Christopher Moore
Fiction 2002 | 444 pages
When Jesus wants his teacher Gaspar to develop a form of self-defense that is not violent and uses no weapons, together they built a practice called Jew-do (the "o" is long,) This event gives you a sense of the satire that Christopher Moore employs n his novel, Lamb. The premise itself will make you giggle. We all know Jesus was born in a manger and then was a recluse to society until he turned thirty. The New Testament tells us a bit about his life from the age of 30 to 33. But we know nothing between his being one day old, and his 30th birthday. This novel fills in the gap (are you smiling yet?)
If you know anything about the Bible, even if it is ancient history as it is for me, you will appreciate the satire, irony, and taking liberties with the names of people and places that Moore offers up for his readers.
Lamb is told entirely from the perspective of Levi (who we all know as Biff), the best friend of Joshua (who is actually Jesus). What fun to witness them as young boys! Joshua knows from a very young age that maybe is the Messiah. Biff knows from a very young age that his role in life is to protect his naive friend, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Unfortunately, on page 105, Joshua and Biff, young teenagers, leave for what turns into an almost twenty-year journey to visit the three "magicians" ("Magi") to see what they might learn from them. The journey simply does not seem to fit. I completely believe there was a conversation between Moore and his editor, when Moore presented him with a delightful 200-page book (I am making this up completely) that sounded something like this. Editor: "This is great start. You need to make it longer." Moore: "Well, I was thinking about sending Biff and Joshua on an odyssey of sorts. I could write that up."
Their entire journey, from page 105 when they leave home to when they return on page 308, read to me like filler. Other than the release of one demon, and Joshua's growing obsession with sex (which he knows he is not allowed to have), nothing meaningful happens. Moore squashes his writing skill on the journey ... there is little satire and nothing that I can recall that hearkens back to the Bible. However, it is interesting to note what Joshua/Jesus learns in his travels:
- Chinese characters
- Other languages
- Zen
- The Tao
- Magic
- Lao-tzu
- The Torah
- Meditation
- Mindfulness
- Buddhism
- Kung-fu
- Jew-do
- and more!
I also was not pleased with Moore's character development. He stays extremely on the surface with his two main characters (and more so with the supporting cast). We know what Biff and Joshua DO but not who they ARE underneath. Joshua is naive, curious, and focused. Biff is Joshua's protector and interpreter of the human world.
I made it through! No surprise, if you bothered to read this review, I rated it two hearts, and do not recommend it.
March 2026