: matches, cream in coffee, sarcasm, etc. I also like it when he tries to fool Joshua (Jesus) by citing non-existent scripture, like Amphibians 6:5, for example, and Joshua, of course, plays the perfect staight-man. Moore obviously did his homework on this amusing tour of major world religions. I prefer a long, satisfying denouement and Moore's is rather abrubt, but the book was most enjoyable.

reviews: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, page 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

hot

not?

What's your opinion?

Write a review and share your thoughts!

recommendations

Great Reads by Great Authors!
God...Who needs him?
Books Read in 2008
Zany Fiction
Gore!!!!

search for books
the gospel, according, biff, childhood, christ, gospel, lamb, pal

Impressum / about us