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Title: Practical Demonkeeping
Author: Christopher Moore
Series: Pine Cove #1
Genre: Humor, Paranormal, Fantasy
Audience: Adult
Format: E-book
GoodReads Synopsis:
In Christopher Moore’s ingenious debut novel, we meet one of the most memorably mismatched pairs in the annals of literature. The good-looking one is one-hundred-year-old ex-seminarian and “roads” scholar Travis O’Hearn. The green one is Catch, a demon with a nasty habit of eating most of the people he meets. Behind the fake Tudor façade of Pine Cove, California, Catch sees a four-star buffet. Travis, on the other hand, thinks he sees a way of ridding himself of his toothy traveling companion. The winos, neo-pagans, and deadbeat Lotharios of Pine Cove, meanwhile, have other ideas. And none of them is quite prepared when all hell breaks loose.
My Review:
I finished this back on July 27 but I’ve already forgotten everything about it. Ugh. But that’s typically what happens with my three-star books so at least I know I rated it accurately.
Christopher Moore’s brand of humor is not for everyone. I think it varies wildly from book to book so it’s not even reliably to my taste. This book, his first, was funny enough but in a very over-the-top, nonsensical way. If he thought of a funny twist or character trait, it got thrown in the pot for this one.
While there were definitely funny moments as wildly disparate characters got thrown together–a witch and a former seminary student? The same former seminary student and a demon? A genie and the owner of the local bait shop? Somehow it does mostly work but then it just got too crazy at the end. I can’t say that I really followed the resolution at all.
I kind of wish I had read this before I read The Stupidest Angel (#3 in the loose series) but I did thoroughly enjoy that one.
Ardent fans of Christopher Moore will enjoy this more than I did. I much prefer (and highly recommend) his A Love Story and Grim Reaper series instead.
Similar Books:
If you liked Practical Demonkeeping, you might also like my reviews of
- A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore
- Soulless by Gail Carriger
- Random Magic by Sasha Soren
Purchase:
Buy Practical Demonkeeping from Malaprop’s Bookstore in Asheville, NC.
I have an affiliate relationship with Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe in beautiful Asheville, NC. I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if you purchase merchandise through links on my site.
5 Comments
I haven’t read any of Moore’s work yet. I keep thinking that I’ll pick one up, and then I read reviews saying they’re often over the top with their humor. Most of the time I end up thinking I won’t like them. Have you read much Terry Pratchett? How would you say they compare?
I haven’t read all that much Terry Pratchett, but I think he and Moore have a similar over the top sense of humor. But Pratchett’s is set in Discworld, where there aren’t really any rules, and Moore’s is set in the “real” world, which makes it seem a little crazier. I did truly love the Love Story books and the Grim Reaper books. They’re all set in San Francisco and I believe you’re in the Bay area? I like reading books set in locations I’m familiar with. I also liked Fluke, which was really crazy, but it must have been the right book at the right time. Oh, and also Lamb, the Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Friend. And The Stupidest Angel. He’s had more hits than misses for me but the misses are sometimes really, really far off the mark.
I am in the Bay Area, and I also like reading books set in places I’m familiar with. If I pick up any Moore, I’ll probably try the Grim Reaper ones. I do (usually) enjoy funny stories about Death.
I find Moore a bit hit and miss personally. Thanks for sharing your thoughts
I agree. I really love his books that are hits for me but I’m usually a bit lost in the books that are misses.