Ohhhhh so I've reread Good Omens again (it cheered me up to a certain extent) and I thought I should do some recommendation about it. That book is one of my favourites! And also I think they are producing a mini-series next year. I do hope they get good actors and directors cause the characters in the book are really all kinds of amazing and it would be a waste if the show is screwed up really :/

The book is a collaboration between Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, both well-known for being script-writers/ authors. Previously Gaiman's Caroline had been a big hit when it landed in the cinemas a while back (He wrote a couple of Doctor Who series too! :>). Pratchett writes amazing fantasy books too, and if you have the time do check up on Night Watch, which is also rather famous.

So, what do I like about Good Omens?

As everyone knows this year is the legendary Apocalypse year when the world is supposed to end on 24th December because all hell will break loose or whatever. (I refuse to believe that because too many good movies are coming out next year >:/)  This book addresses the End-of-world issue too. However unlike many raptures/world-end/apocalypse stories that came out in an influx in the bookstores this year, Good Omens was actually published 20 years ago. Also, you can expect that this kind of stories to have a heavier, dramatic and touching (?)mood. But GO was written in a funny and light tone. There are so many hilarious parts in the story that I can't help but laugh out loud (also warning not to read it on public train in case people though you've gone nuts when you read the book <---personal experience). The chemistry between the characters is incredible as well (and that is a HUGE bonus point). It dismissed the serious and scary myth of ferocious hellhounds and demons and the Devil and turn it somewhat amusing. Also, the angels can be quite apathetic about the whole issue with the "lets-get-everything-over-and-done-with" attitude (except for the main angel duh). So sometimes when I read this book I also have this desperate why-the-cheesecake-is-poor-Earth-stuck-between-the-battle-of-celestial-beings-again-we-are-just-doing-our-daily-job-can't-you-stop-bothering-us-good-heavens kind of feeling.

The main characters in the book is Crowley the demon (also the snake that tempted Adam to eat the Forbidden Fruit, but he really seems to not understand what is so bad about it, you'll find out) and Aziraphale (the angel who used to guard Edens. And also a part-time rare book collector especially of misprinted Bibles). The two of them are the only two supernatural being that actually stayed on earth for a couple millennium, during which somehow a mutual alliance has been form between them (since well they are the only two that has been around consistently for that long, it couldn't be blamed.) As the prophecy dictated that the world is approaching to an end, both parties realized that they had grown quite attached to the human world, with it never-ending changes and improvement. So when the Antichrist was introduced to the world, Crowley, who was supposed to overlook the smooth operation, was actually quite reluctant. Whether it is fate or otherwise, things got mixed up and the Antichrist was raised as a human child instead of the planned satanic upbringing. When eventually the prophesied day arrived, things became so unexpected that neither Hell nor Heaven know how to respond to it. What happen next? I hadn't spoil :) But believe me its good.

The characters in the book are all rather well-developed. None of them are wholly good nor wholly evil. And such personalities interest me, because extremes tend to get rather cliche and predictable. Technically all the demons are fallen angels, so the first humor in the book started off by introducing Crowley as an angel who "did not so much Fall as Saunter Vaguely Downwards" because he mixed with the wrong company and caused quite an epic change in history. In the book he act mostly like a guilty schoolboy who is up to no good rather than some demonic villain. In fact he is sort of a saviour of the earth, in a way.
Aziraphale is this really sassy no-nonsense angel, but also incredibly awkward at times. He is described as "gayer than a treeful of monkeys on nitrous oxide". And apparently he can be nice only according to his mood, for every now and then he tend to get wrapped up in his own thoughts and forget everyone else. Also when he is nice he tends to over do things, which contributed to awkwardness.
The third main character, the Antichrist is also a powerfully developed character. In the novel he is portrayed as an eleven-year-old boy whose only concerns is of staying up late and getting dirty in the mud with his friends. You can't classify his personality as evil or good. Its more like...human? Childish? Until his powers and memories are awaken. But even so he is still strongly influenced by his human memories. And he is one impressive character.

I am really glad that both humans and angels (I shall refer all of them as angels since they are originally of "Angel stock" welp ._.) play equally meaningful and important roles too. Somehow many end-of-the-world novel tends to either emphasize only on humans or the supernaturals. I am pretty glad that this book has managed to balance well and both sides are of equal weighting. This is story of a variety of characters and each of them is a hero, unlike those many plot lines that only one and one main character is the saviour of everybody and planned on sacrificing him/herself but ended up miraculously rescued  at the last minute or whatever.


After Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and Sherlock Holmes, I thought there won't be another impressive book to read. But I was happily proven wrong by that. In fact Good Omens can almost be considered as a modern classic book. With a well-rounded, extraordinary and humorous plot,  this story is simply novelty. So if you feel like reading some quality apocalypse novels for a good laugh, do check this book out. I guarantee it is worth your time (unless you are preoccupied with some essays or homework, then I suggest you sort out your priorities.)

:)

Also heres a fan art by me for bonus :)

Labels: books, Good Omens, recommendations