I picked up one of Neil Gaiman’s books, Norse Mythology, at the airport over the summer. I loved it. So I was excited when CBR announced Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch as a group read. There have been so many reviews that I think I can pass on the plot summary and skip to my thoughts.
I have to say, this book was by turns wonderful and just head-scratching. I love the relationship between Crowley and Aziraphale- a sort of supernatural Grumpy Old Men back and forth that I would love to have seen more of. I thought the Four Horsemen (or bikers) were pretty cleverly done. Sister Mary Loquacious was fun, and I particularly liked the look at her second career.
And then there are the things that just missed the mark (for me, at least). For one, the Them. I have an eleven-year-old boy, and thus spend a lot of time around an eleven-year-old neighborhood bike gang. And as I read this book, I kept stopping and thinking to myself- are these kids all slightly impaired, or is my group a super special genius crowd? Why in the world would Anathema have anything to do with Newt Pulsifer? I understand feeling obligated to fulfill the prophecy- but why go back for more? And what does Madame Tracy see in Shadwell? Both of these women deserve better than those two nincompoops.
The biggest fault for me is that I would have liked to have spent much more time with Agnes Nutter, Witch.
I’m reading this for the first time because of CBR too! I had the same reaction about the Them, and I really don’t understand how Adam is going to bring about the Apocalypse. Not enough about Agnes too, and there is far too less of Sir Terry in this book.