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

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal | Christopher Moore | laughed out loud!

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Lamb: The Gospel A...

	Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal Christopher Moore Harper Paperbacks, 2003 - 464 pages average customer review:based on 486 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

One of the best books you'll ever read

Jesus Christ is perhaps the most important figure in the history of mankind. It's because of this fact that the massive 30-year gap in his biography is so astonishing. The Gospels tell of all sorts of details, from the manger to the preaching, but there is simple an absence in between. What did Jesus do as a teenager? What did he do as an early 20-something? Lamb is a humorous look at the possibilities of those formative years.

First, this is not simply a comedy, nor is it a fluff book. There is a ton of research; I actually learned something from the book. It's deeply philosophical and religious in many ways, with quite a bit of theological history and insight, even though it's not preachy. There is, however, the majority of the book, witty dialogue and adventure which provides the reader with the answers to questions such as the origin of the H. in Jesus H. Christ.

Biff, also known as Levi bar Alphaeus, has been resurrected to tell his childhood tale of his best friend, who just so happens to be Joshua bar Jehovah, or Jesus. Along with Maggie (Mary Magdala), Biff recounts his story and fills in the holes of his best friend's life.

The great part about Lamb is that Biff's memories not only provide insight into the past, but also fill in hilarious details of everyday life, like the origin of sarcasm. Biff has a way of telling a story. He knows just the right words to bring about laughter, and is just raunchy enough that it's hard to see why he would be Jesus' best friend. I guess everyone needs "that friend". He's smart, nice, and pure on the inside, but his exterior is a tad rough. The majority of his story is of an epic journey throughout Asia, where Joshua learns about his powers, responsibilities, and role in life. He learns how to be the Messiah, and various lessons about life from the three magi. Along the way Joshua deals with the struggles associated with being the Messiah, particularly his difficulties with his attractions to Mary.

This book is really a showcase for Christopher Moore. It's rare when a writer can tackle such a powerful topic with equal parts levity and seriousness. It's even rarer to do both while bringing about emotion and genuine laugh out loud moments.

Anyone who simply loves a good book should enjoy reading Christopher Moore's thoughts on the life of Jesus. It's for any and all who enjoy a good laugh, who enjoy Moore's writing, or who are interested in an oddball theological perspective. It's completely inclusive, understanding, and a joy to read.

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laughed out loud!

A friend recommended this book as a funny look at someone's imaginings of Jesus as a boy and young man. I enjoyed it immensely--laughed my way through most of it. The irreverence of the author surprised me again and again. Who knew a book about Jesus could be so funny?! Loved it!

Hilarious!

This book is great if you know a lot abotu religion and have a good sense of humor. It is the "missing years" of Jesus' life through the eyes of his shallow, lovable rogue of a best friend: Biff. You'll be laughing out loud at some of the lines and situations described in this book. It really gets ridiculous but oddl enough there are some parts of it where you think "Hey, that MIGHT have really happened!" A great book to read if you're down and want a few crazy laughs.

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A great what-if, and totally, lovingly irreverent

Wonder how Jesus dealt with puberty? Ever thought about how he might have used his spiritual gifts when the Big Man Upstairs wasn't looking? Christopher more has plenty of ideas about this and more.

The narrative reads a bit like some odd combination of "Scrubs" and "The West Wing," with main characters like Bif always at the ready with a dry, acerbic comeback for any situation. It's not realistic dialogue by any means, but hey, if you can get past the premise of this fictitious account of Jesus' missing years, then the stylized non-period-appropriate jargon will not bother you in the least.

This is one of the few books that has made me laugh out loud in several years. Being a theologian and writer myself, it's so refreshing to see someone so facile with words and also so sensitive to the human condition take such an irreverent jab at many old religious conventions. Anyone who considers themselves to be a biblical literalist, or who rejects outright the idea that, just maybe, other people and religions from cultures beyond his own influenced Jesus' ministry will have a hard time wading through this book. In fact, I sent a copy to my mother, a Southern Baptist, and surprisingly she loved it; her husband, however, found no humor in it at all.

My advice is to get over yourself and any hangups you have about what you think the life of Jesus was, or had to be, or should have been, and just enjoy this as a story about a special kid with an irrepressible calling. Then just sit back and enjoy watching it all unfold - or should I say, unravel?

Oh, and if you don't laugh when you find out how Jesus helped a young man learn to pee around corners, you lack a single humorous bone in your body. Quit reading immediately and go on to something more your speed, like the encyclopedia.

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Fun and entertaining, but what a horrible ending.

Lamb starts out strong and slowly fizzes its way to the end. Despite the weak ending the over all story is entertaining.

reviews: 1, page 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

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