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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
As expected from its title, Good Omens puts forth a very optimistic message - the idea that life is, in fact, extremely fun.
Arizaphale and Crowley are an angel and a demon respectively, both determined to halt the unrelenting march of the apocalypse, simply because they like Earth far too much. Warlock is the Antichrist baby that Arizaphale and Crowley have attempted to groom into a perfect balance of the divine and the diabolical. Adam Young is the true spawn of Satan, largely ignored by otherworldly influence due to a mixup by a group of nuns.
Other prominent characters include Adam Young’s friends, a witch hunter and his master, said master’s friends, a witch, said witch’s ancestor, the four horsemen of the apocalypse, a biker gang, a gang of bullies... and so on and so forth.
Clearly, there’s something wrong here. How can a single book have such a sprawling ensemble cast? For better or for worse, this book doesn’t exactly give each character an equal amount of screentime (pagetime?). Arizaphale and Crowley feature prominently in the first half or so of the novel, then disappear into irrelevance for much of the second half. Most characters have no effect on the final confrontation between Adam and the four horsemen of the apocalypse. Instead, they just hang around and half-heartedly pretend to be important (much like books themselves, perhaps). This really is typical of Pratchett and his writing. I’ve never really cared enough about Gaiman, so I won’t comment on his influence on the novel.
If anything, Good Omens almost feels like 1000 comedy sketches stringed tightly into one fantastical, fever dream version of Saturday Night Live. However, in a way, this seems to prove its point? Because everyday life is so wonderful, Good Omens seeks to explore the humour and joys of different walks of life, from the lives of children to the lives of the old and even, well, the lives of geriatric angels and demons, all in an attempt to convince us to make the most of the life we have. Although many readers are convinced that the most wonderful part of the book is speculating about when and how Arizaphale will eventually carpe the diemon (yes, I’m very proud of that), the central message of the book seems to be carpe diem. And even if you don’t have the energy to seize the day, you can still lay back and enjoy all that it has to offer.
Still doesn’t make the book a little boring, though.
Arizaphale and Crowley are an angel and a demon respectively, both determined to halt the unrelenting march of the apocalypse, simply because they like Earth far too much. Warlock is the Antichrist baby that Arizaphale and Crowley have attempted to groom into a perfect balance of the divine and the diabolical. Adam Young is the true spawn of Satan, largely ignored by otherworldly influence due to a mixup by a group of nuns.
Other prominent characters include Adam Young’s friends, a witch hunter and his master, said master’s friends, a witch, said witch’s ancestor, the four horsemen of the apocalypse, a biker gang, a gang of bullies... and so on and so forth.
Clearly, there’s something wrong here. How can a single book have such a sprawling ensemble cast? For better or for worse, this book doesn’t exactly give each character an equal amount of screentime (pagetime?). Arizaphale and Crowley feature prominently in the first half or so of the novel, then disappear into irrelevance for much of the second half. Most characters have no effect on the final confrontation between Adam and the four horsemen of the apocalypse. Instead, they just hang around and half-heartedly pretend to be important (much like books themselves, perhaps). This really is typical of Pratchett and his writing. I’ve never really cared enough about Gaiman, so I won’t comment on his influence on the novel.
If anything, Good Omens almost feels like 1000 comedy sketches stringed tightly into one fantastical, fever dream version of Saturday Night Live. However, in a way, this seems to prove its point? Because everyday life is so wonderful, Good Omens seeks to explore the humour and joys of different walks of life, from the lives of children to the lives of the old and even, well, the lives of geriatric angels and demons, all in an attempt to convince us to make the most of the life we have. Although many readers are convinced that the most wonderful part of the book is speculating about when and how Arizaphale will eventually carpe the diemon (yes, I’m very proud of that), the central message of the book seems to be carpe diem. And even if you don’t have the energy to seize the day, you can still lay back and enjoy all that it has to offer.
Still doesn’t make the book a little boring, though.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Charming and funny story
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
If you love books with constant tangents then this is the book for you!
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes