555 Review: A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore

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(What is a 555 Review?)
Read: 7 August 2009


How I got it…
  • bought it, brand new
Why I read it…
  • I think I first became a fan of Christopher Moore by just reading the blurb for this book, without having even read any of his books yet.
  • For the record, though, this is the second Moore I've read. 
  • When I finally read one of his books, Bloodsucking Fiends, I wasn't disappointed.
What's the story?
  • Charlie Asher, described as a "beta-male," is all set to have a wonderful life with his beloved wife and their newly born daughter.
  • But, as luck (or fate) would have it, Charlie's wife dies soon after giving birth.
  • Strangely, Charlie sees a tall man in a green suit standing beside his wife on her deathbed; the man is surprised that Charlie can see him, because no one else apparently can.
  • Soon, Charlie finds people dying around him, while objects around them start glowing red; Charlie has become the newest Death Merchant--tasked with retrieving and keeping safe the souls of the dead by guarding the objects which are the souls' vessels.
  • Being the new Death Merchant, though, means that Charlie now inherits the enmity of three harpies and their master intent on gaining the soul vessels for their own nefarious purposes. 
What I liked about it…
  • Moore knows how to write an absurdly funny story, but still make us care about the characters.
  • As in Bloodsucking Fiends, the book has a great ensemble cast, all of which are brought to interesting life--the beta-male single father who has to deal with Death duties, the precocious and potentially powerful young daughter, the lesbian aunt, the teenage goth girl employee, the ex-cop employee who's into mail-order brides, and the hellhounds (literally).
  • Moore is funny, but he also puts pain in his story (e.g., the wife dies in completely unexpected circumstances), which is why the laughter has depth.
  • I thought it was an interesting idea that Moore tied down the soul, a totally abstract and spiritual concept, to something utterly mundane--ordinary, everyday things (e.g. a shoe, a vase, glasses).
  • Come to think of it, what was more interesting was the story's claim that some people walk around without souls; they're not dead or undead, just without souls until they inherit one from someone else.
What I didn’t like about it…
  • there was a plot development towards the end that I thought made the story come out a bit too neatly. 
  • the book's time frame runs the course of several years, hence the storytelling isn't as tight as I'd like it.


Rating:





Comments

Unknown said…
I'm a huge fan of Moore. This is one of his better ones definitely. You should try Lamb, that one had me practically peeing my pants!
January 12, 2010 at 2:23 AM
fantaghiro23 said…
Hi, Laza! Yes, Lamb is one of the books that I want to read this year. And Fool, and Practical Demonkeeping, and The Stupidest Angel, and...well, you get the idea.:) Thanks!
January 12, 2010 at 2:30 AM
Ash said…
This was the first book by Christopher Moore I ever read. I have Bloodsucking Fiends but have yet to read it (this year hopefully!). Glad you enjoyed it, it' a little fuzzy in my mind but I remember thinking the ending was a little too neat as well.
January 12, 2010 at 5:39 AM
Unknown said…
I'd be sure to get a copy of this one. The concept is just brilliant, simple yet it's good.

I wonder what object would be my vessel? My laptop? Or my eye glasses?

A good review!
January 12, 2010 at 6:46 AM
fantaghiro23 said…
@Ash - Thanks! Hope you get to read Bloodsucking Fiends soon, too.:)

@Jhay - well, the glasses would be easier. I'm betting the laptop might be too valuable a soul vessel.;P
January 12, 2010 at 10:55 PM
kubiyat said…
This was a great book :D I only just read it this month, and absolutely loved it. Am now a sworn Moore fan.

I'm really liking your posts. I've subscribed to your feed. You have great reviews :)
January 26, 2010 at 9:56 PM
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