Book Reviews

Why are there book reviews on a blog about motherhood, you ask? Because I like writing book reviews and this is my blog, so I can do whatever I want. That's why.

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal, by Christopher Moore

Rarely does a book join my list of all-time favorites, but I knew in the early chapters of this book that it was destined for greatness. The last time that I laughed out loud at a book was when I read The Princess Bride in college. There are more than a few scenes in this book that will make me laugh randomly for quite a while. That being said, it was also clever and very well written. Telling the story of Christ's life that are not covered by the Bible, Moore managed to depict Jesus as a man just trying to figure out what was expected of him and how to deliver the goods. He, like many classic tales, makes it through with a faithful sidekick, Biff, who is his protector and goofy best friend. This book solidifies my adoration of Christopher Moore, although I fear that this may be his best work and reading the rest may be a bit of a letdown. That isn't going to stop me from reading his other books, but I find it hard to believe that it gets any better than Lamb. I implore you, faithful or cynic (as long as you have a sense of humor), you will love this book.

A Dirty Job, by Christopher Moore

Completely changing lanes, this is nothing like the books I have reviewed below. Moore is definitely writing for a niche audience and I am exactly who he had in mind. His writing is bizarre, twisted, crass at times and hysterical. There are lines that made me laugh out loud, causing my children to look at me funny, which is really nothing new. This story is about a man who loses his wife after giving birth to their baby girl (which is not funny), finds out that he has become Death. It sounds strange and it doesn't disappoint. If you are sick and twisted, this is for you.

Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen

I really enjoyed this book. While not destined to be any sort of classic, the story was entertaining and managed to portray life on a circus as gritty and romantic at the same time. I flew through it pretty quickly because it didn't require a lot of thought, which I like in a light novel. Sometimes a mindless romance is just what you need.

A Reliable Wife, by Robert Goolrick

I wasn't sure what I expected from this book, but I got something entirely different. If you can get past the first few chapters of scene setting and character building, you will be surprised with what you find. The twists genuinely caught me off-guard and the ending wasn't what I expected at all. Do prepare yourself for a bit of naughtiness, as one of the overall themes of the book is lust, which is described in great detail throughout. This was a really quick read that became more difficult to put down as I got closer to the end. Definitely worth picking up.