Christopher Moore has cornered the market on light religious satire with his "Lamb" and after having given this gift twice and losing a losing a third, loaned copy, it feels safe to say that if you're looking for a gift for someone with a sense of humor, shop no further. The book stands well on its own but the faux-bible cover and gilt page edges could easily make this one of the most prized elements of any home library. You WILL NOT be disappointed.

Christopher Moore is an excellent fictional writer, i loved his book "Dirty Job" and when i read the synopsis on Lamb i had to have it, i was happy to find the leather bound "bible" eddition here on amazon and the book came in perfect condition, great read for Moore fans.

Given to me to read by a friend, I could not put it down. Very few books outside the Catcher & The Rye have ever pulled off the first person narrative so well. I am giving this out to all of my brothers & sisters (7 of them) for Christmas.

I've purchased this book 4 times. The first time I bought it, I was browsing in a bookstore. I'd never heard of Christopher Moore before. Initially, the cover caught my attention. Then, I read the title and knew I had to buy it. (I have a sorta twisted sense of humor.)

By page 10, I had gone out to buy the book a second time for my Dad (He's twisted too - I got it honestly). This book is LAUGH-OUT-LOUD funny. Imagine someone on the bus reading what looks like the bible - laughing involuntarily as they read. I'm sure many dirty looks and prayers were sent my way on those days.

I finished Lamb, and gifted my previously read copy to my uncle - which gave me an excuse to buy a fresh new copy to read again. Then, I bought a fourth to have in reserve just in case I come across someone else to give it to - or keep for myself in mint condition (don't you just LOVE gilded pages?).

I won't write about the plot, characters or details of the book - I hate spoilers. All I will say is that this was the best book I have read in a long time. The subject matter, storyline, and Moore's writing style all culminate in a great reading experience. I have made it a point to read all of his other novels.

A first timer of Moore, I got this when I read the first few chapters while at a friend's house. I tell you, the opening paragraph is all you need to become hooked.

Moore's work is painstaikingly true-to-earth, making Jesus [Joshua] a more human-esque, loveable and a believable saviour then anything I've ever read. Biff, his childhood friend, is the classic sidekick, but with more originality then a beta fish. [Try and make sense of that one] Overall, Moore's work is a stunning, beautiful, well-crafted piece of literature that everyone should get.

Especially when it's a book that looks as nice as this one!

I absolutely laughed till I cried. It all makes sense now... This is a must read for anyone who has ever taken religion tooooooo seriously.

This book is easily in my top 5 favorite books. I might even say it's #1.

When I laughed out loud at the first page... I knew I was going to love this book. I could totally see everything in the book unfolding back in the day.

Some people didn't like the ending, and I must admit I was a little surprised... but when I thought for a minute, 'I got it' and it was the perfect ending.

Definitely a conversation starter... definitely a keeper for rereading over & over again.

I love this book for how it incites great conversation and it is a welcome addition to my small collection.

This is one of those books that really gets people talking. Conversations range from the story itself, to the historical truths or lack thereof, the religious implications, and now its look.

I really enjoyed reading this book the first time around when I would find myself laughing out loud when I would least expect it, and most recently with this edition where a friend thought I was laughing about something in the Bible itself.

This new edition was a great idea, with only one flaw: It can be difficult to hold open because it is bound tightly. I'm afraid of causing too much wear to the spine of the book, but in retrospect I guess that would only add to its charm of looking like a Bible.

This is one of my favorite books of all time! Yay Christopher Moore!

Anyone who has any interest in Christianity should find this book hilarious! Moore clearly knows his Christian and world history then and now. His treatment of Jesus and the people who worship him is outrageous and irreverent and strangely loving at the same time. I'm an athiest who went to Catholic school (I LOVED it) and while I don't believe a word of it, have a great appreciation for all things Catholic, especially Catholic humor (the movie Dogma Dogma (Special Edition), the play Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You.Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All You and the Actor's Nightmare: Two One-Act Plays) I also appreciate a big dose of skepticism, and this book delivers on all fronts. Moore is such a great writer that this is a PERFECT BOOK! This new Bible edition is sexy and great!

At first, I have to admit I was a bit put off by the look of this gift version of "Lamb" when first saw it at a Barnes and Noble while doing some window shopping. I'm not very religious now, but as someone who basically got ten years' worth of Catholic dogma engrained into my DNA, well...the irreverence in the very look of this book made me worry just a little. I picked this book up and cracked it open to a random page, not expecting to see anything particularly interesting, and was pleasantly surprised when I ended up reading something that made me laugh. I ended up reading a few pages farther, and even though I hadn't read the rest of the book, the stuff I did read was very funny and clever, and I knew I had to have this book. So...I bought it here instead because I wanted to save a few bucks. :P

This book is definitely worth reading. It's irreverent, yes, and there's a bit of coarse language sprinkled throughout the story. And there's one gross (but funny) experience involving Biff, turnips and a toothless old Chinese woman. Despite that, however, I really don't feel this book is disrespectful to Jesus or to Christianity at all. If anything, it pokes gentle fun at what Christians are taught to know about the Bible--you have to know your stuff, as a Christian, if you expect to understand all the references made to it in this book. But I don't feel it makes fun of Christianity itself. So if you want a clever, funny, well-written book to read and you don't mind laughing at least a little at what you've been taught over the years if you're Christian, this book is for you. :)

I have read all of Christopher Moore's books, and this one is right at the top of my list. I wouldn't read this in a public place unless you like people staring at you for laughing out loud. Also, you might, depending on your personal beliefs, want to remember this is a fiction book, not one trying to pass for fact.

just when i think i cannot be surprised -- i am. moore's book is delightful. i plan on buying a few with the "bible" cover as gifts. i just need to get people past their "religion" in order to read it and i am sure they will love it; and it all makes sense.

Book was in perfect condition. It was sent in a very timely manner and in timely fashion. Exactly as the seller described it.

"Lamb"
This is a very good and entertaining book,,, Totally Ruined by the
use of the "F" word...
I am in no way a prude and have often been known to use the f word
on many occassions, but it's use in this book really spoilt the
whole thing for me, just as it has for the two friends that I
purchased the extra copies of this book for...

Lamb is a great read. Especially in this holiday season when the discussion is (kinda) centered on jesus' life. The book is well written, it isn't very reverential, nor is it disrespectful. Moore does a wonderful job painting a fictional life of Jesus without being presumptuous. I was looking for a fun fictional work and this worked!

Okay, I'm old (over 50) and have been an avid reader all my life, so the number of books I own or which have passed beneath my gaze is way beyond counting. And if one played the old game of "You're on a sinking ship and can grab a handful of books to take with you to that desert island over there where you'll be stuck for who knows how long... what would you take?" then Lamb would definitely be in the handful (others, in case you're interested: Virginia Woolf's "The Waves", Dostoevsky's "Brothers Karamazov", Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" and an anthology of poetry, heavy on the romantics).

I should issue a warning, however, which is that this book is dangerous. If you're someone who doesn't like embarrassing yourself by laughing out loud in public places like subway trains or at boring baseball games, then this isn't the book for you. It's one of those rarities, the book that makes you guffaw whether you want to or not.

I've read most of Moore's work (and have met him a couple of times - he's a very funny guy in person too), and this is easily his best novel. It is hysterically funny at many points, and yet manages to always protect the central character of Joshua (Jesus). Moore treats Joshua with respect throughout. He's never the butt of the many jokes directly; his best friend Biff is always the comic and the fall guy - but oh my, how gloriously he plays that role.

Offhand, and despite my extensive reading experience, I can't think of a funnier book than this one. True, you have to have a somewhat sick sense of humor to fully appreciate it, but those of that persuasion will love it and will find it one of the best reading rides of their lives. Buy it and treat yourself.

So, when I first saw this book, I knew I needed to read it, just from the title. What did I think? I was laughing my face off the first few pages!!! Who wouldn't? The books is through the eyes of rough yet suave young childhood friend, Levi called Biff. Biff accompanies Jesus on his journey to meet the three wisemen and the both learn some interesting stuff. It goes all the way until Jesus' death.
I think a lot of christians themselves are probably freaking out about this book, but remember it is simply fiction, not fact. However, being christian myself, it gave a very explicit message: Jesus was human, too, and experienced just as much temptation as we do today. It made that concept more believable.
The author did research history and culture very well, and you get right into that time frame. You fall in love with Biff immediatley and it's a really light-hearted book. I recommend it to everyone. Just remember it is ficiton, but there is a message that Jesus was just as human as the rest of us-and we can relate to him cuz he went through the same crap we did. Thank God for that and thank God for this book! Go read it!

I bought this for my mom for christmas, its her favorite book, and she LOVED that it resembled a bible! Not only was the product itself perfect, but the price was just right for this broke college student and shipping was so fast!!! Bravo!!!

Like the title suggests, this book is a proposed story to the "missing" years that the Bible doesn't contain. The author attempts to fill in the missing years namely from his birth till about 30 using a lot of humour, some profanities and skills of a novelist to re-create Jesus's growing years.

I have to admit that even though i am not a believer of Christianity, this book does offer a good introduction to the subject; not that its the authority on this subject but its definitely a more gentle one compared to having over-passionate believers coming up to my face asking me to "Repent! Repent! OR Burn in HELLLLllllllll" yeah that's right they particularly emphasize the HELL that it almost made me drive a fist through their face.

But nonetheless, it's a good book and perfectly good read :-)

This product is a beautifully bound gift edition of a book that has changed my opinion on all religions. It looks like a bible, and in a way it is.

I have purchased several of these gift editions, and I am spreading the new gospel.

The author's blessing at the beginning says it all:

If you have come the these pages for laughter, may you find it.
If you are here to be offended, may your ire rise and your blood boil.
...
May you find that which you seek, in these pages or outside them.
May you find perfection, and know it by name.

I read this book, first, as a paperback. Loved it so much I purchased a short stack (hold the maple syrup) of this very special gift edition. The perfect gift for loved ones who love a brilliant, fall-down funny book. It's not only one of the best written books ever (Christopher Moore, you rock!) but also, perhaps, the best damn "packaging" and book design since, well ... the bible? Yes, I highly recommend it to one and all.

"Two very big and happy thumbs (and eyeballs) up!"

-- Edwin Heaven

I bought an autographed copy of this book and I have to say it's fabulous. The story itself is an all-time favorite (and the only book I've ever seen the non-avid-reader members of my family actually read twice), but this edition is really charming and elegant, and a lovely bit of reading material to take with you to church. You know... as a conversation starter. Chris Moore's story of Biff 'n' Josh gets better and funnier every time I read it, and it has me constantly scouring the net and my local bookstores to see if he's written anything new. Now that I have this new (and very classy) version, I can finally pry my fingers from my older copy and lend it to my friend like I've been promising her I would.

You absolutely have to see and feel this book in person to gain the full appreciation of this edition. This book is the perfect gift for first time readers of Moore, and die hard fans.

Lamb is one of my all time favorite books, and probably Moore's best work (though I am also very partial to Island of the Sequined Love Nun.) It is laugh out loud funny, while being thought-provoking and open-minded. Open-mindedness and religion are generally mutually exclusive, but Moore executes brilliantly.

I bought 5 copies (one for me and 4 to give as gifts) and I think I'll be buying ... ready? .... Moore.

This special edition s just superb! When I saw it on line my jaw dropped and my heart skipped a beat. THEN I saw it in person! WOW! It is just like a real Bible! Without all the damnation, smitting, begats, and other such non-sense.

The paper is like the ricepaper of real Bibles, it has the little red ribbon attached for a bookmark, and the gold lettering on the front is just great! The cover is the hard/soft cover just like real Bibles.

Can you imagine when a superrace thousands of years from now digs up Chris Moore's tomb and finds this "Lost Gospel" how the religions of the future will change! LOL!

Buy it and you will not be disappointed!