REVIEW: Island of the Sequined Love Nun by Christopher Moore

Island of the Sequined Love Nun by Christopher Moore
Publishing Information: Kindle
Publisher: HarperCollins; 28 March 2006
ISBN 10: 0060735449
ISBN 13: 978-0380792733
ASIN: B000OVLK2M
Standalone
Copy: Out of Pocket
Reviewer: Tyson

Synopsis: "Pilot Tucker Case has a weakness--well, Tuck really has two--and the combination of drinking and sex in the cockpit of the pink Mary Jean Cosmetics Learjet puts him on the front page of papers all over the planet. But he finds another job with a mysterious employer--someone with a brand-new Lear 45-- who's willing to pay Tuck generously and ask no questions about his record. The jet and job are on Alualu, a speck in the Pacific Ocean, and Tucker has nowhere else to go. But first he has to get to Alualu, and once there, he faces a hurricane, Shark People, atypical missionaries, and boredom ... and the responsibilities assigned to him by Capt. Vincent Bennidetti, U.S. Air Force, deceased bomber pilot and present-day deity of the Shark People."

When you are looking for a book to lighten you spirit or need a good laugh, you can not go wrong with Christopher Moore. The books are quick to read and while humorous, they also contain a little moral lesson. Or at least something for you to think about, but not too seriously.

Island of the Sequined Love Nun is Moore's fourth book and if you have enjoyed his previous work, you will enjoy this as well. The characters are always interesting. Take Tucker for instance. He is a down on his luck pilot who takes a job out in the middle of the Pacific by a group he knows nothing about. Even before he makes it to his employer he meets an Australian spy, a talking fruit bat, and a teenagers that worship California gangs and MTV. Tuck may be the main character but he is just an example of the interesting individuals you will meet in the novel.

One of the topics that Moore attempts to tackle is ethics and retribution. It is only brought up a few times and even then it is rather vague, while most books that deal with these topics the antagonists usually find themselves in hot water or ultimately punished by the end of the novel; however, Moore tends to let his slide and get away scott-free which seems to me to mirror real life than the movies or other books.

The Island of the Sequined Love Nun does its best to explore religion and hypocrisy, but with Moore's talent he does not hit you over the head with it. The imaginary cult and the various other religions found on the island make for some great moments and humorous adventures. While I felt the novel was the weakest of Moore's collection, I still found the story compelling and a lot of fun to read. It is hard to find a truly funny novel and not ruffle feathers when dealing with religion, but Moore manages to do both quite well. I am slowly working my way through Moore's books and plan to read the next one in the series as some of his characters manage to find their way into the pages of future novels. This particular novel was much different from his previous work and shows his growth and ability to tackle difficult topics without removing his trademark humor.

Plot 7
Characters 8
Style 8

Overall 7/10