2 Book Lovers Reviews

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Sci-Fi & Fantasy

I would call myself a fan of Christopher Moore, yes, this is only the third book of his that I have read, but the other two really hit home for me. I love how Moore can create complete ridiculousness and craft a captivating story around it. I even did my homework in preparation for Shakespeare for Squirrels by reading, for the first time, A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

I have to admit that neither one really hit home for me. A Midsummer Night’s Dream was a bit of a bore, I never really got the laughs and chuckles out of it like the other Shakespearean comedies that I’ve read. I don’t know if it was a lack of connection with the base material or just where I was in my life or perhaps that Shakespeare for Squirrels was not Christopher Moore at his best, but I really didn’t form a connection with this story.

Don’t get me wrong, Shakespeare for Squirrels is filled with all of Moore’s trademark humor, with outrageous situations and over the top characters. I kept interrupting my wife’s reading to recount some brilliantly crafted jokes; however, I just wasn’t pulled into the story.  I just didn’t care what happened to whom. I’m always disappointed when this happens, I want my stories to take me away to another time and place, away from my own real life.

Shakespeare for Squirrels is a fine story.  Moore did his thing; I’ve always considered him to be the Weird Al Yankovic of the literary world. He takes a story, theme, concept that the audience is familiar with and he creates something new and original that is completely recognizable and filled with laughs and knee-slapping humor. It’s just that not every song can be “Eat It.”

*3.5 Stars

Shakespeare for Squirrels

By Christopher Moore