Book #27 Week #23, Island of the Sequined Love Nun by Christopher Moore

I like to turn to Christopher Moore when I am down. His outrageous and unbelievable stories always give me a good chuckle. And Island of the Sequined Love Nun didn't fail to deliver.

Tucker Case is a charter airplane pilot who lands in some hot water after a plane crash involving a hooker and too much booze. After losing his license, his job and facing possible jail time an unlikely job offer lands in Tucker's lap. Tuck has no choice but to take it. He will be piloting a small charter plane for a missionary living on a small island in Micronesia. Seems easy enough.

But Tucker's curiosity gets the better of him. He finds it odd that a missionary is able to pay him outrageous sums of money. Tuck wonders what is in the briefcase of the beautiful blond woman (the missionary/Doctor's wife) as he flies her back and forth to Japan. Also why are the indigenous Shark People separated from their missionaries but an electrified fence and armed guards?

After the beans have been spilled I practically slapped my forehead for not seeing it coming. I am used to Mr. Moore's plot lines being more out there but not this one. Don't get me wrong there are some unexplainable situations like a talking bat and a talking coconut! But it is mostly very real.

Though not one of my favorites I did enjoy Island of the Sequined Love Nun. It's a nice read for a lazy afternoon.

Quote: (loved this one)
“Success in America doesn't require any special talent or any kind of extra effort. You just have to be consistent and not fuck up. That's how most people fail. They can't stand the pressure of getting what they want, so when they see that they are getting close they engineer some sort of fuckup to undermine their success.”

Book to movies and misc.

I've seen a few book-to-movies this year and thought I'd update them here instead of procrastinating like always.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest (Swedish version) finally watched it on Netflix and thought it was pretty good. There were some changes as to be expected but nothing too far from the main plot line at least. The husband like this movie the most from the series.

Water for Elephants I borrowed from the library (score! I love the library). I was a little nervous with Robert Pattinson (of Twilight fame) playing the male lead but he did surprisingly well! Reese Witherspoon was lovely like always. My biggest complaint was that the character of Uncle Al was cut out completely and that left August to fill the role of ringmaster and owner of the circus. Other changes were minor in comparison for me. Over all I loved the film.

The Hunger Games saw this in the theater with the hubs. I thought it was great. The acting was really good and after this and X-Men First Class I am really liking Jennifer Lawrence. And Liam Hemsworth is a very attractive young man : ) Personally I thought the connection between Katniss and Peeta was a little lost especially with the cutting of a key scene (the hovercraft scene at the end of the games) but on the flip side the hubs, who hasn't read the books, thought  the connection was there. The movie was filled with action but wasn't too gory or cheesy. And I thought the addition of the announcers giving play-by-play on the going ons of the arena really helped fill in people who have not read the books on how the games and the arena work. We both really liked it.

On an unrelated note... due to a pipe bursting in the wall in our apartment I missed the Christopher Moore book signing in my area. So so bummed.

Book #17 Week #15, Sacré Bleu by Christopher Moore

My latest read was Sacré Bleu by Christopher Moore. This book has only been out for two weeks and I couldn't wait to read it. In Sacré Bleu we follow the tale of Lucien, a young baker/painter, and his best friend the painter Henri Toulouse-Lautrec. At first the pair are working to try to solve the mystery behind the supposed suicide of Vincent van Gogh but there is a lot more mystery to be uncovered than just what is behind the death of one artist.

Christopher Moore takes us through history (although not entirely accurate : ) while we go deep into the Impressionist era. What I really loved about this book is it is printed in blue and has pictures of the works of art of painters we are introduced to along our journey. These painters all seems to have something in common in Sacré Bleu, a vibrant ultramarine color in their paintings, a loss of time and mind among the painters and often a mysterious woman and a strange man lurking in the shadows. You will ask yourself how does this all tie in with Lucien and Juliette, the stunning woman who broke his heart, and the death of van Gogh? But it all comes together in the end. As they say great art takes great sacrifice.

I love Christopher Moore and while Sacré Bleu is a "comedy d'art" I didn't particularly find it too funny. It had its moments don't get me wrong but I found Fluke, Fool, Blood Sucking Fiends and Dirty Job funnier. However I did really enjoy this book, I thought the story line was well written and engrossing and surprisingly a lot of little details were historically accurate.

If you are into art, particularly the French Masters, you might enjoy this satirical look into their personal lives. Give it a go, you just might like it!

Book #7 Week #7, Fool by Christopher Moore

This weeks book is Fool by Christopher Moore. This book is about Pocket and his sidekick the dimwitted Drool. Pocket is a jester in King Lear's court. He is more than just any old jester really as the King kept him on because he is the only one that can make the young Princess Cordelia smile.

You know a book is going to be good when it comes with a warning! Here is the warning from Fool:

“WARNING
This is a bawdy tale. Herein you will find gratuitous shagging, murder, spanking, maiming, treason, and heretofore unexplored heights of vulgarity and profanity, as well as non-traditional grammar, split infinitives, and the odd wank. If that sort of thing bothers you, then gentle reader pass by, for we endeavor only to entertain, not to offend. That said, if that’s the sort of thing you think you might enjoy, then you have happened upon the perfect story!”

That pretty much sums it up. I found this book to be hilarious and it follows the story of King Lear pretty well: The aging King asks his three daughters to tell him how much they love him, the youngest Cordelia says she has no words to explain her love so the King disowns her and splits up the kingdom between the other two daughters. Not long after he realizes this is a mistake and starts going crazy, the eldest daughters fight amongst themselves always wanting more. Shakespeare is known for writing tragedies and King Lear is no exception but not in Christopher Moore's version, at least the end anyway, Fool manages to have a happy ending not one in which everyone dies!

I really liked Fool but I really like Christopher Moore. I know he is not everyone's cup of tea but give it a shot sometime!

Book #3 Week #3, Fluke by Christopher Moore

I was really hoping to wrap up week 3 by closing out the Millennium series nonetheless life got in the way and derailed my plans. No one seemed to have a copy to loan me, the hardcover is expensive and the paperback doesn't come out until next month, and my library has been out of all eight copies for weeks (I have them transferring me a copy, hopefully it will be in this week)!

While at the library I picked up Fluke Or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings by one of my favorite authors Christopher Moore. Our journey begins with Nate Quinn, a marine behavioral biologist who has spent the last 25 years trying to answer one burning question: Why do the humpback whales sing?

As Nate gets closer to solving this riddle strange things start happening. Out on the boat one day with his new saucy, young research assistant Amy, Nate sees the words Bite Me spelled out across the tail of a humpback they have been studying.  At first Nate thinks he is hallucinating, maybe going crazy but when the picture that will clear up his doubts on what he saw goes missing from the freshly developed roll of film and his lab gets trashed he knows something is not right.

Nate and Amy are joined by Clay, Nate's long time photographer, Clay's assertive girlfriend Claire and the crew's new lackey Kona, a New Jersey born dread locked wannabe native Hawaiian/Rastafarian surfing pot head. There are fingers to be pointed in every direction. Could it be the other researchers occupying Maui behind all this madness? Or how about the tourist industry? Or even the military? And just when you think things couldn't get any stranger there is the crazy old lady who lives on top of the hill. She is Nate and Clay's primary contributor and while they have always know she is a bit nuts they never expected to learn she has been receiving phone calls from the whales. Well one whale in particular who has a thing for pastrami sandwiches.

One thing I really loved about this book is you absolutely cannot predict what is going to happen next and why someone does not want Nate to answer this seemingly innocent question. I have to say I love Christopher Moore, he has the ability to write about the most absurd topics and instead of making you want to throw the book away, you find yourself laughing and engrossed in the story. So if you are looking for a farfetched, good time I really recommend Fluke or just about anything else by Christopher Moore!