Review: Christopher Moore

The advanced reader copy of Fool was forced on me by a co-worker. To be honest, I expected that it would be horrible. Who would think to write a spoof on the great Bard? Also, I tend to not like locker-room humor, which is Christopher Moore's claim to fame. Regardless of my misgivings, I decided to read since it was a recommendation. I was shocked by how I could simply not put this book down!

Plot: 4/5
The plot, of course, is based in Shakespeare's King Lear. Knowledge of the play is negligible, though. It doesn't matter if the reader has previous experience, because Moore will take even the ignoreant along for his crazed ride through Shakespearian (and made up) references). The bare bones of the story is that the court jester, Pocket, begins to bury himself in intrigue as the elderly king makes the great mistake of giving away his kingdom to the two older daughters because they were willing to lie and vocalize a feigned love of their father. The younger daughter, previously a favorite of the king and always the favorite of Pocket, is left nothing because she tells the truth to her father and will not embellish. Add in a huge oaf of a fool's apprentice named Drool and a loyal, but banished noble named Kent and a witch or three to have the basics of the cast and plot.

Characters: 4/5
All the characters of Fool are great. Comedies work best with characters that are outrageous and that's certainly so for Fool. Pocket, the fool himself, is outspoken and sarcastic. Though I did not expect to like his humor, I quickly grew to love it. The princessess, king, and other major are all drawn lovingly and with much silliness. Each is distinc and interesting.

Writing: 3.75/5
Reading the author's note, I had a chuckle upon reading: "Fool quotes or paraphrases lines form no fewer than a dozen of the plays, and I'm not even sure what came from which at this point. I've done this largely to throw off reviewers, who will be reluctant to cite and criticize passages of my writing, lest they were penned by the Bard hisownself. (I once had a reviewer take me to task for writing awkward prose, and the passage he cited was one of my characters quoting Thoreau's "On Civil Disobedience."

Therefore, perhaps it is safer I not say too much! Truly, though, reading Fool is much like taking a handful of Shakespeare's plays and throwing them in the blender with a book of bad puns and naughty jokes. What comes out is amusing and disarming humor that's one part junior high locker room and one part high-brow and the remainder just plain good ol' fun.

Originality: 4.5/5
Fool is my second spoof or literary answer to another piece of literature this year (Wicked was the first). I must say that Moore does not use Shakespear as a crutch, but instead a launching pad for his own hilarious ideas. Very original and unique and Christopher Moore indeed.

Book Cover: 4/5
The cover is great, truly, with Pocket grinning down on his minature in Jones (his jester-stick). The cover is extremely shiny. The shine somewhat distorts the colors that would have brilliant if just used on their own, so a slight dock for that, but overall very appealing art.

Final Score: 4.05/5
I highly recommend Fool for literature nerds with a healthy sense of humor and those looking for a nice bawdy laugh. If you like Fool, then I recommend trying Moore's Lamb, which is every bit as sacriligious and irreverent.

Release Date: 10 February 2009.