Multi-Review: A Dirty Job, Lamb, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

I decided to review these three books simultaneously since they all have one thing in common: comedic intentions. I know a lot of people would rate these books as some of the funniest that they have read but I feel lukewarm about all of them.

I originally discovered Christopher Moore during my second year in Korea. My friend Eddie lent us his book You Suck. By fate I answered an ad for Bookleaves book club and they were reading the same book for their next meeting! I got a kick out of You Suck but the positive association may have been because it was how I was introduced to my fabulous book club.

While I was traveling I picked up A Dirty Job and Lamb. Of the two I definitely enjoyed A Dirty Job more, possibly because it ties in and overlaps slightly with You Suck. Moore is a wildly creative writer and this was evident especially in Lamb. Both are fun books but I think the key to enjoying them lies in what kind of reader you are. If you look at my list you could probably deduce that when I read I generally am looking for something to stink my teeth into. I'm a bit of a snob and I want something that will move me in some way. These books are fun but did they move me? Nah.

The same can be said for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Matt has been encouraging me to read this for as long as I've known him and I've only gotten around to it now. I did see the movie that came out a couple of years ago so the story was already quite familiar. I do plan on reading the next 4 books in the "trilogy" and Adams is a cute writer. I think I am bad at reading funny books though. It's hard for me to just laugh without others around. I am one of those people who never watches movies alone, especially comedies, because my enjoyment depends so much on interaction and mutual enjoyment with other people. It's hard to do that with books. A favorite and one of the funniest books I've ever read, Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, became funnier when I was able to discuss it with Matt and some other people who'd read it. When I heard about the parts they found hilarious I was able to connect to that and share in the humor. I guess I'm strange. Apparently I should also be wary of these other funny books, as listed by CBC Book Club (care of my friend Aaron).