Title: Coyote Blue
Author: Christopher Moore
Genre: Fiction
Pages: Oversize paperback, 303
Published: 1994
Opening Lines: "While magic powder was sprinkled on the sidewalk outside, Samuel Hunter moved around his office like a machine firing out phone calls, checking computer printouts, and barking orders to his secretary."
"As a boy growing up in Montana, he was Samson Hunts Alone -- until a deadly misunderstanding with the law forced him to flee the Crow reservation at age fifteen. Today he is Samuel Hunter, a successful Santa Barbara insurance salesman with a Mercedes, a condo, and a hollow, invented life. Then one day, shortly after his thirty-fifth birthday, destiny offers him the dangerous gift of love -- in the exquisite form of Calliope Kincaid -- and a curse in the unheralded appearance of an ancient Indian god by the name of Coyote. Coyote, the trickster, has arrived to transform tranquillity into chaos, to reawaken the mystical storyteller within Sam ... and to seriously screw up his existence in the process."
~ Goodreads
Thoughts: If Coyote is your spirit guide, cash in your chips because you're screwed!
I have been meaning to read Christopher Moore for years! However, a few weekends ago when my brother was in town, he brought up this book. The way he talked bout it, described it, etc., made me curious enough to find it at our local library. And, boy, I am glad I did!
The book starts out with Samuel Hunter, a well-to-do insurances rep. While going to a meeting with a very wealthy client, he stumbles upon Calliope Kincaid. And, after that fateful meeting, his life is forever changed. Honestly, it is hard to describe the book without giving too much detail away!
Through the course of the book, the reader learns that Samuel Hunter started out as Samson Hunts Alone who was born/raised on the Crow reservation in Montana. After a run-in with the one of the local asshole res security men, Samson is forced to run away at only 15 years-old. Even though he doesn't have any prospects, he is brought under the wing of Aaron Aaron, an up-and-coming big shot in insurance. And, the amazing thing is, Samson—now Samuel—is still only 15!
The book is a mix between the past and the present. Moore did a good job mixing them. It helps the reader to see how Sam's past is shaping his future. You learn that on a vision quest, Sam's spirit guide is Old Man Coyote. And, even though he doesn't put much stock in it, Coyote has taken it upon himself to help Sam. That is where the story takes off in weird, crazy, and laugh-out-loud situations.
I loved the way Moore wrote Coyote! Being a trickster god, I was wondering how he would portray him. Even though Coyote is extremely smart, he kind of acts like a child. What I found interesting was how Coyote disrupted Sam's life. Many of the adventures causes the reader to shake their head and wonder why this is happening; however, at the end of the book, it becomes obvious that Coyote really taught Sam how to live and love life. He was stuck in a dead-end life, had no real future, and was not an active participant in his life. Meeting Calliope, who is an extremely strange girl, and dealing with Coyote gave him the ability to finally discover who he was.
Another thing, I loved the myths of Coyote that were interspersed throughout the book. It was a good way to give the reader a road map. Also, they were funny as hell! I think I read all of them to my husband! We ended up holding out sides while laughing.
There isn't too much that can be said about this book without giving everything away. It was a good read, was a good mix of comedy and drama, the paced was good, and I couldn't put it down! If you haven't read Moore, I highly recommend this book!
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