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Kemper's Reviews > Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
by Christopher Moore (Goodreads Author)
by Christopher Moore (Goodreads Author)
Kemper's review
bookshelves: historical-fiction, humor, sky-cake, favorites
Dec 28, 09
bookshelves: historical-fiction, humor, sky-cake, favorites
Read in December, 2009, read count: 2
The last ten years have mutated my views on religion. I went from a vague agnostic live-and-let-live attitude to a full blown distrust and dislike of mass worshipping of mysterious deities. When it wasn’t being used as an excuse to murder people who believed different things, then it was being used to deny basic scientific concepts or prevent consenting adults from marriage based on gender. Overall, I’d become convinced that humanity was far too stupid to use religion as anything but yet another system to justify telling someone else how to live.
So naturally, one of my favorite novels of the last ten years is a funny and touching book about the life of Jesus.
Yeah, it was that kind of decade.
The story is told by Jesus’s best friend, Biff. Actually, Biff quickly explains that Jesus was known as Josh back in the days when they were kids in Nazareth. Biff knows there is something special about Josh from the moment they meet, and he adopts a life-long role of dealing with the practical matters that the naive Josh tends to overlook. When teen-aged Josh decides to track down the wise men who attended his birth to see what they can teach him about how he should become the Messiah, Biff knows he has to go along to protect Josh from an evil world.
Together, they travel across Asia, invent sarcasm, learn alchemy, discover coffee and become kung fu experts as Josh prepares himself to one day return home and fulfill his ultimate destiny.
It’s no surprise that Christopher Moore could write a very funny book about the life of Jesus. What is surprising that he’s able to make it so touching that even a cynical non-believer such as myself could be moved by it. By focusing in on the basic love-thy-neighbor concepts that Josh fiercely preaches, Moore wrote a warm reminder of what Christianity is supposed to be about. And if someone wants to get angry that Josh (Jesus) learns kung-fu or studies yoga, then they’ve completely missed the point.
So naturally, one of my favorite novels of the last ten years is a funny and touching book about the life of Jesus.
Yeah, it was that kind of decade.
The story is told by Jesus’s best friend, Biff. Actually, Biff quickly explains that Jesus was known as Josh back in the days when they were kids in Nazareth. Biff knows there is something special about Josh from the moment they meet, and he adopts a life-long role of dealing with the practical matters that the naive Josh tends to overlook. When teen-aged Josh decides to track down the wise men who attended his birth to see what they can teach him about how he should become the Messiah, Biff knows he has to go along to protect Josh from an evil world.
Together, they travel across Asia, invent sarcasm, learn alchemy, discover coffee and become kung fu experts as Josh prepares himself to one day return home and fulfill his ultimate destiny.
It’s no surprise that Christopher Moore could write a very funny book about the life of Jesus. What is surprising that he’s able to make it so touching that even a cynical non-believer such as myself could be moved by it. By focusing in on the basic love-thy-neighbor concepts that Josh fiercely preaches, Moore wrote a warm reminder of what Christianity is supposed to be about. And if someone wants to get angry that Josh (Jesus) learns kung-fu or studies yoga, then they’ve completely missed the point.
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Jon
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Dec 21, 2009 10:01pm
This book had me laughing all day long. Then I got the audio version and laughed every time I took a long walk.
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Yeah, I loved it the first time I read it, and I'd been meaning to re-read for a while now. Xmas week seemd a good time to catch up with Kung-Fu Jesus.
I listened to this on audio while commuting, and a couple of times I laughed so hard that I nearly went off the road.
My first Christopher Moore book was Fluke: Or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings. Nate Quinn, a marine biologist, ends up in the belly of a whale. You could take a thousand guesses (try a million) what Nate finds and you would guess wrong. If I had to rate all of Moore's books, Lamb and Fluke would be rated 1 and 1A.
I'm reading Voices of Silence: Lives of the Trappists Today and its so joyless, I think I might get the book you reviewed so well as an antidote to it!
Petra X wrote: "I'm reading Voices of Silence: Lives of the Trappists Today and its so joyless, I think I might get the book you reviewed so well as an antidote to it!"For a story with a crucifixion in it, it's suprisingly upbeat.
Initially I was going to disregard this book as nonsense but your review has shown me the light. I say it's high time we started a Kemper worshiping religion; it'll be more of a cult really. We can all fast together, eating nothing but your nourishing reviews for months on end.
Milo wrote: "We can all fast together, eating nothing but your nourishing reviews for months on end."And tacos...
Milo wrote: "Really? I may have to look into that."If you really feel the need to give all your money to a religion founded by a hack writer, I suggest you stick with me. At least you won't see Tom Cruise at the meetings...
Hehehe, your first paragraph pretty much summed up my religious views, xept I keep alternating back and forth between the live and let live and then "Down with religion attitude" :P. I just started reading this book, I was a bit hesitant but perhaps I'll find it as enjoyable as you did.
Lilyan wrote: "Hehehe, your first paragraph pretty much summed up my religious views, xept I keep alternating back and forth between the live and let live and then "Down with religion attitude" :P. I just start..."
Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
This book is incredible! I don't know you but came across your review as I was writing my own recommendation, I couldn't agree more. My favorite part is when Biff (spoiler alert!!!) fucks whores and describes it to Josh because sex is the only son Josh wants to commit... So funny!!! So understandable!!!
Lea wrote: "This book is incredible! I don't know you but came across your review as I was writing my own recommendation, I couldn't agree more. Yeah, it's definately one of my all time favorites.
I couldn't believe how sad I felt at the end of this book... and I knew what was coming (for Josh, anyway). Moore did a great job of developing characters with meaning & grace.
Tamara wrote: "I couldn't believe how sad I felt at the end of this book... and I knew what was coming (for Josh, anyway). Moore did a great job of developing characters with meaning & grace."Yeah, for all the humor of it, Moore did a nice job of putting some heart into it too.
I haven't even read this book, but I loved your review especially your commentary on religion and your concluding thoughts...and I couldn't agree more.
Yes, Kemper, could not agree more with your views on this book AND on organized religion. You're right, for all the humor, Moore is actually showing what true Christianity should be like, not that which far-right fundamentalists preach: basically -- if you're not preaching hate against non-Christians or anyone else who falls under the category of "different from me," then you are NOT a Christian, as they see it. Loved this book!!! My friend and I were in a bookstore when we first discovered it, and found ourselves pointing out passages to each other while laughing uncontrollably. We both bought a copy, and compared notes as we read it (Stuff along the lines of: "Did you get to the part where..?" "I know! Hysterical!"
Thanks for your wonderfully well-written review!!!
Stephanie wrote: "Yes, Kemper, could not agree more with your views on this book AND on organized religion. You're right, for all the humor, Moore is actually showing what true Christianity should be like, not that ..."Glad you enjoyed it.
Just finished it and really loved this book. I come from a similar mindset of what you described in your first few sentences so was also a bit surprised how much I enjoyed this work. Well thought out, researched, and incredibly funny.
Davin wrote: "Just finished it and really loved this book. I come from a similar mindset of what you described in your first few sentences so was also a bit surprised how much I enjoyed this work. Well thought o..."Yep, it's definately a keeper.
I felt the same way after reading this book. Somehow I was able to connect to the character (if you will) of Jesus more through this book than all my religious upbringing.
I love that you have a shelf named "sky-cake". Beautiful. And your profile picture is Archer, so I will now follow your reviews to the ends of the earth.To the ends of the earth! (thrusts sword into sky, triumphiantly, and emits a war cry)
Christina wrote: "I love that you have a shelf named "sky-cake". Beautiful. And your profile picture is Archer, so I will now follow your reviews to the ends of the earth.To the ends of the earth! (thrusts sword i..."
Thanks. I stole the sky cake concept from Patton Oswalt. And while I appreciate your enthusiasm and sword handling ability, I don't think I have enough reviews to go to the ends of the earth. Maybe Topeka...
Oh yes, I am well versed in Patton Oswalt. Have you read his book? I could search your "read" shelf but laziness wins this battle.
Christina wrote: "Oh yes, I am well versed in Patton Oswalt. Have you read his book? I could search your "read" shelf but laziness wins this battle."Zombie Spaceship Wasteland? Yeah, I read it. Liked it but thought he could do something great if he tried a bit harder.
I really enjoyed it, but nothing can really crack the epicness of Brain Droppings for me. But then again, Carlin is King.
Together, they travel across Asia, invent sarcasm, learn alchemy, discover coffee and become kung fu expertsLove that.
i feel the exact same way you do about organised religion and this book, it was hilarious and sweet and if it pisses some hard core christians then that's even better!
Sterling Malory Archer wrote: "i feel the exact same way you do about......"You look strangely familiar.
Sterling Malory Archer wrote: "Kemper it's possible you've seen me before, i'm a world renown secret agent!"
For some reason it's like looking in a mirror....
I just read your (excellent) review, hearing H. Jon Benjamin's voice in my head. Though I'd share :)
Selwa wrote: "I just read your (excellent) review, hearing H. Jon Benjamin's voice in my head. Though I'd share :)"I wish I could hire H. Jon Benjamin to do audio versions of all my reviews.
I hear not just H. Jon, but H. Jon as Archer reading your review. Although Burger Bob is ever so slightly different and would be funny too.
Becky wrote: "I hear not just H. Jon, but H. Jon as Archer reading your review. Although Burger Bob is ever so slightly different and would be funny too."The season 3 DVD set has a great extra bit with Archer trying to record the audio version of How to Archer: The Ultimate Guide to Espionage and Style and Women and Also Cocktails Ever Written, but it doesn't go well and makes me doubt my dream of HJB doing audio for my reviews.
