A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore

A Dirty Job
by Christopher Moore
$13.99
Paperback: 405 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (March 27, 2007)
ISBN-10: 0425150984
ISBN-13: 978-0060590284

Annotation/Flashtalk: "Congratulations, you've been chosen to act as Death. It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it."

Summary:
The birth of your first child is supposed to be one of the highlights of your life; however, for Charlie Ascher, a mild-mannered beta-male, and second-hand store owner the day turns out to be so much more.  Charlie's wife Rachel dies shortly after childbirth, and Charlie sees a tall black man in a mint green suit by her bedside -- but no one else sees him.  The man turns out to be Minty Fresh, a soul-collector, or as Minty like to say - "death merchants." 

Charlie is coping with his grief and raising his daughter, Sophie, with the help of his sister and his neighbors, when strange things start to happen to him.  People start to die and objects near them begin to glow red.  Sophie begins to exhibit some unusual traits -- killing people by uttering the word "Kitty", and a very unlucky streak with pets, that is until she finds herself protected by two (big, like bear) hell hounds.  Minty steps in to help Charlie understand his new responsibility. 

In his new role, Charlie is tasked with collecting soul vessels of those people who passed, and then keeping them in his shop (which is the perfect cover for a death merchant) until the new owner comes in to buy it. He must strictly adhere to the names and dates that start showing up in his death datebook; for if he doesn't the underworld can take over.  As the story unfolds, the demons of the underworld, or in this case the San Francisco's sewers, start to get restless. Charlie and Minty, with the help of a police detective and Charlie's employee Lily work to keep the balance in order.

Genre/Subgenre: Absurdist Fiction/Paranormal

Evaluation: 3-stars

The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore

The Stupidest Angel:A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror
by Christopher Moore
$15.99

Hardcover: 320 pages

Publisher: William Morrow; Enhanced edition (November 1, 2005)

ISBN-10: 0060842350

ISBN-13: 978-0060842352

Annotation/Flashtalk:

When Joshua Barker sees Santa murdered the frightened boy is worried Christmas has been ruined.  When an angel appears to grant a Christmas wish to one child, Joshua has the opportunity to make things right – he wishes for Santa to come back to life.  Find out the terror that ensues when Joshua’s wish is granted by the stupidest angel.

Summary:

Pine Cove is a small bedroom community, with its eccentrics, its gossipers, and its share of domestic disputes.  Even the warmth and good tidings of the holidays can’t bring this dysfunctional town much sense of normalcy.  What young Joshua Barker believes to be Santa being murdered is really Lena Marquez accidentally killing her ex-husband Dale Pearson, dressed as Santa, in an act of self-defense.  Joshua runs home where he is visited by Raziel, an angel sent to Earth to grant the Christmas wish of a child; thinking Christmas is ruined, Joshua wishes for Santa to be alive again.  Meanwhile Lena receives help burying Dale’s body from an eccentric, if not insane, helicopter pilot Tucker Case, who has been flying the local area for the DEA looking for marijuana farms. 

In a Gift of the Maji twist, the local sheriff Theo, a pot head, has been growing marijuana to be able to afford a real Asian sword for his former B-movie star wife, Molly; in order to save money to buy Theo the best bong ever, Molly has gone off her medication, and has begun to hallucinate that she really is the B-movie Warrior Babe.  When Theo figures he might be on to something, Tucker, with the treat of exposing Theo’s farm, blackmails Theo into not pursuing Lena as a suspect in Dale’s death.

Unaware, the rest of the community is preparing for the holiday singles party to be held at the local church.  Soon after the party starts, Joshua’s wish is granted.  If only Raziel had been more clear about who he was raising from the dead…

Genre/Subgenre: Humor/Holiday/Christmas

Evaluation: 3-stars.

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

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
by Christopher Moore
$14.99

Paperback: 444 pages

Publisher: Harper Paperbacks; First Perennial edition (February 4, 2003)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0380813815

ISBN-13: 978-0380813810

Annotation/Flashtalk:

Have you ever wondered what happened to Jesus between the story of his birth and when the story picks up around 26AD when he his baptized by John the Baptist?  The missing Gospel is finally available, and it’s been written by Levi (also known as Biff) Jesus’ childhood friend.  See what Jesus was like as a teenager and find out how he came to understand that he was to be the ultimate sacrificial lamb.

Summary:

The Bible seems to leave out much of the story of Jesus’ life after about the age of 12 up until the time he is around 26; the lost Gospel that fills in the gaps is finally available.  As a teenager, Jesus is not feeling much like the messiah he is supposed to be.  In Lamb we find out about Jesus’ early and teenage years as he and his childhood friend Levi (who is known as Biff) travel the Orient to track down the Three Wise Men to help Jesus come to understand his true mission.  Biff’s telling of the tale makes Jesus more human than we can ever imagine; "Don't you go believing the messiah never hit anyone.” We learn the origins of why Jews eat Chinese food on Christmas, how the Easter Bunny becomes associated with Easter, and why Jesus feels so strongly about “knock and the door will be opened to you.”  (Luke 11:9 and Mark 7:7)

Genre/Subgenre: Humor/Historical Fiction/Christianity

Evaluation: 4-stars.