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Linda M. (Three Oaks, MI)
(02/29/12)
Sacre Blue
I have read all of Christopher Moore’s books. They are generally irreverent, full of wit and fairly absurd in the best of ways. That being said, Sacre Blue didn’t too much deviate from the norm. For me, it started very slow, to the point that I had to force my way through the first fifty or so pages. It eventually picked up the pace; however, the outlandish take on the artist and his inspiration through the ages didn’t inspire me as much as Moore’s previous works. There were elements I really enjoyed such as the way he incorporated actual historical painters and their works into the storyline bringing art to life blending truth with fiction. Toulouse-Lautrec, in a supporting role and the 1800’s equivalent of a party animal, was my favorite character. He did make me laugh. It was the mystery that drew me in this book rather than the comedy and it wasn’t enough to keep me from being fully entertained.
Lisa E. (Cincinnati, OH)
(02/28/12)
Typical Chris Moore, but Confusing
I love Chris Moore--A Dirty Job is one of my favorite books. This story creates a wonderful character from the painter Toulouse-Lautrec and presents a fun and engaging depiction of the French Impressionists. The central mystery of the novel, however, the source of the sacre bleu paint of the title, is confusing and not entirely compelling. Still, a fun page-turner.
Ann D. (CLEARFIELD, PA)
(02/24/12)
Sacre Blah
Christopher Moore weaves an irreverant tale of mystery surrounding the Paris art scene of the late 1800's. In Sacre Bleu, Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, when sober and upright, joins his young, aspiring artist/bread-baker friend, Lucien Lessard, in an attempt to discover the truth about The Colorman and his body-hopping muse, Julliette.
The story is riddled with attempts at humor. I actually laughed out loud a few times, but alas, too few. Too often, they produced only groans.
Moore includes many famous artists and samples their work as part of the story line. That part worked well.
I was not familiar with Chrisopher Moore's previous novels. Knowing what I know now, I would not have chosen this book to review.
Aleta S. (Bainbridge Island, WA)
(02/24/12)
Feeling Bleu?
Murder, passion, mystery, humor, history, beauty, and magic: something for everyone, but too much for some. Profanity, addiction, fornication and other debaucheries abound (but so do reproductions of great masterpieces). The outrageous bits have the benefit of good context, aren’t gratuitous and are usually funny, if not hilarious.
Sacré Bleu was my very ADULT forklift out of a funk. Although reality meets impossibility along the way, turning the last page leaves little doubt that wanting more Christopher Moore is no fiction.
Rosemary K. (Saginaw, MI)
(02/22/12)
Sacre Bleu indeed!
Christopher Moore's Sacre Bleu is one of the most dreadful books I've ever struggled through. I can appreciate the author's premise--barely, but the way the plot unfolded was tedious. None of the characters were appealing. I suppose the author was shooting for humor, but he certainly struck me with his decided lack of depth.
Kristen K. (Atlanta, Georgia)
(02/21/12)
A Fun Engaging Novel
Sacre Bleu by Christopher Moore was very enjoyable to read. I have some familiarity with the artists who populate this fictional tale and I think he did a great job of bringing them to life as characters in this amusing mystery. The setting is Paris in the late 1800s during the heyday of the Impressionists. Readers will recognize many of the paintings and locations that figure in the story and the book has black and white illustrations to help. I found the mystery of the “Colorman” the weakest part of the book but Moore ties it all together and it did keep me entertained.
Les G. (Fort Collins, CO)
(02/19/12)
A fun comedy/mystery in 1800's Paris
Sacre Bleu by Christopher Moore is a wonderful comedy/mystery set in the artist's community of late 1800's Paris. Lucien Lessard and Henri Toulouse-Lautrec work to uncover the mysterious Colorman, a twisted little man who is inexplicably proud of a certain shade of blue he sells, and of his ability to frighten housekeepers with his penis. This is an entertaining book containing equal amounts of humor and mystery mixed together with a blend of some wonderful personalities. The dialog is often quite funny, and the mystery is blended with hints of a supernatural danger. All together this makes for a very fun tour of world of Paris' artists.
Daniel A. (Naugatuck, CT)
(02/18/12)
Sacre Bleu
This is my first time reading this author, and I must say he is quite a storyteller. I know very little about French art masterpieces and their artists in the 1890's, or for that matter, art in general; it doesn't matter because I still enjoyed reading this book, AND I gained some knowledge about art in doing so.
This book is also laugh out loud funny. I couldn't help myself whenever "le Professeur" appears in the story; the character makes me laugh out loud, to much embarrassment when I read this book in public.
The bottom line is you must read this book. It is a very good read.