reading & read | cmr

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

Recommended by a friend, I picked up Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal. I don't often read comedy but admit that on each occasion I do, it's a good time. (For instance, when I first read Bridget Jones' Diary, tears rolled down my face and I had to lie down. My boyfriend at the time could not understand what I found so funny when I'd read a page or two aloud. Needless to say, he is no longer my boyfriend. Humorless git.) To take it one step further, nor do I read books about religion. I had a feeling, however, that Biff's gospel wasn't going to get too preachy.

A point is made throughout the book: the bible mentions Jesus (referred to by his birth name Josh) when he is 30 years old and older but never, not even once!, does it mention the Josh we must surely be most curious about: Jesus the Child. Biff clears that up. He is brought back from the nether-regions of wherever-friends-of-Jesus go when they die to add his own gospel. Inquiring minds want to know!

Biff starts where he should: at 6 years old, when he and Josh are best buds. There's a girl in town that Biff has a crush on - her name is Mary Magdalene. But wouldn't you know, she kinda likes Josh.

Josh knows he's the Messiah. That means, he also knows he can't give in to any sin. Biff takes on the burden of helping Josh understand sin without directly dabbling in the stuff himself.

And did you know Josh said that God really doesn't care if Jews eat bacon? Because... it's just bacon. (Hey! Look at Chris Moore, not the Crobinator).

To make this less a book report and more a review, I tell you my experience in the reading: smirking. I didn't think it was a comedy in the slap-your-knee, hardy-har-har sort of way. It had an undertone that required silent head-nods at parties. Those quips and wits and nods that say "You get that? I got that. That was good."

Personally, that's all I need to enjoy it.

(I'd try to end this with something sarcastic, because Biff is proud of his invention of sarcasm - and upset when Josh uses it incorrectly, but I can't think of anything. Plus I'm working. In a cubicle. Which are brain-disinfectants, leaving them completely free of thought).

posted by christen roberts @ 2:16 PM