Christopher Moore is a master of the humor-filled, historical fiction with a fantasy twist novel. How’s that for a sub-genre? Sacré Bleu was my favorite read this January. BTW, you should know that the French expression “sacrebleu” is used to convey surprise, exasperation, or dismay. I was indeed surprised by how much I loved this book!
Moore takes a fictional young painter, Lucien Lessard and places him smack in the midst of a group of famous late-nineteenth century painters. After the painter Vincent Van Gogh is ends his life (or did he?), Lucien and his wingman Henri Toulouse-Lautrec try to solve the mystery. In the process, they learn quite a lot about a special color blue and also what it really means to have a muse.
Lucien is also the son in a bakery-owning family, so he’s got responsibilities. Henri, on the other hand, is a cad, heavy drinker, and man about town. They are the perfect foils for each other. Their interactions, and most especially Henri’s attitudes made me laugh over and over. Since I listened to the audiobook, I’ll admit my husband thought I was a loon.
My conclusions
There are so many fantastical plot points in this novel that staying spoiler-free is a challenge. But here’s what I loved.
First, Moore not only references real works of art, he includes them in the book. Now, they’re printed on matte paper so the quality is reduced. But the idea is fabulous and adds so much to the story telling. As much as I adored the audio narration by Euan Morton, I’d encourage you to track down a print copy of Sacré Bleu. It’s wonderful!
Second, Lucien and Henri travel all over Paris, even heading to Giverny and a few other distant locales. Without ever turning the book into a travelogue, Moore takes us to many enchanting places people dream about in France.
Third, Moore encourages you to be smart while you laugh. He adds philosophy and world history to his art history and color theory theme. But it never becomes overwhelming or dull. These are the best things about historical fiction. And who knew it could be so charmingly hysterical in the meantime?
I’m not a Christopher Moore connoisseur, but I may just become one after this book.
Loved your review! Christopher Moore has been on my TBR list for so long. You’ve convinced me to dig out his books and start reading.
Hooray, Donna! I love it when that happens. And I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. (And as always, thanks for commenting and letting me know how the review made you feel.) xo
I LOVED Christopher Moore’s Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal when I read it years ago. I remember laughing until I had tears multiple times. I read Fluke after that, and it was weird, but a good weird…and then I think I got worried that I wouldn’t like his other stuff as much- I tend to do that when I read more than a few from the same author. But this sounds so awesome that I think I need to pick him up again. Thanks for the reminder how much I enjoy his work. 🙂
I really hope you like this one, Stephanie! I’m not sure which one I’ll read next from Moore, but most likely I’ll go back to what’s already on my shelf.
Before I lay down my comment, I’ll take a moment to first make clear my intention: To offer genuine opinion/critique because all constructive criticism is good criticism. Also, if people sugar coat everything, it’s dishonest and makes us all worse off for it. Nothing I say is said with malevolence or to be unkind.
The voice and super simplistic, vague tone gives me the impression that this was written by AI and lightly edited by a human. To validate this point, I just had AI write me a review of Sacre Bleu without referencing this review at all and I got an almost identical piece. Observe:
ChatGPT
You said:
Write a basic review of Christopher Moore’s Sacre Bleu
ChatGPT said:
Sacré Bleu by Christopher Moore is a witty and imaginative novel that blends historical fiction, mystery, and comedy. The story follows baker-turned-painter Lucien Lessard and his friend, Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, as they investigate the mysterious circumstances surrounding Vincent van Gogh’s death. Their journey leads them into the world of the enigmatic Colorman, a supernatural figure linked to the vibrant and rare ultramarine pigment known as “sacré bleu.”
Moore’s signature humor is present throughout, with quirky characters, absurd situations, and playful dialogue. At the same time, the novel is rich with historical and artistic detail, offering a fascinating (if fictionalized) look at the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art scenes. The blend of fantasy and art history makes for a unique and engaging read, though the non-linear storytelling and whimsical elements may not appeal to everyone.
Overall, Sacré Bleu is a fun, clever, and visually evocative novel, perfect for readers who enjoy art, humor, and a bit of the surreal.
So… Not that it’s illegal or anything, but not really valuable, either.
Hi Faeryn – thanks for your comment! I appreciate your thoughtfulness and this unique comparison idea. Let’s just back up and consider the time line here, though. I wrote this review in 2019 and ChatGPT didn’t debut for public use until 2022. So, it’s far more likely that the AI learned from my writing than the other way around. As for my particular review and writing style, it might not be your favorite. I’m fine with that. I write for myself and for anyone who may appreciate my style and thoughts.