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A review by richardrbecker
Shakespeare for Squirrels by Christopher Moore
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I love Christopher Moore, but I didn't love Shakespeare for Squirrels. It's probably the only book of his I didn't like (and I like plenty that other people did not).
Maybe he played it too close to Shakespeare (nah), or maybe it was something yes (oh, sure), but the plot overlay on A Midsummer Night's Dream is just too thin, making Squirrels rely heavily on raunchy humor alone. That's kind of, well, boring for Moore.
Still, I do enjoy Moore's writing. He can be clever at times (cliche at other times), which is what kept me reading long after I lost interest. There's also a little Monty Pythonish feel to the story, which elevates the nuttier and nonsense at times. But otherwise, just as the book's name might imply, Squirrels is just a bit too chaotic for its own good. Definitely don't pick it as your first foray into Moore's mind. There are plenty of outstanding books like Lamb, Sacre Bleu, A Dirty Job, Noir, and his Pine Cove series.
Maybe he played it too close to Shakespeare (nah), or maybe it was something yes (oh, sure), but the plot overlay on A Midsummer Night's Dream is just too thin, making Squirrels rely heavily on raunchy humor alone. That's kind of, well, boring for Moore.
Still, I do enjoy Moore's writing. He can be clever at times (cliche at other times), which is what kept me reading long after I lost interest. There's also a little Monty Pythonish feel to the story, which elevates the nuttier and nonsense at times. But otherwise, just as the book's name might imply, Squirrels is just a bit too chaotic for its own good. Definitely don't pick it as your first foray into Moore's mind. There are plenty of outstanding books like Lamb, Sacre Bleu, A Dirty Job, Noir, and his Pine Cove series.