Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal was my first introduction to Christopher Moore's work, and I loved it. Not only does it add the very much missing ingredient of humor to a tale of Biblical times, the story and characters hang together well and just work.

Think about it. What if Jesus did have a best friend while growing up? What if that friend was a kid named Biff? And what if Biff was himself sweet on Mary Magdalene and had sort of a humorous attitude about the whole "my friend Jesus is the Messiah" thang?

Read it. You'll laugh. You'll laugh again. And you'll keep reading.

I guess I should have offered up the caveat that I am neither Christian nor religious. I suppose this novel could rub some people the wrong way. And that's a shame, because probably those are the very people who SHOULD read a satirical novel about the godman Jesus. Most of those I've heard about who were close to or actually enlightened were very humorous people, able to celebrate almost any moment with deep and true and infectious laughter. I would find it hard to believe if Jesus was any different.