I finished Fool by Christopher Moore and I must say I enjoyed it very much. It certainly isn’t a mentally challenging book but not all books need to be, right? What I enjoyed most was the sheer audacity of it all. Moore keeps the basic plot of Lear but turns the behind the scenes machinations upside down. And the book has a happy ending. Well, a happy ending if you are Pocket the Fool, Cordelia, or Kent.
Bawdy and rude and cussing galore. If the F-word is upsetting for you, don’t read this book. There is lots of “bonking” and descriptions of bonking and discussions about bonking and wishes for a good bonk. So if you are offended by bonking, don’t read this book.
I’ve always thought Goneril’s name rather unfortunate, and apparently I am not the only one:
Ah, Goneril, Goneril, Goneril–like a distant love chant is her name. Not that it doesn’t summon memories of burning urination and putrid discharge, but what romance worth the memory is devoid of the bittersweet.
If I say that made me giggle you may accuse me of having a somewhat adolescent sense of humor at times.
The book is loaded with Shakespeare references and not just to Lear. The witches from Macbeth jump plays and have a major influence and several appearances. There is also a ghost, but as the refrain runs through the book, “there’s always a bloody ghost.” This is a girl ghost and she shows up at inopportune times to recite rhyming prophetic clues to Pocket who begs her to please just speak in prose for once. But that wouldn’t be proper ghosting. This ghost also manages to become corporeal enough that she gets in some bonking of her own.
There are some funny mad Lear scenes and Gloucester gets some great mad scenes too after he gets his eyes popped out. Like the scene where Pocket is leading the blinded Gloucester away from the castle and stops at the guard house to see if the captain, who is a friend, has any food they could take to eat while they are on their way to meet up with Lear. Gloucester is wailing and Pocket has just yelled at him to shut up. Captain Curan says:
Bit harsh, innit?” said Curan.
“What, I said ‘please’.”
“Still.”
“Sorry, Gloucester, old chap. Most excellent hat.”
“He’s not wearing a hat,” said Curan.
“Well, he’s blind, isn’t he? If you hadn’t said anything he might have enjoyed his bloody hat, mightn’t he?”
The earl started wailing again. “My sons are villains and I have no hat.”
Heh.
Fool is a fun book and I highly recommend it if you want a good laugh. If you are offended easily, however, you probably will want to read something else.
Christopher Moore is one of those authors I keep meaning to get around to but still haven’t. I hadn’t realized that Fool was a Lear spoof. I’m planning to see a production of Lear this summer, so this might be a good first choice.
And about Goneril—I’ve always had the same thought about her name. *chuckle*
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That totally looks like fun. I saw King Lear at a fabulous theater in Portland with my high school AP English class and have loved it ever since. This looks like a fun take on it!
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Lol! Not for the faint of heart, I can see, but probably a lot of fun. You certainly have me intrigued.
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Oh I absolutely must read this!
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Sigh. I’m still waiting for my Early Reviewers copy to be delivered. I want it noooowwwwwwwww.
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Oh wow, looks like fun, I’m sure I’d miss half the references, but it would be fun hunting them out.
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Very, very funny post! Only, we always called it “boinking.” Geographical variation, perhaps?
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Christopher Moore is not what one would call politically correct. I didn’t realize it wasn’t released until yesterday (Tuesday). Looking forward to reading it! CalShakes did a version of King Lear recently.
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I’m not easily offended, and this one sounds like fun! It sounds like the sort of thing Shakespeare would have gotten a kick out of, don’t you think?
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Teresa, I’m so glad to hear you have thought the same about Goneril’s name. If you will be seeing a production of Lear, this will probably be good fun.
Daphne, oh yes. I think you would get a good giggle out this one and maybe a guffaw or two.
Litlove, definitely not for the faint of heart or anyone who holds Shakespeare sacred.
Jodie, oh do, and enjoy!
Sassymonkey, that earlier reviewers copy isn’t very early if you are still waiting. Hope it arrives soon!
Verbivore, most of the references are rather blatant, so have confidence and have fun.
Grad, I always call it “boinking” too but Moore uses “bonking” unless I read it wrong which is entirely possible because I read the book on the bus without my reading glasses 🙂
Carrie, he is wonderfully politically un-correct but he is never mean spirited and everything is in good fun you can’t help but laugh.
Dorothy, yes, I bet Shakespeare would have gotten a chuckle. He’s seems the sort of fellow who appreciated a good joke.
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This actually sounds like fun. It would be interesting to read it back to back with some Shakespeare!
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Danielle, it would be fun to read it along with Shakespeare. I’m sure the Bard would approve.
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Ahh, I love anything Shakespearean or pseudo-Shakespearean.
Having read King Lear and really enjoying it, you make me now want to check out this blasphemous bastardization, by Moore.
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Cip, I think you would like this book. It definitely goes with your sense of humor!
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I saw it today and I was so tempted tempted tempted to buy it. But I didn’t.
It was way on sale even!
But I have been buying just SO MANY BOOKS lately.
Hey, that would be a great name for a website…. So Many Books.
[It’s probably been done!]
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