fiction » Elisabeth Warrick | What You Wanted to Know

Have you ever read anything by Christopher Moore? I just finished his new novel Sacre Bleu: A Comedy d’Art, and I have mixed feelings.

Christopher Moore, to me, writes like a modern-day Shakespeare: his writing is smart and funny, but in a bawdy, low-brow way. I loved his Lamb and Fool, a retelling of the life of Christ and King Lear from the fool’s perspective, and as far as specifically “funny” books go, I’d probably rank them in my top 10. (Seriously, if you haven’t read them, I suggest you do so immediately.) But to me, Sacre Bleu, just wasn’t as good.

Set among the 1890s Parisian Impressionists, Sacre Bleu is essentially the story of this supernaturally-based woman inspiring all the great works of art of the time. It’s EXTREMELY silly, even for Moore, and while I really liked the characters—particularly that of Henri de Toulous-Lautrec, who, from what I know of the actual historical figure, seemed to be spot-on—the plot was too much of a stretch for me. The idea was interesting, but it made only limited sense and the action didn’t really go anywhere. It’s almost as if it would have made an amazing short story, but Moore was having such a good time with his characters, he didn’t want the fun to end.

My rating: A solid B; entertaining but not memorable
Who should read it: Fans of Christopher Moore, Douglas Adams, and British humor in general (he’s not British, but he employs that brand of silly comedy)

I’ve been on a weird science fiction kick lately. It started when I finally picked up a copy of Ender’s Game, the dystopian novel by Orson Scott Card that’s on a number of to-read book lists. Ender’s Game is a great book, and while the protagonist is a child, I think it covers some very mature concepts. The plot initially seems complicated, but it’s easy to understand in context and can be enjoyed by a variety of readers. Basically, far in Earth’s future, humans have developed interstellar travel and, in the course of their travels, encounter another intelligent species that attacks them, sparking a centuries-long interspecies war. After years of fighting, the humans decide their best chance is to train exceptionally bright children in military strategy, and the book’s action follows the training of Ender Wiggin, who ultimately leads the human army in the fight against the alien race. While the backstory is pretty complicated, the story of the book is really about the struggle of a child to succeed/stay sane in the midst of intense military training. I found the book interesting in both its humanistic perspective on military training and inside look at military strategy.

My friend Victoria is moving overseas! She just got a great job working in Oxford, England, an uber-quaint college town where we studied abroad as undergrads. I think she will have a fabulous time and perhaps meet her own Dr. John Watson. (Sorry, Vic. No Jude Law for you.) So to get her excited about moving (and myself excited about visiting her—as if I needed any help!) I’ve compiled a list of books set in and around that academic haven. Continue reading »

I loved The Night Circus. I want you all to go out and read it immediately so we can discuss.

I just finished listening to the audiobook version of Room.

SYNOPSIS: Told from the perspective of five-year-old Jack, Room is about a boy and his “Ma” who are held captive by the predator who kidnapped Ma seven years before. The story recounts their daily life in “Room”, their fight to escape, and what happens to them afterwards.

I think you should read/listen to it…but also not. I have very mixed feelings about it.

Sacre Bleu: A Review

Science Fiction: Triple Feature

Book List: Oxford

The Night Circus: A Review

Have You Read ROOM?