35th out of 1,672 books
—
2,445 voters
The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove (Pine Cove #2)
by
Christopher Moore (Goodreads Author)
The town psychiatrist has decided to switch everybody in Pine Cove, California, from their normal antidepressants to placebos, so naturally—well, to be accurate, artificially—business is booming at the local blues bar. Trouble is, those lonely slide-guitar notes have also attracted a colossal sea beast named Steve with, shall we say, a thing for explosive oil tanker trucks...more
Paperback, 304 pages
Published
May 25th 2004
by William Morrow Paperbacks
(first published April 1st 1999)
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When high school English teachers define fiction as "the willing suspension of disbelief", they should distribute copies of Christopher Moore's books to their students to illustrate the concept.
No matter how many time I shake my head or utter the words "he's warped" when I read Moore's books, I inevitably race through them, enjoying every word and chapter as though it were a big bowl of ice cream: deliciously satisfying and fun, fun, fun.
Really, what other author can make you believe that a se...more
No matter how many time I shake my head or utter the words "he's warped" when I read Moore's books, I inevitably race through them, enjoying every word and chapter as though it were a big bowl of ice cream: deliciously satisfying and fun, fun, fun.
Really, what other author can make you believe that a se...more
Mennonite minus blender = Amish.
This is the fishy version of Little Shop of Horrors and the throw-back of Moby Dick and Totem and Taboo. Funnier than Biff IMHO.
3* Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
2* Practical Demonkeeping
4* The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove
TR A Dirty Job
Where to start? Where to start?
This book was my maiden dip into Christopher Moore, who should get a Pulitzer for his titles alone! Who can pass up a title like this? I have since moved on to read several other of his books.
Totally improbable, quirky, witty and twisted. My kind of humor.
From the tale of the Bluesman Catfish Jefferson, to poor Steve the Sea Monster, looking for love in all the wrong fuel trucks, to Molly and her narrator, the story just flowed. I loved the way Moorse chose to de...more
This book was my maiden dip into Christopher Moore, who should get a Pulitzer for his titles alone! Who can pass up a title like this? I have since moved on to read several other of his books.
Totally improbable, quirky, witty and twisted. My kind of humor.
From the tale of the Bluesman Catfish Jefferson, to poor Steve the Sea Monster, looking for love in all the wrong fuel trucks, to Molly and her narrator, the story just flowed. I loved the way Moorse chose to de...more
Christopher Moore is the Piers Anthony of this decade.
He has found a comfortable home in romping, playful send-ups in the horror genre. I wouldn't call his books satire; he seems to have too much genuine affection for the field to be that biting. But there is no question the books choose humor over trying to scare the bejeezus out of the reader.
Lust Lizard was perfect beach fare (and yes, I read it during a couple of days in Hawaii). It was light, playful, and silly enough to encourage me to rea...more
He has found a comfortable home in romping, playful send-ups in the horror genre. I wouldn't call his books satire; he seems to have too much genuine affection for the field to be that biting. But there is no question the books choose humor over trying to scare the bejeezus out of the reader.
Lust Lizard was perfect beach fare (and yes, I read it during a couple of days in Hawaii). It was light, playful, and silly enough to encourage me to rea...more
Valerie Riordan, the sole psychotherapist in Pine Cove, California, has switched all her patients' antidepressants to placebos -- a reaction to the apparent suicide of Bess Leander, one of her patients, who, Val thought, might have lived had Val done more talk therapy and less drug therapy. As a result, business is booming at The Head of the Slug, the local Blues bar, run by Mavis, whose clients swear that underneath her ancient, wrinkled, liver-spotted skin there lurks the Terminator. Problem:...more
The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove followed Christopher Moore’s successful debut novel, Practical Demonkeeping. I don’t know if he was high on his new popularity or high on something else, but this one disappoints, with colorful new characters being the only saving graces.
Still in Pine Cove, California, some of the same characters (and the new ones) again must confront something supernatural, although the giant Sea Beast “lizard” comes from deep in the ocean and has only one non-known animal cha...more
Still in Pine Cove, California, some of the same characters (and the new ones) again must confront something supernatural, although the giant Sea Beast “lizard” comes from deep in the ocean and has only one non-known animal cha...more
I decided that I needed a really silly book. When in doubt, when you need a really silly book there is probably nobody better to turn to that Moore. His books not only boarder that ridiculous, but make me snort out laughter at a regular pace.
This book is less on plot and more on a series of staggering follies. It involves a prehistoric and DNA-evolving sea monster that rises from the depths of the sea only to descend on a little sea side village during the off season. Perhaps at another time thi...more
This book is less on plot and more on a series of staggering follies. It involves a prehistoric and DNA-evolving sea monster that rises from the depths of the sea only to descend on a little sea side village during the off season. Perhaps at another time thi...more
Trouble has come to the tranquil town of Pine Cove on the Pacific Coast. What is the connection between the suicide of a housewife, a radioactive leak from a nuclear powerhouse and the arrival of a Bluesman at the local tavern? Read on and be ready to be scared by "a hideous ancient creature that has arisen from the darkest Stygian depths to wreak havoc on civilization and feast on human flesh". This being a Christopher Moore adventure, be prepared also to laugh at the antics of the wacky popula...more
Moore returns to the scene of his first hit: the coastal small town of Pine Cove, California, filled with weirdos, hippies, and the occasional nutter. This time, the town is in slightly more distress than usual - mostly because the town psychiatrist has decided to take some twelve hundred patients off their antidepressants; and partly because an ancient 50-feet sea monster has decided to stop by for a while.
It doesn’t improve matters that the sea monster, Steve, has the pre-evolutionary ability...more
It doesn’t improve matters that the sea monster, Steve, has the pre-evolutionary ability...more
I just finished reading this, and as I explained to my fiancee last night when I couldn't stop reading it: it does not hold up the qualities that are necessary for me to classify a book a good book; however it is great escapism. The characters are not real. The author does nor reveal anything to me in the telling of the story. He has awareness that he is writing escapism and I like that. He is not your typical escapism writer like James Patterson or John Grisham who turn out one load of crap aft...more
The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove by Christopher Moore (pp. 304)
A pre-historic sea monster is drawn to the sleepy resort town of Pine Cove by a sudden drop in the residents’ usage of prescription anti-depressants. His presence inspires a higher than normal amount of libidos acts amongst the townspeople. The oversexed population also becomes food for the new resident resulting in some mysterous disappearances. Some of the characters and the town were introduced in Moore’s previous novel, Practic...more
A pre-historic sea monster is drawn to the sleepy resort town of Pine Cove by a sudden drop in the residents’ usage of prescription anti-depressants. His presence inspires a higher than normal amount of libidos acts amongst the townspeople. The oversexed population also becomes food for the new resident resulting in some mysterous disappearances. Some of the characters and the town were introduced in Moore’s previous novel, Practic...more
Pine Cove is a cozy little town nestled into the forests of northern California. During vacation season, the town is overrun with tourists. When that season dies down, so does the town. It just becomes your everyday, run-of-the-mill nothing burg. This off-season, however, is different. A suicide has rocked the populace, the town's shrink has decided to conduct an experiment in which she replaces everyone's depression meds with placebos, and a nearby nuclear reactor has sprung a tiny leak. But it...more
Christopher Moore spit out another creative, interesting, humorous, and bizarre novel with The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove. In this novel, Moore returns us to Pine Cove, the setting of Practical Demonskeeping and The Stupidest Angel. We come across a number of old and familiar characters if you, like me read those first. Gabe Fention, Skinner, Catfish Jefferson, Theophilus Crowe, Vance McNally, Valerie Riordan, Molly Michon, Mavis Sand, Robert Masterson, Jenny Masterson, Irving Nailsworth, Ji...more
Feb 02, 2013
Marianne
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
borrowed-copy-returned
The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove is the second book in the Pine Cove series by American author Christopher Moore. When Theophilus Crowe, the pot-smoking, pot-growing Constable of Pine Cove, CA, is called to a suspected suicide, he is told by the Sheriff to treat it as just that. But before he can act any further, there is a fuel tanker explosion, a missing child and the people of the town begin to act strangely. The occasionally psychotic Molly Michon, ex-scream queen of the B movie silver scr...more
I've heard many good things about Christopher Moore, but mostly I've heard that I'd love his sense of humor. In life, I take two things seriously: The health and security of my family. Everything else is fair game. If you can riff on religion, politics, sex and the overall human condition, in a thought-provoking, sarcastic manner, you will find a friend in me. For this reason, I would love to just sit down and have a conversation with Moore. I'm sure we'd laugh ourselves stupid.
The Characters: A...more
The Characters: A...more
what do i say abt this book! The title in itself is worthy of a booker (or is it a pulitzer?)
This is the first Christopher Moore that i read, and boy did i luv it! totally freaky, twisted and unexpected with rampant tongue in cheek comments... just the stuff i'd like...
The story has it all - drugs, a porn-star (okie soft-porn), a Godzilla like creature, a couple of luv angles and action of all kinds... and the mix is a laughter riot.
A prehistoric creature comes out of the depths of the ocean in...more
This is the first Christopher Moore that i read, and boy did i luv it! totally freaky, twisted and unexpected with rampant tongue in cheek comments... just the stuff i'd like...
The story has it all - drugs, a porn-star (okie soft-porn), a Godzilla like creature, a couple of luv angles and action of all kinds... and the mix is a laughter riot.
A prehistoric creature comes out of the depths of the ocean in...more
I haven’t read a Christopher Moore book in a while, so I thought it was time I correct that! The last two Moore books I attempted were Fool and Lamb. I could not get into Fool at all and I’m not sure I’ll even give it another try down the line. Lamb was interesting and funny at times but didn’t really keep my attention (I do plan to give it another go at some point). Because of those two experiences, I’ve really been craving a page-turning, laugh-out-loud Moore experience . . . and that’s exactl...more
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Quite frankly, I loved this book from beginning to end. It made me laugh out loud in places, and in fact read out loud portions to my fiance. It had an interesting structure, telling the story from multiple viewpoints (including that of a sea monster and a dog), and the writing was tight and strong. It was a fast read, a fun mish-mash of sea creatures, humans (both crazy and not), drugs (both legal and illegal). Two thumbs up.
I love his Pine Cove characters the way I love Terry Pratchett's Night's Watch. :) Theo and Molly are quickly working their way into my favorite characters list (followed by Skinner the Dog). There's something of the unexpected hero in Theo and perhaps an unexpected pragmatist in Molly.
The first book I read of Moore's had the same effect that Monty Python's Holy Grail had on me all those years ago. A sort of bemused wonder at being dragged into suddenly new and unfamiliar territory. I must one d...more
I really enjoyed "The Stupidest Angel," and hoped this would be just as good, despite its dumber title. However, the whole book itself was dumber, too, and the story began to seriously drag in it's final chapters. Worse still, however, was that this story "tarnished" some of the characters I had liked the most in Stupid Angel. Molly's craziness this time was more annoying than endearing, and her relationship with "Steve" was more creepy (REALLY creepy) than it was funny. Theo, too, come across a...more
Christopher Moore is insane. But in a good way.
I read his Love Story trilogy (starting with Bloodsucking Fiends), and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was going to get some Christmas (or Christmas-related) books this December, and decided to pick up The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror. Finding out that it revisits Pine Cove, first written about in this volume, I figured I'd read this first.
And...crazy. Not sure how else to describe his books. A stoned constable, a psychiatrist...more
I read his Love Story trilogy (starting with Bloodsucking Fiends), and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was going to get some Christmas (or Christmas-related) books this December, and decided to pick up The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror. Finding out that it revisits Pine Cove, first written about in this volume, I figured I'd read this first.
And...crazy. Not sure how else to describe his books. A stoned constable, a psychiatrist...more
Man I really liked this one!
What a treat to return to Pine Cove and have things sneak up on you, though I do wonder what happend to the old dude's statue in the mushroom cave. Did the tide take it out? Only hanging
string from what I could tell . . . oh and maybe Nailsworth. Didn't he go off somewhere and lose weight or am I mis-remembering that. Maybe he came back. Who knows?
Great new characters (Molly and Catfish are delicious) and a fun plot that kind of wiggles and wags and talks about sex, d...more
What a treat to return to Pine Cove and have things sneak up on you, though I do wonder what happend to the old dude's statue in the mushroom cave. Did the tide take it out? Only hanging
string from what I could tell . . . oh and maybe Nailsworth. Didn't he go off somewhere and lose weight or am I mis-remembering that. Maybe he came back. Who knows?
Great new characters (Molly and Catfish are delicious) and a fun plot that kind of wiggles and wags and talks about sex, d...more
After reading Chris Moore's "The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror," I had to read this book as well it was an earlier novel of Pine Cove, CA and introduced some of the characters from the former book ... I'm now reading "Island of the Sequined Love Nun" for similar reasons.
Basically, this is a simple tale of a sea monster looking for love and revenge, a frightful combination if there ever was one. Chris somehow makes this whole farce totally believable, but if you look u...more
Basically, this is a simple tale of a sea monster looking for love and revenge, a frightful combination if there ever was one. Chris somehow makes this whole farce totally believable, but if you look u...more
Viva la Christopher Moore! The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove is about those wacky residents of Pine Cove, again, coping when a sea dragon named Steve that makes you horny to lure you to it comes to town and starts eating people. Mostly the same folks as were in The Stupidest Angel--Theo Crowe, Val Riordan, Molly Michon, Gabe, Skinner, etc.
First, it was fun to read this one after The Stupidest Angel because it was like getting to read a prequel. Obviously it would work in the other direction--po...more
First, it was fun to read this one after The Stupidest Angel because it was like getting to read a prequel. Obviously it would work in the other direction--po...more
The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove is a warm-hearted probe into the meaning of inter-species fornication; Fornication with giant lizards, sea mammals, gas trucks, and a ex-soft porn movie actress in Xena costumes with broad swords. In other words, just another day in Christopher Moore's brain. The author has his brain working over-time in this silly little romp. Maybe a little too silly even for Moore. Yet it remains very funny and entertaining. Moore revives some of his Pine Cove residents incl...more
Moore forces the reader to keep track of a ton of characters, but the overall story is engrossing and amusing. For some reason, maybe because I've been watching old episodes of Parks & Recreation, I kept picturing Louis CK as Theo Crowe despite the physical description of the character not being remotely close to matching the comedian. I think it's just easy to picture CK smoking a lot of pot. Moore appears to have a set criteria for the character in his books that revolve around the Califor...more
I have to admit I purchased this book based totally on the title. I've found some of the jewels in my collection that way, and this book definitely is going in that category!
I sometimes smile while I'm reading. Occasionally I'll even giggle a polite little giggle. This book offered me one (Ok, a couple!) of the very few actual laugh out loud moments that I've ever gotten from a book. I highly recommend...excellent writing style, outrageous premise and unforgettable characters. There's a monster,...more
I sometimes smile while I'm reading. Occasionally I'll even giggle a polite little giggle. This book offered me one (Ok, a couple!) of the very few actual laugh out loud moments that I've ever gotten from a book. I highly recommend...excellent writing style, outrageous premise and unforgettable characters. There's a monster,...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★Five Star Series★: Book Lust... Is Your TBR list Overloaded? | 8 | 22 | Aug 27, 2012 04:46pm | |
| Loved It! | 7 | 53 | Feb 15, 2012 08:31am |
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
More about Christopher Moore...
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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Mar 31, 2013 04:09am