[With this post we welcome a new contributor to Atlanta's A-list, Yankee Rose. We look forward to hearing more from her.]
Fool! What Fool? King Lear’s Fool. Not up on your Shakespeare? No worries. We do read more than children’s books here at Atlanta’s A-List, though it has been years since we laid eyes on King Lear. Christopher Moore brings it all back for us…sort of.
While Moore’s quasi-middle english is somewhat annoying, his hilarious footnotes and creative twists on this classic make for a worthwhile read. Fool steps beyond the other Moore novels we have read (which is about as many as we could get our hands on) by using Pocket’s life story and connections within the castle walls to shed a different light on Shakespeare’s mythological kingdom. King Lear was a classic tale of betrayal, justice, and the ultimate checkmate of a royal family. Fool gets the same story across, with Pocket divulging the inner workings of the castle, the pre-roman British class system, and intimate details about…well…just about every character.
That said, one cannot recommend Fool in good conscience without a cautionary note. First, as Moore says “This is a bawdy tale.” If vulgarity offends you, or you are looking for a gift for Grandma, this probably isn’t the right book for you. While Moore’s other works have had varying degrees of courseness to them, Fool can be downright lewd (there’s even sex with only one person involved!). Second, if you are a true fan of the Shakespearean Lear, you must be prepared for the story to evolve. While still a tragedy, Moore takes the necessary steps to turn King Lear into a comedic read, including a re-shuffling of who makes it out alive. If you pass both of those requirements, this is a great summer read that will excite your inner geek and put at least one smile on your face.
