Thursday Book Talk : "Fool," by Christopher Moore
Fool: A Novel
Christopher Moore (blog)
William Morrow, 2009 (hardcover) (ISBN 0060590319 / 9780060590314)
Fiction, 336 pages
First sentence: “Tosser!” Cried the raven. There’s always a bloody raven.
Book description: Here's the Cliff Notes you wished you'd had for King Lear—the mad royal, his devious daughters, rhyming ghosts and a castle full of hot intrigue—in a cheeky and ribald romp that both channels and chides the Bard and all Fate's bastards. It's 1288, and the king's fool, Pocket, and his dimwit apprentice, Drool, set out to clean up the mess Lear has made of his kingdom, his family and his fortune—only to discover the truth about their own heritage. There's more murder, mayhem, mistaken identities and scene changes than you can remember, but bestselling Moore (You Suck) turns things on their head with an edgy 21st-century perspective that makes the story line as sharp, surly and slick as a game of Grand Theft Auto. Moore confesses he borrows from at least a dozen of the Bard's plays for this buffet of tragedy, comedy and medieval porn action.
Comments: I wish I remembered more about King Lear, but it's been nearly 30 years since I read it in high school. Then again, I'm not sure it would have made much difference; in the Author's Note at the end of Christopher Moore's Fool, he acknowledges being pretty free in adapting the source material. To the best of my recollection, the basic plotline is followed: the aging king is duped by two of his ambitious daughters into disinheriting the third one, and quickly comes to regret it. Much intrigue, duplicity, and death follow. It is a Shakespearean tragedy, after all.
However, in Moore's hands, it becomes a tragicomedy, at times bordering on farce, with much bawdiness. If you've read anything else he's written, you'll expect nothing less.
I actually don't remember much about the king's Fool from the play at all, but here, his perspective takes the primary role. Pocket - so named because he was a particularly tiny baby when he was found abandoned on the steps of a convent - was raised by nuns, became part of performing troupe, and found a home in King Lear's court when he was able to coax laughter out of the king's youngest daughter, who had been mute since losing her mother. Although Pocket was officially Cordelia's Fool, her older sisters Goneril and Regan found their own uses for him as well. And from the Fool's unique position within the court, Pocket plays the pivotal behind-the-scenes role in orchestrating both the fallout and the resolution of Lear's choice.
While following the events of the play, including fragments from some of its best-known speeches, Moore has also worked in elements from other Shakespearean plays, most notably Macbeth's witches. I had some trouble keeping characters straight, but I think that goes back to the source material more than to what Moore has done with it. What he's created is by no means a primer on Shakespeare, British royalty, or the Middle Ages, but it is a fun read. If you haven't been exposed to Moore's brand of creative absurdity before, I'm not sure I'd suggest starting here, and even fans have had mixed reviews of Fool. Having said all that, though, there were plenty of places in the book where I laughed out loud, and I found it enjoyable and clever. And while bawdiness isn't generally my thing, Moore writes an element of something resembling affection into it that makes it more appealing to me than it might be otherwise.
It wouldn't be the first time Christopher Moore has made something - zombies, humpback whales and aliens, death - more appealing to me than it might be otherwise, though. Although Fool may not end up being my favorite novel of his, it doesn't change his place among my favorite writers.
However, in Moore's hands, it becomes a tragicomedy, at times bordering on farce, with much bawdiness. If you've read anything else he's written, you'll expect nothing less.
I actually don't remember much about the king's Fool from the play at all, but here, his perspective takes the primary role. Pocket - so named because he was a particularly tiny baby when he was found abandoned on the steps of a convent - was raised by nuns, became part of performing troupe, and found a home in King Lear's court when he was able to coax laughter out of the king's youngest daughter, who had been mute since losing her mother. Although Pocket was officially Cordelia's Fool, her older sisters Goneril and Regan found their own uses for him as well. And from the Fool's unique position within the court, Pocket plays the pivotal behind-the-scenes role in orchestrating both the fallout and the resolution of Lear's choice.
While following the events of the play, including fragments from some of its best-known speeches, Moore has also worked in elements from other Shakespearean plays, most notably Macbeth's witches. I had some trouble keeping characters straight, but I think that goes back to the source material more than to what Moore has done with it. What he's created is by no means a primer on Shakespeare, British royalty, or the Middle Ages, but it is a fun read. If you haven't been exposed to Moore's brand of creative absurdity before, I'm not sure I'd suggest starting here, and even fans have had mixed reviews of Fool. Having said all that, though, there were plenty of places in the book where I laughed out loud, and I found it enjoyable and clever. And while bawdiness isn't generally my thing, Moore writes an element of something resembling affection into it that makes it more appealing to me than it might be otherwise.
It wouldn't be the first time Christopher Moore has made something - zombies, humpback whales and aliens, death - more appealing to me than it might be otherwise, though. Although Fool may not end up being my favorite novel of his, it doesn't change his place among my favorite writers.
Rating: 3.75/5
Other bloggers' reviews:
If you've read and reviewed this book, please leave your link in comments or e-mail it to me at 3.rsblog AT Gmail DOT com, and I'll edit this review to include it!
13 comments via Blogger:
Great review -- here is mine:
http://barneysbookblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/review-fool-by-christopher-moore.html
I haven't read anything by this author yet, but I've heard good things about his books. Maybe I'll start with this one. I read King Lear in college, but don't remember all the details. You pretty much nailed the basics of the plot, though. :)
--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric
Oh! He's fun. I have something of his on the very large pile...
I've never read King Lear, so I'm not sure I'd fully appreciate this one.
Jess - Thanks for your link; I've added it to the review.
Anna - I thought I remembered some of it. I know the witches weren't in it, though :-).
Magpie - I introduced my husband to Christopher Moore's books when we were dating. He's now read them all, but I still haven't gotten to a couple of them.
Kathy (Bermudaonion) - I'm not sure it's necessary to know the play before reading this; he takes a LOT of liberties with it :-).
I'm starting to think I'm going to be the lone blogger who loathed this book. :-D
Jill (Softdrink) - I was thinking of you when I mentioned the "mixed reviews" :-). I've liked other books of his better, but I didn't dislike this one.
I've watched versions of King Lear all my life (my dad directed plays at a college), so I know the play well. And I like almost everything else Moore has written (especially Fluke and the one by Biff, "Joshua's" friend). But I couldn't get into Fool. I eventually took it back to the library unread.
Jeanne - Maybe it was just the wrong time for reading it? I'm glad you mentioned liking Fluke, though - I did too, but I've encountered a few people who have said it's their least favorite of Moore's books.
My husband just finished re-reading Lamb, and said it was just as good the second time around.
I gotta check him out!
Gautami - If you haven't read any of his books yet - yes, you do :-)!
I have not heard of this one. I need to check out this book...this author.
Ibeeeg - He's a trifle offbeat, but smart, and he always makes me laugh. Sometimes he even makes me think. Give his books a try!
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