I can usually count of Christopher Moore to deliver unorthodox, ridiculous humor. He is one of my go-to authors when I don’t want to take anything seriously or for a complete escape from the horrors of real life, and I think we all need an escape from the realty that is the here and now.

While Anima Rising was filled with some great characters, fabulous banter and Viennese pastries, I had a really hard time finding the story. It was kind of like a Seinfeld-esque book; it was about nothing.  When all was said and done, Anima Rising left me with the feeling that Moore wanted to write a story about a time and place – he had all of the historically based characters lined up and he was ready to go. He just didn’t know where to go.

Fortunately, Moore’s talent for developing over-the-top characters and absurd scenarios more than made up for anything lacking in the plot. I enjoyed my time in Vienna, the relationships between the characters were entertaining. It really is hard to go wrong with a giant croissant-eating devil dog. The book was filed with all sorts of absurdities that I felt compelled to share.

Honestly, I’m glad that Anima Rising was not my first experience with Christopher Moore. I don’t know if any author will ever top Biff (please see Lamb). This story was good enough but is definitely not unforgettable.

*4 Stars