Shakespeare for Squirrels A Novel

Moore’s gonna Moore. Pretty fun!

Rounded up for being a complete diversion from the news and politics of the day. This bawdy novel based on A Midsummer Night’s Dream (AMND) is at times hilarious and other times sophomoric. For example, a person from the village who is turned into a beast of burden is called “the ass man” for the rest of the book. Which becomes tiresome rather quickly. In the author’s notes at the end of the audiobook, he talks about writing in a treehouse surrounded by squirrels that he fed. No wonder they figure prominently in this novel. (If you are familiar with John Oliver’s hamster obsession, Christopher Moore has a thing for squirrels and imagines what they get up to at night!) Moore says he was “asked” (read: “forced”) by his publisher to put the AMND idea of this book aside and to write something different. That became Noir, which I read but didn’t much enjoy. This book, however, is a full return to foolishness and humor, both highbrow and low. Escapism and a palate cleanser between the weightier subjects in which I am attempting to improve my education and understanding. There’s a place for (almost) everything.

I received this as an ARC last year from the publisher. I was immediately intrigued. A Midsummer Night's Dream is my favorite Shakespeare play, like many others. The blurb also mentioned Dashiell Hammett and I was sold! I loved it so much. It was raunchy and vulgar and funny. It's a face paced read that is a creative take on the play. The best part is the interweaving mystery a la Dashiell Hammett. It kept me engaged and enthralled. It renewed my love for the Shakespeare play, so much so that I cannot wait to re-read MSND. I understand this book is not for everyone and I wouldn't recommend it to everyone; however I have friends that would love this book (and you know who you are!).

Yes, there are squirrels in this novel by Christopher Moore. This is the third novel in the Fool series, which follows Pocket, a fool, his monkey and Drool the fool in training. You don’t need to have read the other books in this series. With that, there is a very dry, very crass, wit throughout this entire novel. If you don’t like either of those, do not read this. If you do, be prepared for it in Old English style writing that you will either have to accept as is or enjoy bisecting it (I know I did). Christopher Moore is a master of what he does, and this book was a lot of fun to read. This is not for kids though, alright? Overall, a fantastic read, and it was hilarious to read as Pocket stumbled his way through the ‘real life’ version of a Midsummer’s Night Dream. The, hands down, silliest of Shakespeare’s plays. I did receive a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I always enjoy reading a Christopher Moore book and this was not an exception.