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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
4.5/5, rounded down.
A slow burn with a triumphant finish, which I really should have expected with Neil Gaiman's name on the cover. It took a bit of time for me to fully appreciate the humor and wit that this book had to offer, then was thoroughly enjoyable till the very end.
An interview published at the end of this specific edition of my book covered which author was responsible for major ideas and themes within the book. Without getting into spoilers, I can say confidently that Neil's content caught my attention more.
It's a book that feels like it's almost written to be read a second time, right from the start. This was a similar feeling I had after American Gods... funny how that works out.
A slow burn with a triumphant finish, which I really should have expected with Neil Gaiman's name on the cover. It took a bit of time for me to fully appreciate the humor and wit that this book had to offer, then was thoroughly enjoyable till the very end.
An interview published at the end of this specific edition of my book covered which author was responsible for major ideas and themes within the book. Without getting into spoilers, I can say confidently that Neil's content caught my attention more.
It's a book that feels like it's almost written to be read a second time, right from the start. This was a similar feeling I had after American Gods... funny how that works out.
I agree with the review by Derek, it was OK but I got bored with it.
Eleven years ago the Antichrist was born, and the demonic church he was born in was supposed to switch with the child of the POTUS. Except he wasn't and now it's only a few days from Armageddon. So where's the Antichrist!?
We follow our favorite demon Crowley and our favorite angel Aziraphale. Of course we're watching them because it's now a scramble trying to figure out where the Antichrist is after finding out that warlock never received the hellhound.
All the while War, Pollution, Famine, and DEATH have been quite busy. Blending in amongst the people of earth but causing extreme havock. Except for death, he's always there, always will be there, and incomprehensible to the human eye.
It makes for an interesting dynamic seeing what the four horseman of the apocalypse have been doing for the last eleven years. Plus a looney toon like scramble trying to figure out where the real antichrist is without alerting heaven or hell.
Of course we also get to watch the Antichrist, as he's still oblivious to his destiny. Since Crowley and Aziraphale have not been the most competent at their jobs.
This is overall a fun read, where you get the comedy from demon and angel. You have the childs dreams and world view of the Antichrist. Then you have the chaos of the four horseman. The Wich finders, or a professional descendant
The only problem is that if you don't pay close attention you may get confused about what is going on and who is taking stage. However, it's fairly easy to follow along especially the notes given by our authors.
We follow our favorite demon Crowley and our favorite angel Aziraphale. Of course we're watching them because it's now a scramble trying to figure out where the Antichrist is after finding out that warlock never received the hellhound.
All the while War, Pollution, Famine, and DEATH have been quite busy. Blending in amongst the people of earth but causing extreme havock. Except for death, he's always there, always will be there, and incomprehensible to the human eye.
It makes for an interesting dynamic seeing what the four horseman of the apocalypse have been doing for the last eleven years. Plus a looney toon like scramble trying to figure out where the real antichrist is without alerting heaven or hell.
Of course we also get to watch the Antichrist, as he's still oblivious to his destiny. Since Crowley and Aziraphale have not been the most competent at their jobs.
This is overall a fun read, where you get the comedy from demon and angel. You have the childs dreams and world view of the Antichrist. Then you have the chaos of the four horseman. The Wich finders, or a professional descendant
The only problem is that if you don't pay close attention you may get confused about what is going on and who is taking stage. However, it's fairly easy to follow along especially the notes given by our authors.
Neil Gaimain and Terry Pratchett need no reviews. This is Good Omens, the book speaks for itself.
Was listening to this book on a long drive and it was entertaining, but about halfway through I realized I didn’t care at all where the plot was going, and wasn’t interested in finding out.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I first read this book back in 2010, when I went through a phase where I thought Neil Gaiman could do no wrong. I enjoyed it very much then and planned to reread it when the TV show came out and just never did...
My summer job was 100% menial labor, so I listened to the audio book this summer, counting it as a reread and...
Hmm.
Some of the dry British humor still stands. Parts of this book are still riotously funny. The absurdity of every tape left in a car eventually turning into a Queen tape. The highway being planned as a sigil of evil. Adam's misunderstandings and oversimplification of the Aquarian(not sure of the spelling here) magazines. Those are all still very good. In non-humorous plot, the thought of a child's love for his mundane life being enough to save the world is also still excellent. A sneakered foot "Slouching hopefully towards Tadfield" is a better, more optimistic ending than imagining a rough beast as it "slouches towards Bethlehem."
However, some of the humor is racist, homophobic, ableist, fatphobic and just plain mean natured. The f-slur and r-slur show up repeatedly, as well as (in the audio book, at least) several very unfortunate attempts at accents. The humor punches down at marginalized groups almost as often as it punches up at people in power. I don't believe in authors being forced to edit their past writing, but as far as I know Gaiman and Pterry never really apologized for this less than ideal humor.
The book was still enjoyable, but that major flaw with some of the humor left me uncomfortable, and 15 years after the first time I read it, I am now able to express why. The story itself is so good, but those moments....
Eh. They left the book tarnished. That's really all I can say on the matter.
My summer job was 100% menial labor, so I listened to the audio book this summer, counting it as a reread and...
Hmm.
Some of the dry British humor still stands. Parts of this book are still riotously funny. The absurdity of every tape left in a car eventually turning into a Queen tape. The highway being planned as a sigil of evil. Adam's misunderstandings and oversimplification of the Aquarian(not sure of the spelling here) magazines. Those are all still very good. In non-humorous plot, the thought of a child's love for his mundane life being enough to save the world is also still excellent. A sneakered foot "Slouching hopefully towards Tadfield" is a better, more optimistic ending than imagining a rough beast as it "slouches towards Bethlehem."
However, some of the humor is racist, homophobic, ableist, fatphobic and just plain mean natured. The f-slur and r-slur show up repeatedly, as well as (in the audio book, at least) several very unfortunate attempts at accents. The humor punches down at marginalized groups almost as often as it punches up at people in power. I don't believe in authors being forced to edit their past writing, but as far as I know Gaiman and Pterry never really apologized for this less than ideal humor.
The book was still enjoyable, but that major flaw with some of the humor left me uncomfortable, and 15 years after the first time I read it, I am now able to express why. The story itself is so good, but those moments....
Eh. They left the book tarnished. That's really all I can say on the matter.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Read this as a young teen and again as a 20something and again as a 30something. Something about the friendship between the two writers comes across every single page of this story. It's the only book I've ever been able to count on to make me laugh. It's silly and simple and good.