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A Dirty Job

by Christopher Moore (Goodreads Author)

4.09 of 5 stars 4.09 · rating details · 44,950 ratings · 3,615 reviews

Charlie Asher is a pretty normal guy. A little hapless, somewhat neurotic, sort of a hypochondriac. He's what's known as a Beta Male: the kind of fellow who makes his way through life by being careful and constant -- you know, the one who's always there to pick up the pieces when the girl gets dumped by the bigger/taller/stronger Alpha Male.

But Charlie's been lucky. He own...more

Hardcover, 387 pages

Published March 21st 2006 by William Morrow

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Aug 31, 2011 Kelanth, numquam risit ubi dracones vivunt rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, humor

Libro divertente che miscela e mescola vari generi per un cocktail davvero dissetante e frizzante per evadere qualche ora dalla realtà quotidiana che ci circonda, o forse sarebbe meglio dire per guardarla con occhi diversi. Chissà mai cosa vediamo spuntare dal prossimo tombino?
Ci troviamo a leggere di un maschio beta (Moore utilizza spesso la contrapposizione tra maschi beta e alfa: del tipo le donne passerebbero ore a parlare con un beta, ma alla fine si scoperebbero un alfa), di nome Charlie c...more

7 likes · like · see review

Oct 26, 2007 Todd rated it 2 of 5 stars

It seems to me that Moore wants to be a cross between Stephen King and Dave Barry, and for the first half of this book, he nearly succeeds. But once he reaches the midway point, he falls into the trap of trying to squeeze in every one-liner he can -- the result is that all of his characters end up speaking in the same, snarky voice, and no one really seems to be anything other than a generic, stock character.

This tends to be a consistent problem in all of his books I've read to date - he seems...more

26 likes · like · see review

Feb 09, 2008 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

What is that, you might ask? Well, in Moore's words:

"When Alpha Males set out to conquer neighboring tribes, to count coups and take heads, Beta Males could see in advance that in the event of victory, the influx of female slaves was going to leave a surplus of mateless women cast out for younger trophy models, with nothing to do but salt down the heads and file the uncounted coups, and some would find solace in the arms of any Beta Male smart enough to survive.... The world is led by Alpha Male...more What is that, you might ask? Well, in Moore's words:

"When Alpha Males set out to conquer neighboring tribes, to count coups and take heads, Beta Males could see in advance that in the event of victory, the influx of female slaves was going to leave a surplus of mateless women cast out for younger trophy models, with nothing to do but salt down the heads and file the uncounted coups, and some would find solace in the arms of any Beta Male smart enough to survive.... The world is led by Alpha Males, but the machinery of the world turns on the bearings of the Beta Male....

When Charlie finds himself a widower with an infant daughter, his Beta Male imagination can't find any way to cope. Until he finds that he's been chosen for a new avocation - a Merchant of Death. His job is to collect souls, bound to objects owned by the dying, and to make sure they get into the right hands. People come to his shop, Asher's Secondhand, and buy what they need. And occasionally, they need a soul.

For such a funny book, Moore has put a really interesting metaphysical idea in this book. That idea is kind of creepy - not everybody has a soul. At least, not all the time. Souls need to learn and develop. Unfortunately, one person's life is not always enough time in which to learn those important lessons. So when the body dies, the soul moves on. But not necessarily into another person. Sometimes it might go into an object - a CD, a pair of sneakers, an umbrella - to await their next body. Charlie Asher's job - his and the other Merchants of Death - is to make sure those souls are kept safe until their next owners come by to collect them.

Of course, it's never quite that easy. While being a Merchant of Death certainly helps Charlie in the years following his wife's death, there are Dark Forces out there who want those souls. With human souls, the Dark Forces will become stronger, strong enough to decide who will be the Luminatus - the new, true Death.

This book packs a lot into nearly 400 pages. There's the humor, of course, the absurdist fantasy humor that Christopher Moore does so very well. But there's also the philosophy of souls that I hadn't come across before, and - most central to the book - a good hard look at death.

This book is dedicated in part to hospice workers, the people who volunteer to help people out of this life and into the next, the people who have the strength to deal with one of the most frightening aspects of human existence. While Moore's presentation of death and dying certainly isn't pretty, or necessarily reassuring, it isn't scary. It's purposeful and important and, more importantly, bigger than the person who is doing the dying. From time to time, we all need to look at this inevitability and resolve to meet it with the same dignity and reverence that we would meet any other great moment in our lives. For a guy who makes a living writing funny fantasy/horror, Moore has done a very nice job at making his point.

Oh, and I mentioned before the subject of his endings, how they usually seem to be kind of forced and too fast. This is better than his earlier works, although you do kind of see the ending coming from really far away. Not a bad thing, necessarily, but perhaps a bit like death itself - you know what the ending will be, but you try to make yourself forget so that it'll be a surprise when you get there.... Or something.(less)

14 likes · like · see review

Sep 22, 2008 ttrygve rated it 5 of 5 stars

Go read this book. Now. It's hilarious, you will not regret it. That is all the review it requires. =)

36 likes · like · see review

May 23, 2012 Kua rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: humor, gdl, b-1-3

Questo libro mi ha spiazzato. Primo perchè pensavo di ridere di più e anche se ho sogghignato spesso, non è stato tanto spesso quanto avrei voluto. E secondo perchè ci sono molte parti che denotano una profonda ricerca sulla morte, gli innumerevoli rimandi alla dott.sa Kübler-Ross e al suo saggio La morte e il morire o al Bardo Thodol (il Libro dei Morti tibetano), hanno fatto sì che questo libro io lo abbia letto un pò come quelle frecciatine che ci si fanno tra amici, della serie "te lo dico c...more

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Nov 02, 2008 Krista, Ambassador of Shimmy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal

While I enjoyed the story line and found myself laughing out loud at some of the dialogue, this wasn't a book that kept me racing to the end. I'm happy I read it and would recommend it to others who are looking for a truly unique (and weird) read. I plan to give Moore another try in the near future...not sure which book yet.

10 likes · like · see review

Feb 28, 2013 Xox rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Only on the first bit of the book, but the story of the Beta Male (not an Alpha) is humorous.

Spoiler alert **********************

The writer explained that evolution favored the Beta male for continuing the species. When the alpha male go and fight, the Beta Male would have sex with the alpha male's wives while the alpha males go into battle. If the alpha male died, the Beta male would comfort the widows again with sex. That is how the beta male gene survived. Evolution favored coward or beta ma...more Only on the first bit of the book, but the story of the Beta Male (not an Alpha) is humorous.

Spoiler alert **********************

The writer explained that evolution favored the Beta male for continuing the species. When the alpha male go and fight, the Beta Male would have sex with the alpha male's wives while the alpha males go into battle. If the alpha male died, the Beta male would comfort the widows again with sex. That is how the beta male gene survived. Evolution favored coward or beta male.

He got kidnapped by another Death merchant, and being explained that he is one too.

There are little details that are so funny.

Naming the dog: Excerpt page 185-186

"'It is blasphemy to call a dog Mohammed'...
'Well, I have named my dog Jesus. How do you feel about that?'
'Well, then I'm sorry, I didn't realize you'd lost your dog.
'I have not lost my dog.'
"Really? I saw these flyers all over town with "Have you Found Jesus?" on them. It must be another dog named Jesus. Was there a reward? A reward helps, you know.'
Charles noted that more and more lately, he had a hard time resisting the urge to fuck with people, especially when they insisted upon behaving like idiots.
'I do not have a dog named Jesus and that doesn't bother you because you are a godless infidel.'
'No, really, you cannot< name your dog anything you want and it won't bother me. But, yes, I am a godless infidel. At least that's how I voted in the last election.' Charlie grinned at him.
'Death to the infidel! Death to the infidel!' said the bearded man in response to Charlie's irresistible charm....
'Stop that, you're scaring my daughter.'
'Death to the infidel! Death to the infidel!'...

I know I would like this book a lot.

The part regarding Charles and Ray both suspected each other as serial killer is kind of funny. They both have some elements that add to their suspicion.

I like the character Lily. When she offered herself to Charles, it is very sweet.

Why do you introduce new characters so late in the book? Why? It turned a corner and now I'm quite loss.

Less than a 100 pages to go, still an interesting story.

The ending is a bit weird, but that's okay. It is still considered a fun read.

(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Jun 26, 2008 Shan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Let me preface this by saying I LOVE Christopher Moore. L-O-V-E. If he wrote a grocery list, I'd read it rapturously. This book (along with Lamb, which I will also review shortly) is one of my absolute favorites of his. "A Dirty Job" may be his funniest, wittiest book yet (although "Lamb" is pretty close....). This book has the average Beta male, Charlie Asher, his dead wife, their newborn daughter, little old Asian and Russian babysitters, a jailbait goth girl store clerk, expensive suits, hell...more Let me preface this by saying I LOVE Christopher Moore. L-O-V-E. If he wrote a grocery list, I'd read it rapturously. This book (along with Lamb, which I will also review shortly) is one of my absolute favorites of his. "A Dirty Job" may be his funniest, wittiest book yet (although "Lamb" is pretty close....). This book has the average Beta male, Charlie Asher, his dead wife, their newborn daughter, little old Asian and Russian babysitters, a jailbait goth girl store clerk, expensive suits, hellhounds, Death Merchants, Three Fingered Hu (the drycleaner and his granddaughter Cindy Lou Hu...get it???), squirrels in tutus, Filipino she-male dating sites, and a seven foot tall black record store owner driving a Cadillac Eldorado and dressed in green suits whose name is Minty Fresh, AND it is dedicated to hospice workers and the important work they do. How could you not love it?? Moore has a smart, comical way of writing that just tickles my brain in that oh so delicious way that makes me just love language even more, and this book does not disappoint. His surreal, absurdist humor is sublime. However, he tempers that humour with a compassion,a humanness, an ability to make one look at universal truths and the human condition (in this book's case, death, dying, love, how we deal with our fears and the death of those we love, different tenents of world religions, destiny, the epic battle of good vs. evil, etc). When one looks past the comedy, one can see so much more in his novels. His writing is irreverent, wickedly fun, engaging, thoughtful and leaves you smiling, satisfied, giggling (and groaning) and full of all sorts of metaphysical thoughts. Moore thoroughly draws you into his unique world and completely engages you. And this book is set in San Francisco and is full of lovely little descriptions and anecdotes about the city (which had me snickering and nodding as I love SF, but even if you don't know the city, it will make you feel like you'd like to). I'm one of those people who, when I read a book I enjoy this much, love to jot down the poignant, funny, smart lines that really struck me or made me say "now THIS is writing"; with this book, it was just too big a task. There are delightful one-liners peppered throughout, beautiful passages, and dialogue that has me snickering every other page. All in all, this book vies for the title My Favorite Moore Book, and definitely for one of the funniest books I've ever had the pleasure of reading. Try it: you'll giggle, you'll sigh, you'll think. Trust me. Like Bear. *giggle, snort*(less)

23 likes · like · see review

Jul 09, 2008 Michelle Balmeo rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: bookclub, quick-reads

I can't remember the last time I read a raucously funny book. You know, the kind that sort of shocks and surprises you, that makes you laugh aloud in a conspicuous way. Christopher Moore's A Dirty Job did exactly that and was just what the mortician ordered when it came to relieving stress and just enjoying a freaking book.

This story of a smart and cynical paranoid "beta-male" raising his somewhat strange daughter in the Bay Area takes the reader right to the edge of seriousness, staring mortali...more

6 likes · like · see review

Jul 23, 2008 JG (The Introverted Reader) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, humor, read_in_2008, book_lovers_calendar, reviewed, just_plain_fun, 4_stars, author_american, setting_us

Charlie Asher is your average Beta Male. He owns a second-hand shop in San Francisco and rents out the apartments in the rest of the building to some kooky tenants. He has somehow managed to win the heart of beautiful Rachel and she has just given birth to their daughter Sophie when the book begins. Charlie can't believe his luck, and, with typical Beta Male imagination, believes that Sophie has eleven toes or a tail or something--good things just don't happen for Beta Males. After Sophie's birt...more Charlie Asher is your average Beta Male. He owns a second-hand shop in San Francisco and rents out the apartments in the rest of the building to some kooky tenants. He has somehow managed to win the heart of beautiful Rachel and she has just given birth to their daughter Sophie when the book begins. Charlie can't believe his luck, and, with typical Beta Male imagination, believes that Sophie has eleven toes or a tail or something--good things just don't happen for Beta Males. After Sophie's birth, weird things start to happen to Charlie. People drop dead in front of him, objects glow with an eerie red light, and he hears evil voices coming from the sewer drains. Enter Mr. Minty Fresh. He explains what is going on to Charlie. Basically, they are Death Merchants. They collect objects from the dead and dying that are imbued with the dead person's soul. Then they hold onto the object until the soul's next owner comes along and buys it. If they screw up, or if they have contact with other Death Merchants, the Forces of Darkness will rise and the World As We Know It will end. No pressure.

I think I had laughed out loud four times in the first four pages of this book. Moore's sense of humor is a perfect match for mine. I've been trying to think of the word to describe it. Not exactly crass or crude, it's more like the not-exactly-for-polite-company jokes that you make with your best friends and maybe even your family, but you probably wouldn't say in front of your in-laws or your boss. I had a few "I can't believe he had the nerve to write that!" moments in some of the funnier parts. Here are a couple of my favorite quotes:

"'There's no g*****n tail , you doofus! Look!' She pulled down the blanket and aimed baby Sophie's bottom at him like she might unleash a fusillade of weapons-grade poopage such as the guileless Beta Male had never seen."

"Don't be ridiculous, Charlie, people love the parents who beat their kids in department stores. It's the ones who just let their kids wreak havoc that everybody hates."

While the book was definitely an irreverent comedy, there were some very nice parts where Charlie is reflecting on death and loved ones. Probably one of the nicest passages was about hospice workers, calling them "benevolent Valkyries, midwives of the final light." These nicer parts are few and far between, but it was nice to have them in there.

The characters are all quirky but loveable and you just can't help rooting for Charlie as he comes to terms with fatherhood and his new status as a Death Merchant. Charlie's employees and tenants provide a comedic sideshow that I loved.

The plot is so different that I never had much of an idea where Moore was going with this. And I mean that in a good way. I like well-written unpredictable books and this fit into that category.

The humor isn't for everyone, but if it sounds like your brand of humor, read this one. It's a lot of fun. (less)

6 likes · like · see review

Mar 27, 2009 Jim rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

It relies too much on a type of humor that won't tickle everyone. The first section, 100 pages or so were almost exclusively this, without much plot. While initially funny, I almost got tired enough of it to put it down, but there was just enough hope to keep me going. I'm glad I did. After that, the plot developed nicely & it was a fun read. It's a neat world that Moore created with a fun mythology about Death & he takes an insider look at San Francisco that will tickle any native, I th...more

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Jan 18, 2012 Erin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: funny

This book is quickly moving up the list to become one of my favorite Christopher Moore titles. Just below Lamb, I think. I heard that Moore wrote this book while dealing with a death in the family and you can definitely tell. All of Christopher Moore's books are funny, but there are only a couple that are poignant as well.

2 likes · like · see review

Oct 25, 2009 Robin rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone

Recommended to Robin by: TNBBC

Shelves: fun-read

What a fun read. I was not familar with Christopher Moore and was introduced to him by people here on GoodReads. What a joy! This book was highly entertaining. I'll write a full fledge review when I'm not so swamped but just wanted to write a "quicky" saying how much I enjoyed this.

4 likes · like · see review

Mar 02, 2012 Kayla rated it 2 of 5 stars

After having finished reading this, I found that not only would I have rather just read "Good Omens" (a vastly smarter, and much funnier book than this), but that I finished reading it and I was pissed. I was angry for being under the impression that funny things were supposed to happen during the course of this book, only to receive cheap sitcom-esque comedy in return for my tenacity for having bothered to finish the damn thing and finally be done with it. Expecting smart comedy, dealing with t...more

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Jul 07, 2008 Kristen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: comedy

What are the guys that aren’t Alpha Males? Why they are Beta Males of course! Charlie Asher is the quintessential Beta Male… amazed and terrified by women, passive aggressive, and perpetually panicking over his hyperactive imagination. Poor Charlie loses his wife during childbirth and is left a single dad to raise Sophie. Unfortunately for Charlie, he also acquired a new profession as his wife passed away. Charlie has become death, no not the death with the big D, more like the Santa’s Elves of...more What are the guys that aren’t Alpha Males? Why they are Beta Males of course! Charlie Asher is the quintessential Beta Male… amazed and terrified by women, passive aggressive, and perpetually panicking over his hyperactive imagination. Poor Charlie loses his wife during childbirth and is left a single dad to raise Sophie. Unfortunately for Charlie, he also acquired a new profession as his wife passed away. Charlie has become death, no not the death with the big D, more like the Santa’s Elves of Death… he, along with a few other San Francisco residents collect soul vessels after people pass on and get them to their proper places. But poor Charlie doesn’t get it… and to make matters worse he has quite the assortment of odd neighbors, employees, family, and random passersby to make his quest even more difficult. And if he doesn’t succeed? Well then the Sewer Harpies will come out and plunge the world in Darkness.

Much like Moore’s other books, the greatest amount of humor comes from the supporting cast. Lilly, the of kilter goth girl who works for Charlie (you may recognize her from You Suck – She is Abby’s best friend) Ray, who is Charlie’s other employee at the antique shop, another Beta Male who is always looking for love on foreign bride sites. Then you have the foreign neighbors Ms. Korjev and Ms. Ling who help to raise Sophie while Charlie is trying to figure the Death thing out. And of course with this being in San Francisco you have the Emperor and his two sidekicks as well as a minor unidentified appearance from Jody (from Bloodsucking Fiends).

I found this book to be both hilarious and sweet. Charlie as a single dad is touching… panicking over everything that could happen to his new infant daughter, while having to deal with the loss of his wife and a new found concept of death. One can only assume (not only from the content of the book, but also from the acknowledgements) that this book was written after a painful loss on the part of the author. There is a little more soul searching than one is used to in a Moore book, but that doesn’t keep the laughs from coming. I actually found the slightly more serious aspect to be refreshing and a great counterbalance to the humor that Moore is so famous for. By far my favorite characters are the two foreign neighbors, the scene with the dead hamsters is one of the funniest things I’ve read in a while, and the Hell Hounds were a wonderful addition… especially everyone’s reactions to them.

True, many of the characters here are a bit stereotypical, but rather than detracting from the story, these stereotypes are molded into entirely new creations and made into characters that you can’t help but to love. There is a plot here, and it is true that the ending is a bit weak, and not what the reader wants… but we don’t read Moore for the plot, we read Moore for the wonderful people who inhabit his world. Because in the end, we all know someone just like them. I highly recommend this book, but would suggest reading it after “Bloodsucking Fiends” and “You Suck” because you will have a better appreciation for Rivera and the Emperor. That and since they all three take place in the same literary world, you might as well read them in order. Happy Reading!
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Apr 21, 2008 Mark rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: recentlyread

My first encounter with Christopher Moore but not my last. Pretty consistently funny throughout, and I often find comedy wears thin after a while. In this gothic comedy (if that's a subgenre), a doofus--Moore's label of choice is "beta male"--a nice guy who's normally passive, nerdy, kind of hypochondriacal, not a little naive--accidentally becomes Death, or, rather, one among many agents or "death merchants" whose job it is to collect the "soul vessels" of the newly dead or about-to-die, i.e. p...more

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Mar 28, 2008 Sara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult-fiction-humor

If you have not read this book, you must put down whatever you're doing, sign off this computer, and find a copy. Apart from giving the precise sociological explanation of a beta male (to which women are not initially attracted, but to whom they really will enjoy being married), this book explains in a comforting, eloquent, and humorous way what happens to your soul when you die. Toss in the spawn of Satan as a baby, a couple of indestructible Hellhounds, a handful of Harpies, and the end of the...more

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Jan 18, 2008 Elizabeth rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was great, very funny, a little strange... actually it had a higher than average "oddness factor" to it, but it was still very good. If you liked You Suck I think you would like this. I'm not sure if the author was trying to have a "twist ending" or if it was just irony that the reader could see the ending coming LONG before the characters. I thought the final battle was great, but final page and epilouge? They did not hold up to the rest of the book. For an author who generally has g...more

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Apr 17, 2008 Wayne rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

Never do I laugh out loud more often during a novel than when I am reading Christopher Moore. Nobody does "dark humor" better. In A Dirty Job Charlie Asher has spent his entire life as a beta male, always living in the shadow of the alpha male. Despite his hypochondria, constant worrying, and general nerdiness Charlie has managed to wed a beautiful woman who loves him. Unfortunately she dies of a rare complication following childbirth and Charlie is left raising his daughter alone.

But when Char...more

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Sep 07, 2007 Geordie rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: people who liked 40 yr old virgin and dick jokes

SUMMARY: funny dialogue. great premise. filled with plot leaks, story holes, and characters who start off strong and end weak.

The book started off with great premise: for some unknown reason a guy assumes the office/duties of DEATH. It was reminiscent of "On a Pale Horse" by Piers Anthony. It's hilarious for the first 2 sections. It reads like an action screenplay. I pictured Paul Rudd (40 year old virgin) as the main character, Asher. All was well and then the book tanked in section 3. I don't...more

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Aug 16, 2007 Natalie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: alltimebests

If you should ever wake up and find that you have become the main character in a Christopher Moore novel, do whatever it takes to get yourself out of there quickly. So far the protagonists of his stories have been beset by Zombie Santas, swallowed by whales, exiled to cannibal-infested islands in the tropics, and more recently, discovered they are Merchants of Death. So begins Christopher Moore's "A Dirty Job," where life is full of promise for Charlie Asher, a well meaning if overly concerned A...more If you should ever wake up and find that you have become the main character in a Christopher Moore novel, do whatever it takes to get yourself out of there quickly. So far the protagonists of his stories have been beset by Zombie Santas, swallowed by whales, exiled to cannibal-infested islands in the tropics, and more recently, discovered they are Merchants of Death. So begins Christopher Moore's "A Dirty Job," where life is full of promise for Charlie Asher, a well meaning if overly concerned Average Guy. He owns a secondhand shop, is happily (though somewhat incredulously) married to a beautiful woman and is looking forward to the birth of his first child. Unfortunately for Charlie, Death has other plans.

Within just a few chapters Charlie finds himself on his own, struggling with some of the toughest questions he will ever have to face. Can he go on without the love of his life? How will he raise his baby daughter alone? Just what DID they do with her tail? And who the heck was that huge guy in the green suit coming out of his wife's room?

Most of the time, Charlie is too busy trying to keep up with the bizarre antics of his friends, relatives and employees to really dwell on his loss. But when objects in his secondhand store begin to glow and people around him mysteriously meet their demise, Charlie begins to wonder if he's going crazy with grief. The real explanation is much more sinister, however, and if Charlie doesn't figure it out soon, there will be Hell to pay. Literally.

"A Dirty Job" just may be Christopher Moore's best work to date. Though most of his books deal with loss in one way or another, this is the first time he has had a character that allowed him to explore in with such depth. The story manages to be both sentimental and surreal without going over the top in either direction, and even with the deep subject matter Moore's writing style makes the book a fast, fun read. His dialogue is always natural and well-paced, with just enough detail to give the reader a clear picture of the character while also allowing the imagination a little room to breathe.

For longtime readers, new converts to Moore's work and anyone else who likes a different kind of fiction, "A Dirty Job" is a totally satisfying read that had me going between laughing out loud and smearing my mascara with every new chapter. This is one book that is truly worth the cover price.(less)

7 likes · like · see review

Aug 21, 2007 Marty rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: avant-garde humorists

More to come later ... but for now:

If you're familiar with Christopher Moore's work - particularly some of his earlier novels - then you'll recognize the style of this story immediately. His penchant for having subtle cross-overs continues here as some characters from "Blood-sucking Fiends" make an appearance. But that's not the good part. The good part is Moore's irreverent humor as he tackles the battle between good and evil in his trademark off-kilter way.

Charlie - the typical Beta-Male - is...more More to come later ... but for now:

If you're familiar with Christopher Moore's work - particularly some of his earlier novels - then you'll recognize the style of this story immediately. His penchant for having subtle cross-overs continues here as some characters from "Blood-sucking Fiends" make an appearance. But that's not the good part. The good part is Moore's irreverent humor as he tackles the battle between good and evil in his trademark off-kilter way.

Charlie - the typical Beta-Male - is about to have his first child, and is wandering through his life as Beta-Males do: worrying about everything that he can, and trying to provide the most stable environment for 'The One' woman who truly loves him. But when he spots a man in his wife's hospital room just before she dies, the lives of him and his new daughter take a drastic, and certifiably odd - turn.

From that moment, Charlie becomes a "Death Merchant", a being tasked with helping the souls of those have died move to the next level of their existence via a soul vessel: an inanimate object with special relevance to that person. The problem is, Charlie doesn't quite get the manual when he becomes a "Santa's Helper of Death", so he has to make up a lot of it on his own - at least until someone comes along and starts to guide him on his path.

His path, however, is destined to be a rocky one: the forces of Evil have gathered in San Francisco, and Charlie must learn not only who he is, but how he can fight off a demon and his minions before they can bring the Underworld above to the domain of man.

With his trusty sidekicks Dan (the former cop who thinks Charlie may be a serial killer) and Lily (the teenage goth who is jealous that Charlie - a total dweeb - became a Death Merchant instead of her), he moves toward his destiny. Along the way he has to contend with his daughter's burgeoning talents (such as the deadly "kitty" phrase), his lesbian sister's inability to find a good woman but a distinct ability to pilfer Charlie's best suits, his Russian and Chinese neighbors, two hellhounds who have come to stay and a police detective who has seen this all before.

In the end, Moore's off-the-wall depiction of this fantastic and wild ride is often amusing, if a big odd for many. This isn't his best work - Lamb owns that title - but it was one of his better ones. Not for the faint of heart or those who take themselves too seriously, "A Dirty Job" was a fun read for my time sitting on the beach, laughing not so silently to myself.(less)

4 likes · like · see review

Jul 17, 2007 Sherrie rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: people who love the fantastic!

Shelves: 2006booklist, myfavorites

A favorite author and a really fun book! Exactly what I expect from Mr. Moore! (The same guy who wrote about Jesus and his best friend Biff in “Lamb” so you can pretty much tell who we’re dealing with here.) Charlie’s wife, Rachel, dies giving birth to their daughter, Sophie. A shadowy figure is seen stealing the wife’s favorite CD. The shadowy figure is actually a Death Merchant coming to collect Rachel’s soul…which is inhabiting the CD. Charlie is tapped to become the next Death Merchant. Hila...more

3 likes · like · see review

Sep 20, 2007 Colleen Venable rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction-adult, 2007-read

I'm always hesistant when someone tells me that an author is "a modern day Vonnegut" because Vonnegut is the modern day Vonnegut. Give the man a little more time in the ground before you try to replace him. *geesh!* I probably would have never picked this up, it being a) a book for adult people and b) a book with the author's name larger on the cover than the title of the book (a big pet peeve for me that is only surpased by terrifyingly big "James Patterson" style pictures on the back of books)...more

6 likes · like · see review

Apr 06, 2009 Marvin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

When I first read this book, I knew absolutely nothing about it and that is the way I recommend you read it.I can't think of a book that threw so much at the reader and managed to succeed at every twist and turn. It is a hilarious read which is saying a lot since the main theme is about death. And that's all I'm going to say except read it. You will love it

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Jun 20, 2008 Kassandra rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Adam Sandler fans, men

Recommended to Kassandra by: My husband

This is my third Christopher Moore book. The first was Lamb, which I recommend to anyone who's heard of a guy named Jesus. The second I can't even remember, only that I couldn't finish and it was about vampires or something. This one is about as good as the second I read.

A Dirty Job starts with a fun premise - a sad sap becomes a collector and placer of souls called a Death Merchant. Then it deteriorates as evil forces come after him, giving him hand jobs in alleys and speaking to him from the s...more

8 likes · like · see review

May 04, 2013 Beth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reading a Christopher Moore book becomes increasingly like visiting your distant family...if your distant family were all circus people. Familiar and crazy all at the same time, I find myself continuing to enjoy Moore's California. A Dirty Job didn't quite have the brilliance of Fool or Lamb, but it is still a beautiful story, and its always a pleasure to see the Emperor and Minty Fresh again.

1 like · like · see review

Jun 23, 2011 Ardesia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sp

- È uno sporco lavoro, ma qualcuno lo deve pur fare e poi non tutto il male vien per nuocere.
- Chi vivrà, vedrà, ma è risaputo che a tutto c'è rimedio fuorché alla morte.
- A volte però l'apparenza inganna e ride bene chi ride ultimo.
- Bè, tentar non nuoce, ma occhio che vanga piatta è poco adatta e se non è zuppa è pan bagnato.
- Forse si stava meglio quando si stava peggio, però da cosa nasce cosa e chi non risica non rosica.

Ma bando alle ciance.

Un'esistenza normale viene sconvolta/travolta/coin...more

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Apr 05, 2009 Jessica rated it 2 of 5 stars

So this book is split into three different sections... The first one was okay, I really like the second one, and I didn't like the third one at all... so, in the mathematical scene in my head, that equals two stars. By the end, I just didn't care. There were very funny parts, I'll give it that, but not enough humor to keep me interested.

5 likes · like · see review

Jul 16, 2007 lynne naranek rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2007

Since I have yet to find Lamb on the local library shelf, I picked up "A Dirty Job" instead. So, a funny and irreverent take on Death? I enjoyed Piers Anthony's take on it in On A Pale Horse [the first book of his Incarnations of Immortality series], and I've read others in the same vein.

So, this one? It's not too bad, actually, if it wasn't for the squirrel people. Without that aspect of the story, and I'm sure Mr Moore would have been able to come up with something much better if only he'd ste...more

2 likes · like · see review

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About Christopher Moore

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Christopher Moore (born 1957 in Toledo, Ohio) is an American writer of absurdist fiction. He grew up in Mansfield, OH, and attended Ohio State University and Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, CA.

Moore's novels typically involve conflicted everyman characters...more

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Books by Christopher Moore

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

The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror

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Quotes from A Dirty Job

“Don't be ridiculous, Charlie, people love the parents who beat their kids in department stores. It's the ones who just let their kids wreak havoc that everybody hates.” — 386 people liked it

“Charlie Asher: I accidently shagged a monk last night.
Minty Fresh: Sometimes, in times of crisis, that shit cannot be avoided.” — 94 people liked it

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