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

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Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal Cover

 

Staff Pick

Christopher Moore's Lamb is an utterly hilarious take on the story of Jesus. Told from the perspective of Jesus' smart-ass best friend, Biff, it is irreverent without being disrespectful. Lamb, or any of Moore's books, would be perfect for someone who has read all of Tom Robbins's titles and is looking for something new, or just for anyone who needs a good laugh.
Recommended by Billie Bloebaum, Powell's Books at PDX

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

Everyone knows about the immaculate conception and the crucifixion. But what happened to Jesus between the manager and the Sermon on the Mount? In this hilarious and bold new novel, the highly praised Christopher Moore shares the greatest story never told: the life of Christ as seen by his boyhood pal, Biff.

Just what was Jesus doing during the many years that have gone unrecorded in the Bible? Biff was there at his side, and now after two thousand years, he shares those good, bad, ugly, and miraculous times. Screamingly funny, audaciously fresh, Lamb rivals the best of Tom Robbins and Carl Hiaasen, and is sure to please this gifted writer's fans and win him legions more.

Review:

"An instant classic...terrific, funny and poignant." Rocky Mountain News

Review:

"[R]eminiscent of Vonnegut and Douglas Adams." Philadelphia Inquirer

Review:

"The style is smooth, drawing readers into the story seamlessly except for the need to laugh out loud every page or two....In an excellent afterword, the author explains the choices he made in writing the novel, which will fascinate would-be writers, as well as provide a rebuttal for the book's likely critics." School Library Journal

Review:

"[A]s in Moore's other books, the jokes, ranging from the sublime to the sophisticated to the utterly sophomoric, make the book. What Lamb lacks in theological sophistication it more than compensates with mirth....simply impossible not to laugh." John Green, Booklist

Review:

"In inventing his own conflicted, determined Jesus — one who found His conviction one step at a time instead of emerging from the manger fully formed and ready to preach — Moore is endlessly, wryly creative." Tasha Robinson, The Onion

Review:

"An audacious and irreverent novel...guaranteed deeply to offend all right-thinking Christians....The style is a bizarre mix of serious and sometimes brutal historical fiction laced with black humor, wordplay, in-jokes, and sharp one-liners worthy of a good stand-up comedian." Kirkus Reviews

Review:

"Christopher Moore's impish, madcap addition to the New Testament. . . .Lamb is an earnest comedy in the style of Woody Allen's play God, simultaneously addressing matters of ultimate concern while wallowing in the broadest possible slapstick." Washington Post

Review:

"Moore writes with a kind of reverent irreverence — he's got a keen eye for the absurd but leavens it with a child's sense of wonder....[Lamb is] his best book so far." Houston Chronicle

Review:

"Wrapped in this cloak of craziness are nuanced themes dealing with friendship, faith, and religious pluralism." San Diego Union-Tribune

Review:

"Like the best of comedies, Lamb is filled with tragedy, love, loss, beauty, anger, and, above all, an unfailing and intelligent sense of humour." Locus Online

Synopsis:

The birth of Jesus has been well chronicled, as have his glorious teachings, acts, and divine sacrifice after his thirtieth birthday. But no one knows about the early life of the Son of God, the missing years — except Biff, the Messiah's best bud, who has been resurrected to tell the story in the divinely hilarious yet heartfelt work "reminiscent of Vonnegut and Douglas Adams" (Philadelphia Inquirer).

Verily, the story Biff has to tell is a miraculous one, filled with remarkable journeys, magic, healings, kung fu, corpse reanimations, demons, and hot babes. Even the considerable wiles and devotion of the Savior's pal may not be enough to divert Joshua from his tragic destiny. But there's no one who loves Josh more — except maybe "Maggie," Mary of Magdala — and Biff isn't about to let his extraordinary pal suffer and ascend without a fight.

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About the Author

Christopher Moore is the author of five previous novels. His turn-ons are the ocean, elephant polo, and talking animals on TV. His turn-offs are salmonella, traffic, and mean people. Chris enjoys cheese crackers, acid jazz, and otter scrubbing. He lives in an inaccessible island fortress in the Pacific. Visit the official Christopher Moore website at www.chrismoore.com.
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 40 comments:
arostow, August 6, 2012 (view all comments by arostow)
This book had me rolling on the floor with laughter. I have never read a fiction book that I wanted to be real more than Lamb. Witty, original, and fabulously well-written. A great book for atheists and devout Christians alike.
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Alexandra Baldwin, August 6, 2012 (view all comments by Alexandra Baldwin)
I don't know what I was expecting when I started this book. Potshots at religion, maybe? Crudeness, and maybe a "surprising" twist that Jesus wasn't all he was cracked up to be and they fabricated or set up all of the miracles he performed. As a non-religious person, that wouldn't have bothered me, but as a reader, it would have seemed kind of stale. But that was not what this book was. This book was SO MUCH BETTER.

For one, Christopher Moore was able to write a cynical, kind of assholeish character that I really liked. I didn't just love to hate him, I *liked* him. I wanted everything to turn out well for him and Joshua, and I understood why they stuck by each other's sides for so long. I started feeling sick for him as I got further in the book and I started to realize what was coming next (my only religious education is Jesus Christ Superstar, so when I started recognizing some lyrics from that, I had a pretty good idea of what was coming at the end of the next act). But not only did I like Biff, I liked Joshua. I never thought I would like Jesus as a character, because either he's shown as perfect or as a bit of a letdown, but this version was friendly, likable, and just as lost in this world as every one of us. Most of us aren't expected to bring about the kingdom, though.

It also really speaks to Moore's skills as a storyteller that he utilized one of my biggest pet peeves in historical fiction and I didn't care. When something we, in modern day, know of or use regularly is shown as being "invented" in the past, I usually groan and roll my eyes and seriously consider picking up another book or changing the channel. It's such an overused, annoying trope, but I didn't even care when it was used. I can't even say it was used sparingly because there were actually a few instances in which it's very prevalent and mentioned a lot, but I didn't care. I really did not care. I was amazed to see how easy it was for me to ignore that.

Plus, the book was the perfect length. I'm a moderately fast reader, and I read voraciously once a book sucks me in, and the book lasted me around a week. Most of the time, when I get into a book and I start to like the characters I read so fast that I'm done with it in a day and a half and wishing there was more (though this is the kind of book that doesn't really work with a sequel, which is too bad, because I would love it if I could just read the further adventures of Biff, Joshua and Maggie). I was able to read late into the night and still got a whole week or so with these characters that I loved, and it didn't feel too long. Like, you know, the Bible or something.

I could pick and choose all my favorite passages and go over why I love it so much, but I will just say that I am incredibly glad I decided to buy this. I wasn't going to at first since the Kindle price was not exactly a steal, but I got some birthday money and decided, heck, why not? And for those who might worry it would be offensive to them and their religion (and I have admitted that I am not a religious person, so I could be totally off base here), I don't think this book would be all that offensive. For those who can put aside any historical inaccuracies in favor of a good story (and, while it is clear Moore did his research, a good writer never lets the truth get in the way of a good story), it might be nice to read a story in which Jesus is a relatable protagonist. Just don't take it to church and ask when you're going to get to the Gospel of Biff.
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Ldq2813, August 4, 2012 (view all comments by Ldq2813)
One of my favorite books of all time, and the first book that ever made me laugh out loud. Unfortunately it was after a religion final at my catholic high school.

I've gone through multiple copies of this book, it's that good. The one I had in college lost both front and back covers and most of the leading pages from lending it out to others.

It seems to be especially touching if you grown up in a religious environment, but I think it's just an excellent look at the idea of Jesus's humanity over his divinity in a really funny and very you touching way. Its irreverent, but in a good way
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780380813810
Subtitle:
The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
Author:
Moore, Christopher
Author:
by Christopher Moore
Publisher:
William Morrow Paperbacks
Location:
New York
Subject:
General
Subject:
Bible
Subject:
Jesus christ
Subject:
Humorous
Subject:
Religious - General
Subject:
Historical - General
Subject:
Christian fiction
Subject:
Humorous fiction
Subject:
Christian - General
Subject:
Horror - General
Subject:
General Fiction
Subject:
Humor : General
Copyright:
2002
Edition Number:
1st Perennial ed.
Edition Description:
Trade PB
Series Volume:
107-201.
Publication Date:
20040525
Binding:
Paperback
Grade Level:
General/trade
Language:
English
Pages:
464
Dimensions:
9 x 6 x 0.8 in 11.92 oz
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Related Subjects

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Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal Used Trade Paper
0 stars - 0 reviews
$9.50 In Stock
Product details 464 pages Perennial - English 9780380813810 Reviews:
"Staff Pick" by ,

Christopher Moore's Lamb is an utterly hilarious take on the story of Jesus. Told from the perspective of Jesus' smart-ass best friend, Biff, it is irreverent without being disrespectful. Lamb, or any of Moore's books, would be perfect for someone who has read all of Tom Robbins's titles and is looking for something new, or just for anyone who needs a good laugh.

by Billie Bloebaum
"Review" by , "An instant classic...terrific, funny and poignant."
"Review" by , "[R]eminiscent of Vonnegut and Douglas Adams."
"Review" by , "The style is smooth, drawing readers into the story seamlessly except for the need to laugh out loud every page or two....In an excellent afterword, the author explains the choices he made in writing the novel, which will fascinate would-be writers, as well as provide a rebuttal for the book's likely critics."
"Review" by , "[A]s in Moore's other books, the jokes, ranging from the sublime to the sophisticated to the utterly sophomoric, make the book. What Lamb lacks in theological sophistication it more than compensates with mirth....simply impossible not to laugh."
"Review" by , "In inventing his own conflicted, determined Jesus — one who found His conviction one step at a time instead of emerging from the manger fully formed and ready to preach — Moore is endlessly, wryly creative."
"Review" by , "An audacious and irreverent novel...guaranteed deeply to offend all right-thinking Christians....The style is a bizarre mix of serious and sometimes brutal historical fiction laced with black humor, wordplay, in-jokes, and sharp one-liners worthy of a good stand-up comedian."
"Review" by , "Christopher Moore's impish, madcap addition to the New Testament. . . .Lamb is an earnest comedy in the style of Woody Allen's play God, simultaneously addressing matters of ultimate concern while wallowing in the broadest possible slapstick."
"Review" by , "Moore writes with a kind of reverent irreverence — he's got a keen eye for the absurd but leavens it with a child's sense of wonder....[Lamb is] his best book so far."
"Review" by , "Wrapped in this cloak of craziness are nuanced themes dealing with friendship, faith, and religious pluralism."
"Review" by , "Like the best of comedies, Lamb is filled with tragedy, love, loss, beauty, anger, and, above all, an unfailing and intelligent sense of humour."
"Synopsis" by , The birth of Jesus has been well chronicled, as have his glorious teachings, acts, and divine sacrifice after his thirtieth birthday. But no one knows about the early life of the Son of God, the missing years — except Biff, the Messiah's best bud, who has been resurrected to tell the story in the divinely hilarious yet heartfelt work "reminiscent of Vonnegut and Douglas Adams" (Philadelphia Inquirer).

Verily, the story Biff has to tell is a miraculous one, filled with remarkable journeys, magic, healings, kung fu, corpse reanimations, demons, and hot babes. Even the considerable wiles and devotion of the Savior's pal may not be enough to divert Joshua from his tragic destiny. But there's no one who loves Josh more — except maybe "Maggie," Mary of Magdala — and Biff isn't about to let his extraordinary pal suffer and ascend without a fight.
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