Sounds blasphemous, but really very sweet. ( )

Kreiiiiiiisch!: Selten habe ich so gelacht! Der Inhalt ist ja schon des öfteren beschrieben worden und wird daher nicht von mir wiederholt. Ich fand das Buch saukomisch und habe mich Stellenweise rumgekugelt. Auch wenn es tatsächlich ein paar Längen hat, bleibt es für mich immer noch eines der lustigsten Bücher, die ich in den letzten Jahren gelesen habe. Biff ist mein Held!

Ich finde, dass man auch als gläubiger Mensch nicht alles so ernst sehen sollte. Auch nicht seine eigene Religion.

I read this when it first came out years ago and felt the need to reread. My first thought three chapter in is that Chris Moore is going to hell. No purgatory for you; it's a direct flight. however, through the irreverent jokes and profanity lies some interesting questions regarding faith and belief especially the question of those who have seen and heard and yet still don't believe.
The book is about Biff, Jesus' best bud who follows Jesus everywhere. Granted it's a complete work of fantasy, but there are moments Moore nails the essence of Christ's teaching.
Be warned if you do decide to read - if the Life of Brian or The Last Temptation offended you then your head will explode with this one so avoice it. however, if you a sense of humorr and can look for the Holy in just about anything take the plunge. ( )

Just read this book. Insanely funny and brilliantly written. ( )

This is the first book I've read by this author. I'd heard a lot of great things about it and thought it would be an easy and entertaining read for the plane ride. It was easy and it was fun.

I enjoyed the first half of book best of all, as these were things that were no where present in the Bible. It might be fun to speculate what it was like for Jesus growing up. When it got to the portion of the story that was in the Gospels, I didn't like the liberties taken with it or the re-characterization of the apostles, some given very unflattering traits. As for the main characters of Biff and Joshua, they never seemed to mature beyond the teenage years in their thoughts and actions. They remained quite juvenile.

I also found the present day subplot to be tedious and unnecessary. The narration did not need it, and it detracted from the story.

I did think it was ok. I was not grossly offended, nor has this book caused me to question my faith or anything of the sort. It was entertaining, especially the first half, but I just wish some of it had been a little different. ( )

I originally heard about "Lamb" about 5 years ago but never got around to reading until a friend read it and really enjoyed the unique approach to the story of Christ. Christopher Moore took many liberties with his portrayal of Christ while filling readers in with a very detailed account of the years that are missing from any account. The story is told from the perspective of Levi or "Biff", Christ's best friend from childhood, who is actually brought back to life by an angel in modern-day to tell his side of the story. Moore explains everything from the miracles to how the Holy Ghost came into being. This novel will definitely not be my last Moore book...I already have "Fool" on my to-read stack. ( )

Funny, light-hearted, made me laugh out loud. Bit of a downer ending (obviously). ( )

The title says it all. Levi who is called Biff is raised from the dead 2000 years later to share his account of the life of Jesus (who here is called Joshua), most notably the thirty years missing from the other Gospels. During this time Josh and Biff traveled to the East for 17 years, where they shared many adventures, and when they returned he began his ministry.This book is pretty funny. Biff is a bit of an ass but a total joy to read. He claims to have invented all kinds of things, from sarcasm to pencils, and his witty but straightforward storytelling is a delight. But however irreverent this book may be, it remains true to the person of Jesus - his kindness, his generosity, his honesty. It also does not dance around his divinity: he was the Son of God and the Messiah, but not quite in the way the Jews expected. Biff's devotion to him is understandable both as a faithful disciple and a lifelong friend.For most of this book I thought I would be beginning my review with a hearty recommendation against it for any serious Christian. While I still don't know if a Biblical literalist would enjoy this story, I think any Christian (or anyone else) with a fair sense of humor would get a big kick out of it. Moore's epilogue, in which he describes his sources and sheds light on what could have been and what was sheer fiction, sums it up very well: "This story was not meant to challenge anyone's faith; if one's faith can be shaken by stories in a humorous novel, one may have a bit more praying to do." ( )

Like most people who are given this book, I didn't know what to expect; and then I was relieved, surprised, and impressed by the ability of Christopher Moore to combine humour and compassion in a story about the "best friend of Jesus Christ" as they grew up together. This is a great book for atheists, agnostics, and Christians or none of the above. ( )

There may be many people who would be offended by the suggestion, as made in this book that Jesus Christ had a boyhood pale by the name of Biff, whose story was never told. They may also be offended by the suggestion that Jesus studied the rituals of many other religions before accepting himself as the son of God. But if you can get past all of that, this book is absolutely hilarious. One of Moore's best works! ( )

I loved this book, although I couldn't help feeling that it was a bit sacrilegious to enjoy it so much!
I hadn't heard anything about "Lamb," and hadn't read anything else by Christopher Moore, before buying it. I picked it up on a whim - really, how can anyone who's ever attended Sunday School resist a book subtitled "The Gospel according to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal?"
This book purports to fill in the blanks in Christ's life between his young childhood and his adult ministry, as reported by his friend Biff. Moore manages to portray his main character as truly human, without (in my opinion) stepping over the line into heresy. Heck, I've read much of the New Testament, I attend church on a regular basis, I even taught Sunday School years ago. I still think the whole concept of this book is funny, and the execution - well, I've recommended it numerous times and plan to re-read it myself when my husband's finished with it.

I'd also highly recommend Moore's book "A Dirty Job," about a man who accidentally becomes Death. ( )

Fantastic. I fully expected this book to be completely sacrilegious and mocking of anyone who has belief. However, Moore managed to pull of his humor without belittling anyone (as long as you have a sense of humor). Brilliantly imagined. It was really funny to imagine those around Joshua as normal people with normal sins and problems. Very enjoyable, even more so if you can get the biblical references.... ( )

Have you ever wondered what happened to Jesus in the years between 3 and 33? Here's your chance to find out! Straight from his best friends hand you will read what went on in those years that the bible omits. How is this possible? Well, an angel named Raziel goes and resurrects Biff after 2,000 years of being dead an tells him he is to write what happened as far as he knows. So read this and you'll learn the origins of words, you'll learn that Jesus was actually called Joshua and Jesus is just a Greek Translation of the Hebrew Yeshua(Joshua). This shows the struggle Josh had to endure while putting up with his best friend Biff along with some other dimwits, and how he went on tho become the messiah he always knew he was.

I love Christopher Moore. His books have a clever humor in them and I just love it. This book was great because he did a lot of research and so it really rings true. Biff and Joseph end up seeking out the three wise men in this, because Joshua feels each of them have something to teach him. So they leave home one day and over the next seventeen years, they learn all they can(not with out a bit of complaining, if not mostly from Biff). This book shows Josh and Biff as just two normal guys one who just happens to be the savior, but they act like normal people (save for a few miracles here and there) and they still have feelings and yell a lot. This book is very fun and realistic and I think a lot of people can enjoy it. It's a good book for those on the 16+ side of the YA spectrum, even though it's an adult book I really do think older teens and up will love it. ( )

Lamb is a retelling of the Christ story, but with a twist: The story covers those 30 years between when Jesus (or Joshua) is born and when he begins his ministry, which are conveniently left out of the New Testament. This “gospel” is narrated by Levi, who is called Biff and has been Joshua’s best friend since they were little boys.

Biff is brought back to life in the present day by an angel specifically so he can tell his side of the story and flesh out the existing gospels, and the brief sections describing his time stuck in a hotel room with the rather moronic angel are some of the funniest parts of the book. Indeed, Biff comes off as a much more interesting character than Joshua, with his inventions and theories that pre-date by hundreds of years their modern equivalents, and his tendency to hit back rather than turn the other cheek.

As boys, the two set out on a quest to find the three wise men who attended Joshua’s birth. The first wise man is an African practicing Confucianism in a fortress carved out of a mountainside in Afghanistan, and the boys spend their teenage years with him and his harem of Chinese attendants. (So began the tradition of eating Chinese food on Jesus’ birthday.) Then they journey to Nepal to spend several more years learning about Buddhism in an austere monastery with the second wise man.

By the time they get to India to live on a beach with the third wise man, a Hindu ascetic, we have explored four major world religions (including Judaism) and witnessed the birth of a fifth, Christianity. But it is about here when the story starts to feel rushed, and the book loses its momentum somewhat when Joshua returns to Israel to begin his ministry (you know what happens after that). Despite these issues, Lamb is a thoroughly entertaining and sometimes thought-provoking read, a new twist on a very old tale. ( )

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal is the funny, quirky story of the lost years of Jesus' (here Josh) young adulthood. According to Biff, the Prince of Peace had no compunction about smacking Biff on occasion (usually well-deserved). The two of them travel to visit the three Magi in Afghanistan, China and India where Josh learns various kinds of magic, meditation and kung fu! I was actually surprised that any poking fun at Christianity seemed largely good-natured rather than mean-spirited (that was my impression, but a devout Christian might feel otherwise).

I was far more entertained by this than I expected to be. The scenes with Raziel the archangel (especially the ones involving Soap Opera Digest) had me giggling the whole time. I really enjoyed the parts of Josh and Biff's childhood running around Nazareth though once they started going off on their travels, I was less impressed.

More at http://caramellunacy.blogspot.com/200... blog. ( )

If I could've given this book more stars, I would have. It kept me laughing from beginning to end. Check out my blog for a more detailed review at seolmara.blogspot.com ( )

A funny look at something everyone takes too seriously. ( )

It’s my personal opinion that this book is best enjoyed by those like me who have a good background in Christianity but are no longer considered ‘believers’. I have two reasons for this:

1. You cannot fully appreciate the humor of this story if you don’t know a bit about Jewish culture, the life of Jesus, or if you generally don’t know a Jew from a Gentile. You’ll probably still think the book is funny, of course, but the best jokes will fly right over your head.

2. If you’re a Christian, you’ll probably be very offended by this book. Even for me, it got a little too vulgar at times.

That being said, I loved this book. I’m very glad I read it in the privacy of my own home, else I would have embarrassed myself by bursting out in laughter about 8 times a page. Moore is twisted and isane, but absolutely hilarious. ( )

Hysterically funny, yet oddly reverent, take on the lost years of Jesus, called Joshua in this book. Not for folks who take their religion too seriously. A close family member, who is an Episcopal minister, loves it. ( )

wickedly funny ( )

Freaking hysterical! And quite the mind opener for christians/ non-christians alike. Moore takes on The Christ as the selfless hero many believe him to be, and throws in the heathan best friend. Reminds me of my best friend. I am the believer, he, the agnostic. Biff is like the rest of us: curious, sarcastic, common sensical, and a great friend. I loved this book from the moment I opened it. I completely recommend this book for those whose minds are open to God's humor, and to those that need to realize that they don't need to stay ignorant to recieve the love of Christ. ( )

Very contemporary and American in tone and treatment, this excellent book relates the story of Christ's whole life as told by his best friend "Levi who is called Biff"!

It is hiliariously funny for much of the way, but the last two parts become much more thought provoking and sombre in tone. As the crucifixion draws near, there is the same feeling of events rushing headlong towards a preordained conclusion - despite Biff's best efforts to save his friend - that one gets from reading the gospels.

Strongly recommended. ( )

In The Last Temptation of Christ, Judas finds himself in a terrible situation. Jesus has told him that it will be necessary for Judas to betray him in order for mankind to be saved. As Christ acknowledges, God gave Judas the really hard task, that of betraying someone who he holds very dear. By comparison, all Christ has to do is die.

Though it's never acknowledged, the narrator of this book finds himself in a similar bind. As the lifelong friend of Joshua (aka Yeshua aka Jesus) and under the dictum that 'dying is easy; comedy is hard,' he has been left the harder path. All Joshua has to do is die. Biff has to make it funny.

Biff has been brought back to life by God so that he can write the definitive gospel since he was there from nearly the beginning. In order to ensure his cooperation, God has an angel chaperon Biff. Though it makes up very little of the story, the scenes of Biff and the angel in the hotel room are some of the funniest of the novel, especially in the angel's befuddlement at modern life.

Biff first met Joshua when they were both kids, and Joshua was bringing lizards back to life for the benefit of his younger, lizard-killing brother. From there they strike a lifelong friendship not impeded by the fact that Joshua knows he will one day be the Messiah. Biff is your quintessential underachiever, and his philosophical outlook, which has been derived from the teachings of Cynic, makes for a nice foil for Joshua's earnest desire to fulfill the task that has been set before him. When Joshua decides he will never learn how to be the Messiah if he does not seek out his origins, it is Biff who accompanies him on his travels.

They go in search of the Three Wise Men in order to learn the truth of Joshua's birthright. In their travels, this Hebraic Hope and Crosby encounter bandits, Taoist magicians, herbalist concubines, a hungry demon, a Buddhist monastery, the Tibetan Man of the Mountains, martial artists, a Kali ceremony, Tantra, untouchables and the Kama Sutra. After their travels, Joshua comes to learn what he has to do to become the Messiah, so they return to Palestine for the more familiar part of the story.

Christopher Moore here has a fine line to tread in attempting to make the story of Christ funny and believable yet keeping Joshua as the earnest Messiah figure we can all look up to. (No Last Temptation-style dream sequences of Christ experiencing the temptation of giving it all up here.) Having the story told by the underachieving and very sardonic Biff is a great way to thread that needle.

Moore makes the most of the sections where the gospels are silent, which give him a lot to work with. It yields great comic touches, like the time Joshua, Biff and Maggie decide to 'circumcise' a well-endowed Greek statue, or the origins of the Jewish custom of Chinese food on Christmas. Though not every joke works, the passages overall maintain a high level of humor without robbing Joshua's quest of meaning.

The humor does begin to lost its impact near the end. Once Joshua and Biff return to Nazareth and Christ begins his ministry, Moore has less leeway with which to play. In the context of Joshua's ministry and the inevitable path to Golgotha have begun, the humor becomes more forced. As Joshua himself once said (though not in this book), a man cannot serve to masters, for he will honor one and neglect the other. The book has to choose between the earnestness of Joshua and the cynicism of Biff. It opts for the former, for which one cannot entirely blame Moore. To have gone with the latter would have been to write a different, much edgier book. That Moore manages to make both elements work for as long as he does is testament to his talent and his great sense of humor. ( )

This is the story of Christ's early life, told by his best friend, Biff. It's a very funny book, but may offend people who don't like satire to extend to the gospels.

Most of the story takes place in the years before the traditional gospels start -- in Christ's early life as a child and young adult. He and Biff travel to visit with and learn from the three wise men before returning home so Christ can fulfill his destiny.

Lamb is also a book about friendship, and how real friends tolerate each others' differences. Biff is a great character, and an even greater friend. ( )

Two things about this book, before I get into it. First, it is one of the few books that has made me laugh out loud. Second, people who saw me reading it really appreciated that I, a former pastor, was reading it.

Lamb is the story of the Apostle who did not make it into the Bible, Jesus' childhood friend Biff. The plot loosely follows the gospel accounts of Jesus' life, with some major addditions.

Moore has done his research. His seting of 1st century Palestine is pretty accurate. He knows his stuff.

I did not think the book was blasphemous, sacreligious or insulting to Jesus, Christiany, Judaism or Buddhism. (Kali worship comes in for pretty rough treatment though. It is clearly not meant to be a devotional account of Jesus' life. It is fiction.

Moore picks up on the legend that Jesus studied in the East before he started his public ministry in Galilee. Moore is clear that this is a good plot device, and he has no idea what Jesus did during those lost years. And it indeed does make a good story.

The more you know the Bible, and especially the field of NT studies, the more you can appreciate this book, but you don't need to have that background to fully enjoy it. Moore is an excellent comic writer, but when the plot turns serious, so does he...at least a little. (Apart from Monty Python, it is hard to write about a crucifiction for laughs.) I want to read the book again and underline all the great one liners Moore throws out. ( )