Sacré Bleu: A Comedy d'Art [NOOK Book]

Christopher Moore's latest novel SACRE BLEU is an extremely well

Christopher Moore's latest novel SACRE BLEU is an extremely well researched off the wall romp through Paris' art nobility, taking place immediately after the death of Vincent Van Gogh. And some time before that. And during the time period shortly after the dinosaurs died...

No, I'm not crazy. What starts as two friends (one a baker, the other a drunk, whoring aristocrat) trying to solve the death of their friend and fellow painter Vincent Van Gogh turns into a delving into the supernatural as the two meet a model (Juliette) and her odd, surly, dwarfish companion known only as "the Colorman." Along the way, the two interact with many from Paris' art scene, as well as numerous art patrons, prostitutes, a donkey named Etienne, and a genuine mad scientist.

Anyone who has read Christopher Moore knows he has a wickedly warped sense of humor, and that shines through almost from the start in this book. But this book isn't just funny, it's so well researched it's almost educational. I am non-artsy, don't care a bit about Monet or Impressionalism, and still feel like I learned a ton about painters and styles of the day. On top of that, I had a pretty great time doing it!

Some of Moore's other stories took place in a world he created. But here he proves his ability to paint on someone else's canvas (wow, I learned more than I thought!), and in doing so adds another dimension to his work.

Christopher Moore fans, indeed fans of the comic novel in general, will thoroughly enjoy this book.

If you do not find this review helpful, please leave a comment so that I know how I may improve my reviews.

26 out of 26 people found this review helpful.

Fourth fave

This is my fourth fave C Moore book after Lamb, Dirty Job ad Fool. Love the characters and as always the mystical female. This bastard is such a genius at dialogue and my jealousy of his talent grows with each new book

3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Sacre Bleu: A Comedy d’Art By Christopher Moore Vincent v

Sacre Bleu: A Comedy d’Art
By Christopher Moore

Vincent van Gogh has been murdered; Lucien Lessard is a painter/baker/rat catcher once he learns of van Gogh’s demise he immediately heads to the Moulin Rouge in search of his closest friend Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. The two of them spend a great deal of time together until Lucien’s ex-lover whom broke his heart returns and Lucien finds himself lost to Juliette and he even begins to loose large chunks of time not knowing where or what he was doing. Lucien’s family Toulouse Lautrec’s help in rescuing Lucien from the woman, once Henri tries to intervene he begins to uncover a shocking truth that not only effects Lucien but all painters.

I have always been a fan of impressionism so I had worried that Christopher Moore may not be able to capture some of the paintings that I love, but he not only managed to make each artist outrageously funny and interesting but he brought to life some of the world’s most precious pieces of art. I have read a few of Christopher Moore’s novels before and I always end up laughing, if you have a crude sense of humor and can’t help but giggle at idiotic things then this will surely keep you enthralled if not then you may want to move on quickly. My favorite scene was Lucien as a boy in a graveyard trying to catch snails, when he spots one he says “Ah Ha” and in turn the snail says “Ah Ha” to which the young Lucien starts to run away screaming, that isn’t the entire scene of course you will have to actually read the book to find out more but it is a glimpse into the absurdity and childish humor I so love from Christopher Moore.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Worth a read

Would recomend for highschoolers or others taken by the idea of the parisian art scene

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Linda

Quirky, but I loved it. Great incite into life in that wonderfully creative time. Don't know how he could weave artists from past to present in such a creative, funny and very unusual way.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I'm a HUGE, HUGE Chris Moore fan. I've read this entire collect

I'm a HUGE, HUGE Chris Moore fan. I've read this entire collection and love most of everything he's ever done. However, this book really let me down. I'm not sure if I just don't get it or it just isn't funny. This is not his usual biting sarcasm and wit. It has started so slowly I just gave up.

1 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Ready to buy

The sample reads as another great book. I would like to know if all photos in the book are in the E-book. The story of van go is a best start.

1 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

As usual with Moore, the writing and fantasy are top notch, but

As usual with Moore, the writing and fantasy are top notch, but Sacre Bleu is far from the funniest book in the authors cannon.

Sacre Bleu By Christopher Moore
4 Stars

First

Sacre Bleu By Christopher Moore<br />
4 Stars<br />
<br />
First, I have to say that I love authors like Moore and Gaiman. They are so versatile. Every book I've read from both of these authors has been uniquely theirs, but oh so different from one book to the next. And that is what really draws me in. I am late in discovering and loving these authors but they have a lot more in store for me. <br />
<br />
I have read three by Moore so far and have many more on my radar. The first of his that I read was Blood Sucking Fiends and have the rest of that series to go. Next was The Stupidest Angel which I found hilarious and that doesn't happen often for me.<br />
<br />
Then we have all that is Sacre Bleu. I had to get this book last year on principle alone. It was a book with an awesome cover that I just had to get to see for myself. It had Impressionist paintings throughout and was written in Bleu type!! How can you resist that?? Type, page cut, unique layouts etc. are big draws for me. Other examples of my love of this sort of thing would be Glen Duncan's The Last Werewolf where the page edges are a deep purple, Anne Rice's rough page cuts, which The Twelve Tribes of Hattie also has so that got points immediately, and The Heroin Diaries by Nikki Sixx - amazingly put together book.<br />
<br />
So, once I got past just enjoying the aesthetics of the book, I got down to actually reading it. I like this type of book from Moore and will now move Fool up on my list to enjoy more of this style. <br />
<br />
Sacre Bleu involves the lives and daliances of many of your well known Impressionist painters and their paintings which are also incorporated and interwoven with the story. Van Gogh, Renoir, Manet, Monet and the list goes on. I LOVE these painters so the historical aspect was awesome for me and seeing how Moore utilized the paintings themselves. Girl With A Watering Can painted by Renoir is my favorite painting period. I could stand for hours looking at the original in D.C. The story revolves mainly around Lucien who is a baker's son but has apprenticed and trained under famous painters. Who during the setting of the book are Master's but not quite what they are today. Lucien and Henri Toulouse-Lautrec start out wanting to know if their friend Van Gogh really shot himself in the middle of a corn field. That leads them to many discoveries about all of their painter friends and themselves and how their lives are more interwoven then they ever could believe. There is comedy, debauchery, and a little raunchiness thrown in for good Moore measure. Lucien is up against serious foes; Sacre Bleu and the Colorman are everywhere.<br />
<br />
The reason this rated only a 4 from me would be that I really liked it but I didn't love it quite enough. I have picked this up twice. The first time I got about 100 pages in and it had to go back to the library so I let it go. I was intrigued with the story but not enough to fight for it per se. This tag prompted me to get it and try again. Moore's style is to throw things at you that you wouldn't expect and be truly unique, which is what he did in the beginning of this book. So much so that the supernatural aspect of the book was totally out of place for me at first to the point that is was jarring to me. However, with the second attempt as I got further in it all was perfectly sensible to me and the story and I enjoyed it immensely.<br />
<br />
The historical aspects and research on Moore's part is wonderful. If you like history or art particularly Impressionist art then I encourage you to try this one out. This is one to obtain the actual book and hold it and marvel at it. If you must then at least get the ebook on a color device which is what I did this second go round.

A good funny ride.  Not Moore's best work, but still very funny

A good funny ride.  Not Moore's best work, but still very funny an din the vein of his other works

Best book I've read in some time!!!

Thanks for a fun run thru the art world,

Recomend

I found this book different from most books I read. It was interesting to learn about the great painters and how paint colors were made. At times it was difficult to follow but for the most part an interesting read.

This was a very fun read for me. My wife took an Art History cou

This was a very fun read for me. My wife took an Art History course over 20 years ago, plus I am a fervent reader of Smithsonian Magazine. Thus, I have been exposed to more classical art than I intended, being a retired nerd engineer. Although I lean more toward sci-fi and mystery novels, this book satisfied both, with its fantastic version of lives of the great artists, coupled with a trickle of clues as to what was really going on.
One previous review said &quot; this book really let me down. I'm not sure if I just don't get it or it just isn't funny. This is not his usual biting sarcasm and wit.&quot; If that is the case, then I will order a few more of Moore's books to see if they offer even more of a kick.

an entertaining and imaginative read.

An entertaining and imaginative read.

Are you SURE Christopher Moore wrote this? Usually one can alway

Are you SURE Christopher Moore wrote this? Usually one can always count on him for refreshingly quirky
characters
and hilarious (if deeply bent)

plots.But Sacre Bleu is just not funny.Perhaps his mistake is in taking the subject too seriously. I realize that not every book can be a gem, but this one is a real letdown after &quot;Fool&quot;. Moore should stick to what he does best.

Throughout his career, author Christopher Moore has garnered cri

Throughout his career, author Christopher Moore has garnered critical and commercial success for his novels. His inherent wit and ability to create rich characters within fantastic stories has captured the attention of many readers. Although I had never read anything by Moore, I was intrigued by the premise of his latest effort, Sacre Bleu, in which he set out to write a novel about the color blue.
The year is 1890, and the news of infamous painter Vincent van Gogh's death has quickly spread throughout Paris. Lucien Lessard, a baker turned painter, can hardly believe the news. He has been part of the French art scene for years, and has experienced, first-hand, the brilliance and madness of the late artist. No stranger to depression himself, Lucien feels sadness for the loss of a great artist, and recalls the sadness he felt when his beloved Juliette left to London without any further contact with him.
As Lucien discusses Vincent's death with his friend, painter Henri Fantin Latour, he surprised to see a familiar face. Juliette, the woman who inspired him to paint only to break his heart, has returned from London. Despite his shock and bitterness, the relationship quickly picks up where it left off. Soon Juliette is posing as Lucien paints what is sure to be his masterpiece. For this painting, he acquires a special blue, Sare Bleu, or the color of the Virgin Mary, from the mysterious Colorman. When Lucien uses the paint, time seems to stand still and he is riddled with a strange loss of memory. Henri begins to worry about his friend and recalls his own experience with similar time and memory altering instances. All of which occurred while painting his own lover and using the mysterious Sacre Bleu. As the novel progresses, Lucien and Henri discover the prominence of blue paint and peculiar behaviors in the lives of many famous artists. It quickly becomes apparent that The Colorman and his paint have malicious intentions and could even have been responsible for the death of some of art's most prominent figures. Now Lucien and Henri must try to stop The Colorman before they too become the victims of this vicious Sacre Bleu.
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this novel. Moore obviously researched this novel, but took lots of liberty with the facts to turn what could have been a stuffy art lesson into a highly entertaining story. There is a lot going on in this story, but every aspect is presented in a way that eventually brings clarity to the events. The story does take a bit of time to get off the ground, probably because I was trying to figure out what the point of the book really was, but the action kicks into high gear after about a hundred pages. Overall, this novel will probably divide readers, but anyone looking for a definitely &quot;out of the box&quot; story should give this one a try.

Gotta read!

Another funny, off the wall story by a unique author! Loved it!

My first Moore

I thoroughly enjoyed this. My favorite scene was when they visited the shop of Theo van Gogh, I loved the idea of being able to buy one of the paintings. I kept looking up info on Wikipedia, and all the details were accurate even if the major concept was far fetched.

Read Christpher Moore!

Read Christpher Moore!

One of the most imaginative books I've read in a long while. Fun

One of the most imaginative books I've read in a long while. Funny, knowledgeable and colorful (pun). The characters are fantastic. Don't read any reviews that may give spoilers. Just read it!