The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror
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Praise for Christopher Moore: 'Wickedly funny' Waterstone's Books Quarterly, 'Christopher Moore is a very sick man, in the very best sense of the word' Carl Hiaasen, 'Humour that seamlessly blends lunacy with larceny ... habit forming zaniness' USA Today, 'Moore is endlessly inventive ... it is a sure winner' Publishers Weekly
Book Description
A heartwarming tale of Christmas terror.
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First Sentence
Christmas crept into Pine Cove like a creeping Christmas thing: dragging garland, ribbon, and sleigh bells, oozing eggnog, reeking of pine, and threatening festive doom like a cold sore under the mistletoe. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Christmas crept into Pine Cove like a creeping Christmas thing: dragging garland, ribbon, and sleigh bells, oozing eggnog, reeking of pine, and threatening festive doom like a cold sore under the mistletoe. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Whenever you read something by Christopher Moore, you enter a whole new world. In the case of The Stupidest Angel, the world you enter is familiar, if you have read Moore's previous books, since Moore is reprising many of the most popular characters from the past in this Christmas-inspired satire of life in Pine Cove, a California coastal community, filled with "holiday quaintage" and "festive doom." Lena Marquez, divorced from Dale Pearson, an unmitigated boor, first appeared in The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove, and becomes the subject of the major plot here when she inadvertently "kills" Dale as he attacks her for stealing some of his Monterey pine Christmas trees. The local constable, Theophilus Crowe, also appeared in Lust Lizard..., and Tucker Case, who comes on the scene and falls madly in lust with Lena, was the main character in Island of the Sequined Love Nun. His sunglass-clad, talking fruit bat, Roberto, also plays a role.
Lena's fight with Dale is witnessed by young Josh Barker, age seven, who is distraught at the thought that "someone killed Santa." Soon Josh is visited by the Archangel Raziel, who appeared in Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, a klutzy angel whose mission it is to go to earth and "find a child who has made a Christmas wish that can only be granted by divine intervention," and do something for him. Josh wants Santa to come back to life.
As always, Moore's off-the-wall imagination takes over, and the investigation of Dale Pearson's disappearance becomes complicated. As the holiday comes closer, Raziel starts to work his bizarre magic and bring the newly dead back to life as part of his Christmas "miracle." The juxtaposition of the Christmas message and the violence in town are seen in sharp, ironic relief, and the question of whether there are any heroes in this novel and whether Raziel is truly an archangel come to the fore.
A no-holds-barred, let-it-all-hang-out free-for-all which gives a whole new meaning to "the willing suspension of disbelief," this is a fast-paced narrative that will keep you in stitches. The zanies on your Christmas list probably will not bat an eyelash at its profanity, its vulgar hilarity, and its unexpected satiric twists and turns. Unless your staid and proper Aunt Martha has a great sense of humor, however, you may want to think twice about giving it to her as a gift. Mary Whipple
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
When young Joshua Barker sees Santa take a shovel to the head, he desperately prays for a Christmas miracle. Archangel Raziel has been assigned (okay well Michael was, but Raziel won it in a card game) to perform a Christmas miracle, but unfortunately for Josh Raziel doesn't have the brightest halo in the bunch. Before you can say 'Merry Christmas' Raziel had botched his mission and sent the residents of Pine Cove heading into Christmas chaos.
I've never read anything by Christopher Moore before, but this sounded so funny I had to pick up a copy. I'd heard Christopher Moore's writing described as a ruder Terry Pratchett, and having read this I definitely agree. The humour within this book is similar to Terry Pratchett in that it is sarcastic and quite dark at times, although Christopher Moore does take the jokes that little bit further. There is a note at the front of the book that sums up the writing style perfectly and reads: "If you're buying this book as a gift for your grandma or a kid, you should be aware that it contains cuss words ss well as tasteful descriptions of cannibalism and people in their forties having sex. Don't blame me. I told you."
In terms of the story itself, this is a great break from the usual saccharine Christmas fare (not that I don't enjoy that). IKEA obsessed zombies, talking fruit bats, bizarre experiments, dense angels and nutty retired actresses make for a hilarious read. Yes it's a little dark and disturbing at times, but sometimes black humour is exactly what you want.
Apparently several of the characters have appeared in Christopher Moore's other books, but I didn't feel like I'd really missed out on anything by not reading them. There is quite a wide cast of characters here, and I'm impressed that they were all quite well developed. However my favourite characters are Molly (a slightly nuts retired actress), Skinner (the dog) and Roberto (the talking fruit bat - who wears ray bans!)
One thing to note about this edition is that it is a UK version of The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror, Version 2.0 - which is basically the same as The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror just with a bonus chapter at the end showing the following Christmas in Pine Cove. I enjoyed the bonus chapter, and actually prefer the book ending with that to the original ending. There are also extras in the form of a brief Christmassy interview with the author and a sneak peek at The Portable Door.
All in all this is a dark and funny Christmas read, well worth picking up if you want a break from the 'oh so sweet' usual Christmas fare. I'll definitely be keeping my eye out for some of Christopher Moore's other books.
Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Cover: 8/10
Overall: 44/50
I've never read anything by Christopher Moore before, but this sounded so funny I had to pick up a copy. I'd heard Christopher Moore's writing described as a ruder Terry Pratchett, and having read this I definitely agree. The humour within this book is similar to Terry Pratchett in that it is sarcastic and quite dark at times, although Christopher Moore does take the jokes that little bit further. There is a note at the front of the book that sums up the writing style perfectly and reads: "If you're buying this book as a gift for your grandma or a kid, you should be aware that it contains cuss words ss well as tasteful descriptions of cannibalism and people in their forties having sex. Don't blame me. I told you."
In terms of the story itself, this is a great break from the usual saccharine Christmas fare (not that I don't enjoy that). IKEA obsessed zombies, talking fruit bats, bizarre experiments, dense angels and nutty retired actresses make for a hilarious read. Yes it's a little dark and disturbing at times, but sometimes black humour is exactly what you want.
Apparently several of the characters have appeared in Christopher Moore's other books, but I didn't feel like I'd really missed out on anything by not reading them. There is quite a wide cast of characters here, and I'm impressed that they were all quite well developed. However my favourite characters are Molly (a slightly nuts retired actress), Skinner (the dog) and Roberto (the talking fruit bat - who wears ray bans!)
One thing to note about this edition is that it is a UK version of The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror, Version 2.0 - which is basically the same as The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror just with a bonus chapter at the end showing the following Christmas in Pine Cove. I enjoyed the bonus chapter, and actually prefer the book ending with that to the original ending. There are also extras in the form of a brief Christmassy interview with the author and a sneak peek at The Portable Door.
All in all this is a dark and funny Christmas read, well worth picking up if you want a break from the 'oh so sweet' usual Christmas fare. I'll definitely be keeping my eye out for some of Christopher Moore's other books.
Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Cover: 8/10
Overall: 44/50
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Wow! My brother recommended this book for me and he wasn't wrong! A fantastic read, particularly good for Robert Rankin fans.
My one quibble with the book is that it ended. It should have gone on and on... a perpetual book, if you will.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A Mad-Cap Christmasy Adventure With a Twist (or ten)
The Stupidest Angel
A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas terror
by Christopher Moore
The book opens with `Author's Warning'
"If you're buying... Read more
A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas terror
by Christopher Moore
The book opens with `Author's Warning'
"If you're buying... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Jay Gilbertson
book
arrived in a couple of day and was exatly as described in the advert. Woudl definately but from this supplier again.
Published 7 months ago by vixter
What?
The Stupidest Angel unites many of the characters from previous novels in the coastal town of Pine Cove for what can only be described as chaos. Read more
Published on 15 May 2009 by Mr. G. Battle
Easy reading Christmas humour
Another wonderful book by Christopher Moore that returns to the cast of the Love Lizard. As the characters continue on their own merry journeys Chris does a number of things... Read more
Published on 30 Oct 2007 by Gareth Wilson - Falcata Times Blog
Where angels [should] fear to tread
Not much happens in Pine Cove. It doesn't seem like the sort of place for Christmas miracles. But then Bethlehem wasn't a bustling burg, either. Read more
Published on 26 Nov 2004 by Stephen A. Haines
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