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A Dirty Job
A Dirty Job
Author: Christopher Moore
Charlie Asher is a pretty normal guy, the kind of fellow who makes his way through life by being careful and constant. And Charlie's been lucky. He's married to a bright and pretty woman who actually loves him for his normalcy, and who is about to have their first child. — Yes, Charlie's doing okay. That is, until the day his daughter, Sophie, is...  more »
ISBN: 64526
Publication Date: 3/21/2006
Pages: 387
Rating:
  • Currently 4.4/5 Stars.
 32

4.4 stars, based on 32 ratings
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio CD
Members Wishing: 1
Reviews: Member | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

Rebemdee avatar reviewed A Dirty Job on
Helpful Score: 10
So I was having the worst day. The movers screwed up on my contract and called to check in, and also let me know they were coming a day after the contracted move date. It was a paperwork snafu, certainly not the fault of the guy calling me, but rather the guy in the office, but nothing could be fixed over the holiday weekend and they wont be coming the day we planned. Of course this sets off tension at home so husband and I are not happy. I needed to escape. Off I go to the mall, crowded and miserable on a holiday weekend. I duck into Borders and there is "A Dirty Job." Just what I need. I'd pay twice the retail for the relief it brought to my stressed mind. Enjoyable story, funny and looney as only Moore can do. I finished it in bed and turned off the lamp and imagine my surprise to see the cover glow! It's a glow in the dark cover! How cool! Fun book and saved a really miserable day from becoming a miserable week.
reviewed A Dirty Job on + 15 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
Irrverent and off-kilter. The book combines humor, morbid curiosity and a smidgen of Tibetian death philosophy. It was entertaining for most of the book, but got addictively interesting at the end. I stayed up til 2am to finish rather than leave it for the next night. You can see the final punchline from a mile away, but it's still a fun ride.
reviewed A Dirty Job on + 30 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
Christopher Moore has written the ultimate guide to death, dying and the sewer system of San Francisco. Intrigued? You should be. If you've read Moore's books, you know you are in for a laugh-out-loud ride. If you haven't been introduced to him, fasten your seatbelts....
MarciNYC avatar reviewed A Dirty Job on
Helpful Score: 4
Moore's back at the top of his game with this book. I *loved* "Lamb" but the follow-up, "Fluke" left me lukewarm. Well, the mind of Christopher Moore is alive and 'well' again -- HOW DOES HE THINK UP THIS STUFF? From the time that Charlie learns he's "Death" to the final page, I found myself laughing at some of the zaniest characters and events ever put on a page. Loved the hellhounds and the squirrel people -- once you read it, you'll understand.
reviewed A Dirty Job on + 155 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Christopher Moore is one of the best modern writers -- his Bloodsucking Fiends is possibly the best vampire treatment in print. That would be enough, but Moore also has Fluke (featuring field biologists!), The Stupidest Angel (which should be read as consistently as A Christmas Carol in the appropriate season), and others equally creative and quirky. In A Dirty Job, he takes on Death and dying. It's smart and funny and everyone should read it. Buy lots of copies and give 'em as gifts!
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reviewed A Dirty Job on + 2 more book reviews
Everything that was good about Lamb, irreverence married to reverence, is in greater abundance in this one. I think it's his best book.
pegva avatar reviewed A Dirty Job on + 29 more book reviews
This is the most enjoyable book I've read in a very long time. It's inspired me to read ALL of Chris Moore's books.

This is Hilarious!
perryfran avatar reviewed A Dirty Job on + 1173 more book reviews
I've read several other books by Moore including LAMB, FLUKE, and ISLAND OF THE SEQUINED LOVE NUN. I found all of these to be very amusing and over-the-top with some very unusual workings of Moore's mind. A DIRTY JOB was even more out there than the other novels I have read! The protagonist, Charlie Asher, is leading a pretty normal life, happily married and running a second-hand store in San Francisco. Then when his wife has a baby, she unexpectedly dies and Asher becomes the newest dealer of lost souls or a "Death Merchant." He must find the souls of the recently deceased which somehow get captured in their favorite inanimate objects and pass these souls on to others who for some reason don't already have one. When his wife dies, another death merchant is present named Minty Fresh who also sends Asher a book detailing (very sparsely) his new duties. His newborn daughter, Sophie, also is empowered and is able to kill animals by looking at them and saying "kitty." As the years go by, Asher finds that the underworld is trying to take over and he is attacked several times by what he calls "sewer sirens" who live underground and are also after lost souls. And then there is Lily, the goth girl who works in Asher's shop, and finally Audrey who is also trying to save souls by putting them in small reconstructed "squirrel people" made from animal skeletons and body parts. So will Asher be able to save the world and eliminate the forces of evil?

Like I said this was way over-the-top and a very "squirrelly" tale of the darker side of dying. Of course, it was filled with Moore's humor and a lot of lol moments. But for me, this one was just a little too much. Moore wrote a sequel to this called SECONDHAND SOULS that I will probably pass on. However, I'm sure I'll be reading some of his others that I have missed. I did find interesting that in the acknowledgements to the book, Moore says that the "squirrel people" were inspired by the artwork of Monique Motil who actually uses animal skeletons and parts to make works of art dressed in high fashion.
zakoka avatar reviewed A Dirty Job on + 18 more book reviews
This was my first introduction to the humor that is Christopher Moore! I could not wait for more! This was honestly one of the funniest books I have ever had the pleasure of reading. I laughed the entire way through the book! I felt bad for the main character in some ways, but he was such a hoot readig about, that I could not wait for more. I am now hooked to Christopher Moore and his books!
reviewed A Dirty Job on + 57 more book reviews
So, this author is a loon. I am always half afraid to crack open one of his books, for fear it will turn my stomach. It's like watching your child pick his nose, while at the same time laughing hysterically because he's doing it in a really funny way. There is nothing comfortable about reading any of Moore's books. That being said, this was the best I've read so far. It had a great plot, was very entertaining and really not too gross overall. I loved the beginning, the middle, AND the ending (so many times the best you can hope for is two out of three).
mercenarygrip avatar reviewed A Dirty Job on
My favorite Christopher Moore book. This was the first Moore title I ever read, which sent me on a mission to read all of his titles.

I first read this book in 2010. There are very few stories that make me literally laugh out loud, but this is one of them. This book had me laughing so hard, I had to put it down because I couldn't read through the tears coming out of my eyes.

If you like Christopher Moore, you love this. If you aren't familiar with his work, READ THIS BOOK. There is no better introduction to his stories.
reviewed A Dirty Job on + 6 more book reviews
this time author Moore deals with death and while on the one hand he does not disappoint in the funny/strange category, there are parts that are serious. Great plot -kept me guessing.
valeriemarie83 avatar reviewed A Dirty Job on + 26 more book reviews
I had to read this after reading all the reviews on how funny this author is. The book completely lived up to those reviews! I literally laughed out loud at some parts....I love little Sophie and her puppies. "Delightfully warped and funny", as Carl Hiaasen commented. Looking forward to reading other books from this author!


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