Book Review ~ Fool by Christopher Moore

NOTE: This was orginally posted on June 4 over at my old wordpress blog.

I’m a big time reader and I just recently finished this book. Fool is a Christopher Moore’s own “wicked” poke at William Shakespeare’s King Lear. Now this book is NOT for the faint of heart. There is even a warning at the front of the book that reads: “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 happened upon the perfect story!” In the beginning the language was a little bit hard to interpret but as the story went along it was easier to the language became much easier to follow. This story was VERY engaging…At least for me it was. I hope that you check this book out!

The main character is Pocket, who has been Lear’s much cherished fool for many years. Being so trusted Pocket is at his master’s side when Lear demands that his three daughters swear to him their undying love and absolute devotion. Naturally, the snakes, Goneril and Regan are only too happy to tell daddy exactly what he wants to hear. But Lear’s third daughter Cordelia believes that her father’s request is to be blunt…kind of stupid and her blunt honesty gets banished and she also forfits her share of Lear’s kingdom as well.

Now the shit has really hit the fan. And the only person who can make it right? Pocket. Now he’s going to have to use some pretty fancy “foot work” (casting a few spells, start a war or two…the usual basic stuff) to get Cordelia back into Lear’s good graces, derail the evil power plays of Cordelia’s evil sisters and shag every single shaggable women who’s agreeable along the way.

Now Pocket may be a fool . . . but he’s definitely not an idiot. Especially when you come to the end and learn a little bit more about our dear friend Pocket.