A Dirty Job: A Novel by Christopher Moore Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of A Dirty Job: A Novel
Book Review: A Beautiful Modern Fairy Tale
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a great novel full of both surprising humor and deep human pathos. It is reminiscent of the novels of Terry Pratchett, but with an evocative modern-day San Francisco in the place of Pratchett's imaginary Discworld. A Dirty Job not only gives you a charmingly maudlin protagonist and a quick, engaging story, but it also provides a fascinating and unique look at the way people deal with loss and living. Great heart and great wit are a rare combination in literature, and Christopher Moore brings them together brilliantly--- and in a novel about death, no less. Quite an accomplishment.Book Review: A Boston Terrier Named Bummer
Summary: 4 Stars
This was my second Moore book. The first was Lamb.
San Franciscan Charlie Asher is a Beta Male Widower who has just discovered that he is a death merchant. His daughter Sophie is his life. His lesbian sister won't stay out of his closet and the two people that work for him are an ex-cop with a penchant for Asian Transvestite Internet lovers and a Goth high school girl who doesn't go to school much at all, but instead steals Charlie's "How To" manual for death merchancy. And THAT is just the tip of this iceberg.
The Good: Well, Moore has done it again with his hilarious writing style. I mean, really, its laugh out loud funny and he always reminds me a bit of a supernatural/paranormal/off his rocker Hiaasen. I enjoy his liberal spray of swear words, and that he can take an honest look at the good in people in general. For every character has an endearing quality, even the Morrigan, his antagonists in the book. If you own or are planning to buy the paperback copy, read it in bed at night and you will have a nice surprise when you turn off the lights. There is always something cool about Moore's actual books too. At least, with both Lamb (I bought the gold leaf Bible copy) and the paperback edition of A Dirty Job, the actual book is pretty neat too. Too bad it wasn't red.
The Bad: Well, as another reviewer pointed out, some of the jokes are beaten to death and others do seem to be filler. I cannot recall specifics but there is one part in A Dirty Job that involves bread that seemed a bit of a time waster to me. And I also agree with another reviewer that the Beta Male thing was a bit overdone. Enough already.
All in all, a good, quick, witty read that I would recommend.
Book Review: A Dirty Job
Summary: 3 Stars
A friend sent me Moore's "Death Merchant" book to take to the hospital for something light and funny to read. In A Dirty Job, second-hand dealer Charlie finds himself experiencing several life-changes after the birth of his daughter and subsequent death of his wife. He has unexpectedly become a Death Merchant, and is responsible for collecting the souls of the recently departed so they can be passed on to the soul-less - and if he fails there will be hell to pay.
What I found most amusing about Moore's novel were his descriptions of newborns/children and parenting. He captures the complete cluelessness of new parents perfectly, and presents a modern and eclectic style of parenting that is at once charmingly awkward and oddly realistic.
The novel as a whole is enjoyable, if painfully obvious. His presentation of the superstition is the most unimaginative part of the novel, and I found myself glossing over passages about the Morrigan to get back to his modern characters.
A Dirty Job is good for a light read and a chuckle.
Book Review: A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a funny, witty, well written book. As soon as I started to read it, I ordered 2 more Christopher Moore books because I so like his writing style.Book Review: A Dirty Job: A Novel
Summary: 5 Stars
In this novel, Christopher Moore provides opportunity for the reader to laugh aloud, feel honest concern for his characters, and experience rich satisfaction at their successes. Much like Lewis Carroll, Moore turns the reader's perspective ninety degrees until the commonplace becomes unnervingly foreign.
Often, I smile at a smartly written turn of phrase, but this work caused uncontrollable laughter throughout. This book works well in any summer reading list, and I cannot praise it enough.