While the Bible may be the word of God, transcribed by divinely inspired men, it does not provide a full (or even partial) account of the life of Jesus Christ. Lucky for us that Christopher Moore presents a funny, lighthearted satire of the life of Christ--from his childhood days up to his crucifixion--in Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal. This clever novel is surely blasphemy to some, but to others it's a coming-of-age story of the highest order.

Joshua (a.k.a. Jesus) knows he is unique and quite alone in his calling, but what exactly does his Father want of him? Taking liberties with ancient history, Moore works up an adventure tale as Biff and Joshua seek out the three wise men so that Joshua can better understand what he is supposed to do as Messiah. Biff, a capable sinner, tags along and gives Joshua ample opportunities to know the failings and weaknesses of being truly human. With a wit similar to Douglas Adams, Moore pulls no punches: a young Biff has the hots for Joshua's mom, Mary, which doesn't amuse Josh much: "Don't let anyone ever tell you that the Prince of Peace never struck anyone." And the origin of the Easter Bunny is explained as a drunken Jesus gushes his affection for bunnies, declaring, "Henceforth and from now on, I decree that whenever something bad happens to me, there shall be bunnies around."

HILARIOUS! Funniest book I ever read.

I loved this book. Took it on vacation, read a few lines out loud to my husband and our friends, they too laughed heartily.
This is one of the very few books that really does make you Laugh Out Loud.

Lamb is absolutely delicious

While I should not be admitting this since I am a pastor... this book is very, very humorous! If you are able to enjoy a wonderfully strange mixture of dark humor and slapstick comedy you will greatly enjoy this book. If you are of the religious bent (as I am) and are not afraid of being found out and burned at the stake for heresy when others discover you have this book, you will be impressed that most of Moore's theological and biblical references are accurate, although reworked in the most bizzare of fashions. If you are not of the religious bent, it doesn't matter because the book is fiction (I hope so) and wonderfully strange fiction at that.

An unusual & quirky look at the life of young Jesus.

Loads of people in my book chat had told me that I needed to read this book--that it was LOL funny. When I finally started it, I was having trouble getting into it...it just didn't grab me right away. However, once I got into it, there was no letting go--it of me or me of it!

For those like myself who were raised on parables from the Bible and Sunday School, you will have a familiarity with these characters that feels comfortable and homey. If, also like me, you haven't really done a lot of study of the Bible outside of your childhood learning, you may learn a lot, too, and find yourself questioning some of your Biblical teachings and/or wanting to read more of/about the Bible yourself.

Yes, it's an unusual & humorous fictional imagining of the story of Jesus' boyhood that will be thought sacriligeous by some, but I found it a very interesting and thought-provoking story. Within days of my finishing it, I had a long conversation with a close friend of mine, who is one of the most spirital and religiously well-read people I know. When I told him about the book and how the author had imagined Jesus spending his learning years, my friend said it sounded like the author had based its events on a lot of factual information.

It's a very entertaining and funny book. But, more importantly, it is a wonderful story of deep friendship and caring for humankind, of learning and teaching and of the ultimate sacrifice. I am sad the story is over, but it will always be in my heart.