Book Review: "Fool" (Christopher Moore)

[digitaldiscipline]

It is no great secret that I enjoy the hell out of Christopher Moore's brand of silliness. There are people who have referred to his retelling of Jesus' childhood from the POV of his best pal, Biff, as "The Book of Rafe."

So, when aishlynn handed me "Fool" and said, "It's you," I was naturally going to read this sucker.

Unfortunately, my expectations were probably too high. I mean, yes, there are quite a few similarities - black humor, sarcasm, liberal use of creative vulgarity, and large swaths of attention devoted to boobs - but my underlying distaste for pretty much everything Shakespeare (coupled with a hazy and misshapen recollection of King Lear (which I frequently get tangled up with MacBeth, bad English major!)) meant it was working uphill the whole time. Probably on a re-read, I won't be thinking so hard about trying to square it with something I didn't like and don't remember well, and can just roll with it, because there's plenty to enjoy.

And for everyone I yell "FUCKTOCKINGS!" at, this would be why.

I still think I'm more like Biff than the Black Fool, though. It might be a pretty good costume, however.

Comments

[cheez-ball.livejournal.com]

While I still think A Dirty Job is Moore's best book, I really enjoyed Fool. But that is perhaps because I also enjoy Shakespeare. :-)

[critus.livejournal.com]

If you're ever inclined to read the original you can get all of Shakespeare's plays at the Gutenberg project for free.

[etcet.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure I *have* read the original, but didn't like it enough to remember it particularly well.

[cheez-ball.livejournal.com]

That's what the wikipedia synopsis is for. :-) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_lear

Thumbnail sketch

[stompymink.livejournal.com]

King Lear: Old King with three daughters goes batshit while engaged in a power struggle over the will (and succession to the throne). Hilarity ensues.

MacBeth: Fairly good soldier and loyal but ambitious guy has a sociopathic and far more ambitious wife. There are also three other broads in this, but they're witches...too... hmmmm. Hilarity and spots ensue.

[angldst.livejournal.com]

I'm a fan of Christopher Moore, too. I read "Fool" fairly recently, and agree that it's not as strong as some of his other writing, but I still laughed a lot during reading it, which is good.

<3

-d

[y2kdragon.livejournal.com]

And here it is.

*ahem*

"I double-dog-dare you to do that costume for Dragon*Con."

Thank you.

[etcet.livejournal.com]

i don't know who would make a black silk/black velvet motley for what i can afford to spend.

I do have a non-jingling silver and black hat that angldst made out of thinsulate and shiny stuff, though.

[cheez-ball.livejournal.com]

I don't know your budget, but these guys are fabulous. http://www.moresca.com/index.php Unfortunately their website kind of blows.