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I should've seen it coming Nov 10, 2004 (107 of 113 found this helpful)
I've been a big fan of Moore's work since "Coyote Blue." If "Lamb" is the first book of his you've picked up, you should know that while a wonderful read, it is a different kind of good from the rest of his body of work.
For any self proclaimed Grinches out there, this book is a hoot. Moore pokes shameless fun at the weird things people do around Christmas, from aggressive Salvation Army bell ringers to Xmas Present Amnesty.
At first, I was a bit put off by the returning cast of characters from previous books. Theo Crowe and his wife Molly Michon were in "The Lust Lizard of Meloncholy Cove," as were Theo's friend Gabe Fenton and his now ex, Valerie Riordan. The Mastersons and Mavis Sand were in "Lust Lizard" and "Practical Demonkeeping." Tucker Case and Roberto made it to Pine Cove from "Island of the Sequined Love Nun."
While the characters are familiar, years have passed since the last time we saw them, and life has moved on. This book isn't a sequel, it's a deliciously funny tale in a familiar setting.
Like all of Moore's books, relationships are at the center of the plot. No one wants to be lonely, not at Christmas, so just as quickly as people break up, they seek to pair off, if only through New Year's Day. Misunderstandings occur when Theo and Molly have their own O. Henry "Gift of the Magi" moment. Tucker Case, now divorced, is so desperate for compay he proceeds to successfully hit on a woman who has just defended herself to the death and doesn't know what to do with the corpse.
Unfortunatly, the corpse is dressed like Santa, and one little boy who wittnessed the murder is about to be visited by an Angel here to grant him a Christmas wish.
There are a lot of predictable places the story could go at that point. I thought I was braced for the right one. I won't give away the end, but I cheerfully admit I snorted strawberry-banana smoothie in shocked laughter. It took all my self control not to call people and read the last few chapters over the phone, just so someone would howl in laughter with me.
But that would be cruel.
Instead, I'm writng this reveiw, urging you to pick up this short, fast, fun read (only 275 pages on smallish paper). The buildup is fun, but where it goes is a laugh-out-loud, rib cracking good time. Believe me, this one is worth the price of a hardback.
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A unique Christmas story Oct 12, 2004 (19 of 20 found this helpful)
Christopher Moore has written a Christmas book like no other. Bringing characters from several of his past novels together in Pine Cove, CA, the site of his first hilarious book of terror, "Practical Demonkeeping," he tells a story that will have you rolling on the floor with laughter. When a child who's just seen "Santa" killed meets up with the angel Raziel, last seen in "Lamb," who's been selected to perform a most-important Christmas Eve task, a series of misunderstandings culminate in a hilarious, horrific send-up of your favorite so-bad-they're-good horror movies.
Moore's twisted sense of humor shines in the odd pairings he cooks up -- the biologist Gabe and his dog, whose ruminations will have you laughing out loud; the pilot Tucker Case and the talking fruit bat he got as part of his divorce settlement; sheriff and former pot-head Theo Crowe and his wife, Molly Michon, the former scream queen who's gone off her meds and thinks she really is the warrior babe from her movies. The action starts on page one and doesn't let up until the final word on the last page. For devoted fans, this is a long-awaited delight. For those who've not yet experienced one of the Author Guy's hilarious terror trains, prepare to be hooked. There's always a surprise when you least expect it.
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"Life is messy...People, generally, suck." Oct 22, 2004 (27 of 32 found this helpful)
Whenever you read something by Christopher Moore, you enter a whole new world. In the case of The Stupidest Angel, the world you enter is familiar, if you have read Moore's previous books. Moore is reprising many of the most popular characters from the past in this Christmas-inspired satire of life in Pine Cove, a California coastal community, filled with "holiday quaintage" and "festive doom." Lena Marquez, divorced from Dale Pearson, an unmitigated boor, first appeared in The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove, and becomes the subject of the major plot here when she inadvertently "kills" Dale, who is dressed as Santa. The local constable, Theophilus Crowe, also appeared in Lust Lizard..., and Tucker Case, who comes on the scene and falls madly in lust with Lena, was the main character in Island of the Sequined Love Nun. His sunglass-clad, talking fruit bat, Roberto, also plays a role.
Lena's argument with Dale is witnessed by young Josh Barker, aged seven, who is distraught at the thought that "someone killed Santa." Soon Josh is visited by the Archangel Raziel, who appeared in Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, a klutzy angel whose mission it is to go to earth and "find a child who has made a Christmas wish that can only be granted by divine intervention," and do something for him. Josh wants Santa to come back to life.
As always, Moore's off-the-wall imagination takes over, and the investigation of Dale Pearson's disappearance becomes complicated. As the holiday comes closer, Raziel starts to work his bizarre magic and bring about his Christmas "miracle." The juxtaposition of the Christmas message and the violence in town are seen in sharp, ironic relief, and the question of whether there are any heroes in this novel and whether Raziel is truly an archangel come to the fore.
A no-holds-barred, let-it-all-hang-out free-for-all which gives a whole new meaning to "the willing suspension of disbelief," this is a fast-paced narrative that will keep you in stitches. The young at heart probably will not bat an eyelash at its profanity, its vulgar hilarity, and its unexpected satiric twists and turns. Your staid and proper Aunt Martha, however, may be more than a little startled. Mary Whipple
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For Twisted Minds Dec 18, 2004 (9 of 9 found this helpful)
Perhaps because I hadn't read any of Christopher Moore's work, I started out this slim novel with the impression that the author was trying too hard. Then, about sixty pages in, I started to laugh. And laugh. As the story got more and more outrageous, I began to fully appreciate the zany wit of this popular author.
In Pine Grove, California, the residents are preparing for Christmas, particularly for a Lonesome Christmas held in the chapel for those who would rather not be at home on Christmas Eve. But when little Josh sees Santa get whacked with a shovel, and a stranger with incandescent blonde hair shows up asking for children, things start to go awry. Throw in a pot-smoking, desperately in love constable, a DEA pilot with a pet fruit bat, the insane Outland Warrior Babe, speaking corpses, and a cast of equally off-kilter, hilariously drawn characters, and you've got this novel. You'll never again hear the store name IKEA without cracking up.
I understand that many of these characters are drawn from Moore's other works, but I was not at a disadvantage by not having read his earlier fiction. The book stands on its own as a zany, off-color, off-center take on the Christmas spirit that can be read at any time of the year.
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Christmas has never been so insane Oct 16, 2004 (9 of 9 found this helpful)
Santas and zombies and angels, oh my! And Fruit bats in Ray Bans! And a dog that is far more clever than myself!
If you've never read any of Chris Moore's stuff, than you are missing a chance to brighten the most foul of days. If you have, then nothing more need be said about Moore, you already know. TSA is no exception from the rest. It's a laugh out loud funny holiday romp, with a tact I dare say has never been attempted before. Its the rare author that can fill a Christmas story with zombies and a functionally retard angel, a stoner cop, a psychotic B-movie actress, and pull if off with aplomb.
With a cast of lovable losers and misfits for his other works, Moore spins a tale that will have you rolling on the ground with laughter, or at least getting you funny looks if you are reading it in public. You would be seriously remiss to pass up this dose of holiday cheer.
If this is your first exposure to Moore, go back and read the books in order. You don't want to miss the history of the characters. You won't be sorry.