Fool

By: Christopher Moore

Narrated by: Euan Morton

Length: 8 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's Summary

Christopher Moore, much beloved scrivener and peerless literary jester, now takes on no less than the legendary Bard himself (with the utmost humility and respect) with a twisted and insanely funny tale of a moronic monarch and his deceitful daughters, as seen through the eyes of a man wearing a codpiece and bells on his head.

Pocket has been Lear's cherished fool for years. So naturally Pocket is at his brainless, elderly liege's side when Lear demands that his kids swear to him their undying love and devotion. Of course Goneril and Regan are only too happy to brownnose Dad. But Cordelia believes that her father's request is kind of...well...stupid, and her blunt honesty ends up costing her her rightful share of the kingdom and earns her a banishment to boot.

Well now the bangers and mash have really hit the fan. And the only person who can possibly make things right . . . is Pocket. Now he's going to have do some very fancy maneuvering: cast some spells, start a war or two - the usual stuff - to get Cordelia back into Daddy Lear's good graces, to derail the fiendish power plays of Cordelia's twisted sisters, and to shag every lusciously shaggable wench who's amenable to shagging along the way.

Pocket may be a fool...but he's definitely not an idiot.

©2009 Christopher Moore (P)2009 HarperCollins Publishers

Mr Moore does it again.

This is story of King Lear through the eyes of his fool (court jester) named Pocket. Like his other stories his characters are witty, unique and at times crass. I will warn you that there is colorful language throughout the story. Not the normal language you would hear on cable TV, but new colorful language that only CM could create. There are lots of sexual references as well. If you are not completely opposed to these things you will enjoy this book. If you enjoy witches and potions, knights and wenches, kings that go crazy, dysfunctional families and the occasional shagging then this is the book for you. The narrator does a good job and adds to the story with his appropriate accent. It is a great listen and will have you laughing out loud.

35 of 36 people found this review helpful

LMAO times 10 !!

I so thoroughly enjoyed this masterpiece that I've broken my policy of only one listen per book - I've listened to it twice and I'm predicting I'll be doing it again at some point. You know that feeling when you just want to finally get a good book that doesn't take itself too seriously but is extremely well written? One that will lighten your step and make you look forward to your drive to work? Well, this is that book. The bonus for me was learning about King Lear and his court without having read the Shakespeare original. Yes, it contains incredibly filthy language - but it's the wonderfully wicked kind and an English accent always makes dirty words sound less dirty right? The narration is to die for - simply perfect - the characters are loveable and absurd - I couldn't ask for more (pun avoided - you're welcome.)

33 of 34 people found this review helpful

I Learned Some New Vocabulary!

If you don't like bad language, avoid this book. If you don't like hilariously, irreverently, ridiculously convoluted sexual situations, don't read this book.

If you're ok with some major naughtyness and are willing to be transported to a fictional time and place ever-so-loosely based on a number of Shakespearean works, jump in and be prepared to laugh as I did. I got an extra added bonus from this fine piece of "literature" - I now know a few new dog-snoggingly wicked phrases to use in impolite society!

27 of 28 people found this review helpful

Laugh-out-loud Funny!

I can't remember the last time I've enjoyed a story so much. It's is funny, imaginative and outrageous. Every character is rounded out with a minimum of background work, with the exception of Fool. They just walk in and sit right down - often on your lap. Christopher Moore's storytelling is intimate and familiar with nary a smirk to be heard. Euan Morton's reading makes even the most bawdy language seem as proper as an afternoon tea and brings all the characters to technicolor life. If I have any complaint, it's that it is too short. I could listen to this hilarious tale for days on end. Shagalicious!

13 of 13 people found this review helpful

Great Author great Narrator

Never could get into 'the Bards' work, I can now. Truly hope that Chris Moore 'translates all the Shakespearian greats AND get Euan Morton to narrate. The characters were so vivid, the accents top notch. You can really see the play unfolding. In a word BRILLIANT

10 of 10 people found this review helpful

Taking it one step farther

I've been hooked on this author since I started chanting "First we feast then Ikea" after I listened to the stupidest angel...Moore takes his irreverence one step further in this outing. Moore loves words and wordplay and it shows - yes it can be quite vulgar and the F word probably is overused (if I was English I might be a bit offended at the overuse of shag as well). Of course this isn't family reading but a very entertaining twist on the Lear story for (very) mature audiences. Made my commute all the more enjoyable.

9 of 9 people found this review helpful

Bloody Amazing!!!!

When I received the email from Audible announcing this was on audio I jumped for joy. I started looking last week at the library to see if had been ordered there yet. Thank you audible for making this a special, I am broke and did not want to miss this book. After listening I would have paid full price, it is typical Christopher Moore. Funny, intelligent, brilliant. Everything you expect from him and more. It makes me want to actually read King Lear, but I won't so as not to ruin Moore's version. I just finished it this morning and plan to start it again to catch things I might have missed the first time.
There are quite a few characters to keep track of but the reader does an excellent job with the voices so you can tell them apart. I love Drool, and Pocket. Do not pass this one by, it might just become my favorite!

23 of 25 people found this review helpful

The Cream Always Rises!

This is the funniest book I have read to date. When I got to the end of the book, I flipped back to the front and started again!

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

One of my favorites ever

In preparing to write this review I realized that I've listened to over 170 audible titles. This one stands out for both the narrator and the quality of the writing. The main character is "Pocket" and his jests and insults are extraordinarily creative and laugh out loud funny. Irreverent does not begin to describe his language and behavior.

13 of 14 people found this review helpful

Great Listen - Need more Morton!

I listen to audiobooks hours every day, and this is one of my absolute favorites. The reading/performance by Euan Morton is absolutely phenomenal. He was very good as Paul in the Dune books, I think it was 2 books, but on those I think he was limited to just the one character. He is superb with this book! We need more Morton!

6 of 6 people found this review helpful