Manny's Reviews > Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch
Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch
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Manny's review
bookshelves: well-i-think-its-funny, science-fiction, too-sexy-for-maiden-aunts, linguistics-and-philosophy, parody-homage, story-review, pooh-dante, twofer
Mar 30, 2010
bookshelves: well-i-think-its-funny, science-fiction, too-sexy-for-maiden-aunts, linguistics-and-philosophy, parody-homage, story-review, pooh-dante, twofer
I somehow ended up reading them both simultaneously. So I couldn't help wondering
What Madam Bovary Might Have Thought Of Good Omens
Three days later, a package arrived; there was no return address, but she immediately recognised Rodolphe's hand. It contained a paperback novel, whose title was Good Omens. Feverishly, she cast herself over it. Her English was poor, but, with the aid of a dictionary, she persevered and soon made great progress.
The more she read, the greater her bewilderment became. The book at first reminded her of Candide, which she had surreptitiously read at the convent, but M. Voltaire's ésprit had been replaced by another ingredient she was unable to name; she suspected that it must be the strange English invention they called humour. All the personages were well-meaning and agreeable; the witches, the torturers of witches, the prostitutes, even the Demons of Hell; they were filled with kindness and compassion, and their worst faults amounted to an occasional mild irritability. Where were the indifference and thoughtless cruelty that surrounded her, and which had now become the very air she breathed?
She did not know whether Rodolphe had sent her the book to comfort her or to mock her in her despair, and her futile attempts to resolve this question gradually resulted in an agonising headache. Her husband prescribed an infusion of valerian, and persuaded her to retire for the night; she lay sleepless in her bed a long time, until the drug finally took effect just as the sky was beginning to lighten. She dreamed of apocalyptic prophecies, red-headed women wielding swords, endless circles of horseless carriages, young boys with dogs.
In the morning, she remembered that she should purchase some arsenic.
__________________________________
It seemed unfair for this to be one-way. So, in the spirit of granting a right of reply, here's
What Good Omens Might Have Thought Of Madam Bovary
"I saw this smashin' film yesterday on TV," said Adam, as the Them listened attentively. "It was called Madam Bovver-Boy -"
"She was a lady skinhead?" interrupted Brian.
"No, stupid," said Adam. "It's a French name. Bovver-Boy. By Flow-Bear."
"You mean Madame Bovary, by Flaubert," said Wensleydale. "I read about it in The Encyclopaedia of World Literature."
Adam gave him a withering glance. "That's what I said," he continued. "Madam Bovver-Boy, by Flow-Bear. She's married to this doctor, and he's dead borin', so she starts hangin' around with these two lovers, and then she maxes out her credit card, so she eats arsernick and poisons herself. The bit where she's dyin' of the arsernick is dead good. Her tongue's hanging out and she's screamin' -"
"Why did she max out her credit card?" asked Pepper.
"She was buying presents for her lovers," said Adam. "Roses an' boxes of chocolates an' stuff like that -"
"I thought the lovers were supposed to give her presents?" said Brian dubiously. "My sister's boyfriend gave her this huge bunch of roses on Valentine's Day, and a box of Quality Street, and a balloon with -"
"She gave them presents instead because it was a proto-feminist novel," explained Wensleydale authoritatively. "That's what The Encyclopaedia of World Literature says."
Adam felt that his control of the situation was slipping, and decided to up the stakes. "It's all true," he said, in an exegetical move that would have had Flaubert scholars around the world clutching their foreheads. "Based on a true story," he added prudently, in case the The Encyclopaedia of World Literature happened to have opinions on the subject.
Behind the bushes, Aziraphale raised an eyebrow. Crowley looked defensive. "Very loosely based," he whispered hastily. "I mean, I tempted her, it's my job you know, but Gustave changed the ending for dramatic purposes. Said it didn't work to have Rodolphe sort out her debts and then settle down in a cozy ménage à quatre with her, Léon and her husband. I told him that's what actually happened, but he insisted the arsenic worked better..."
What Madam Bovary Might Have Thought Of Good Omens
Three days later, a package arrived; there was no return address, but she immediately recognised Rodolphe's hand. It contained a paperback novel, whose title was Good Omens. Feverishly, she cast herself over it. Her English was poor, but, with the aid of a dictionary, she persevered and soon made great progress.
The more she read, the greater her bewilderment became. The book at first reminded her of Candide, which she had surreptitiously read at the convent, but M. Voltaire's ésprit had been replaced by another ingredient she was unable to name; she suspected that it must be the strange English invention they called humour. All the personages were well-meaning and agreeable; the witches, the torturers of witches, the prostitutes, even the Demons of Hell; they were filled with kindness and compassion, and their worst faults amounted to an occasional mild irritability. Where were the indifference and thoughtless cruelty that surrounded her, and which had now become the very air she breathed?
She did not know whether Rodolphe had sent her the book to comfort her or to mock her in her despair, and her futile attempts to resolve this question gradually resulted in an agonising headache. Her husband prescribed an infusion of valerian, and persuaded her to retire for the night; she lay sleepless in her bed a long time, until the drug finally took effect just as the sky was beginning to lighten. She dreamed of apocalyptic prophecies, red-headed women wielding swords, endless circles of horseless carriages, young boys with dogs.
In the morning, she remembered that she should purchase some arsenic.
__________________________________
It seemed unfair for this to be one-way. So, in the spirit of granting a right of reply, here's
What Good Omens Might Have Thought Of Madam Bovary
"I saw this smashin' film yesterday on TV," said Adam, as the Them listened attentively. "It was called Madam Bovver-Boy -"
"She was a lady skinhead?" interrupted Brian.
"No, stupid," said Adam. "It's a French name. Bovver-Boy. By Flow-Bear."
"You mean Madame Bovary, by Flaubert," said Wensleydale. "I read about it in The Encyclopaedia of World Literature."
Adam gave him a withering glance. "That's what I said," he continued. "Madam Bovver-Boy, by Flow-Bear. She's married to this doctor, and he's dead borin', so she starts hangin' around with these two lovers, and then she maxes out her credit card, so she eats arsernick and poisons herself. The bit where she's dyin' of the arsernick is dead good. Her tongue's hanging out and she's screamin' -"
"Why did she max out her credit card?" asked Pepper.
"She was buying presents for her lovers," said Adam. "Roses an' boxes of chocolates an' stuff like that -"
"I thought the lovers were supposed to give her presents?" said Brian dubiously. "My sister's boyfriend gave her this huge bunch of roses on Valentine's Day, and a box of Quality Street, and a balloon with -"
"She gave them presents instead because it was a proto-feminist novel," explained Wensleydale authoritatively. "That's what The Encyclopaedia of World Literature says."
Adam felt that his control of the situation was slipping, and decided to up the stakes. "It's all true," he said, in an exegetical move that would have had Flaubert scholars around the world clutching their foreheads. "Based on a true story," he added prudently, in case the The Encyclopaedia of World Literature happened to have opinions on the subject.
Behind the bushes, Aziraphale raised an eyebrow. Crowley looked defensive. "Very loosely based," he whispered hastily. "I mean, I tempted her, it's my job you know, but Gustave changed the ending for dramatic purposes. Said it didn't work to have Rodolphe sort out her debts and then settle down in a cozy ménage à quatre with her, Léon and her husband. I told him that's what actually happened, but he insisted the arsenic worked better..."
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Reading Progress
March 30, 2010
–
Started Reading
March 30, 2010
– Shelved
March 30, 2010
– Shelved as:
well-i-think-its-funny
March 30, 2010
– Shelved as:
science-fiction
April 1, 2010
– Shelved as:
too-sexy-for-maiden-aunts
April 1, 2010
– Shelved as:
linguistics-and-philosophy
April 1, 2010
–
Finished Reading
April 2, 2010
– Shelved as:
parody-homage
May 16, 2010
– Shelved as:
story-review
March 29, 2013
– Shelved as:
pooh-dante
June 29, 2020
– Shelved as:
twofer
Comments Showing 1-50 of 62 (62 new)
message 1:
by
Manny
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rated it 4 stars
Apr 02, 2010 08:54AM
I think you have to have been exposed to the Just William books as a kid...
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Sam loves those books! I have yet to read any I know this one was one of his favorites. Did you know Terry Prachett is the most shoplifted Author in England? I think that's so fun!! : )
It really is a fun book - I read it in a day and a half. But as I said, it's not a bad idea to check out one of the Just William series first, if you haven't ever read one. I don't think they're well known in the US...
This review is almost as good as the book!
Thank you Jürgen! Have you read any of the Just William books? I read them as a kid and Adam's language is very familiar to me...
I only just realized it was a proto-Deathmatch review. You know what it's like when you start researching the roots of a genre...
A lot of Manny's reviews read like stories, and some are more fun to read than the books they review. :)
Thank you Sparkling! I did in fact publish a collection of my favorite reviews last year, but I'm afraid nothing more substantial as yet...
I loved Good Omens!! I thought it was funny but meaningful. I also enjoyed your review. I don't know about Madame Bovary, since I haven't read it yet, but the characters from Good Omens are spot on, especially Aziraphale and Crowley, who also happen to be my favorite!! Thank you for such refreshing reviews.
I am only on chapter 1, but enjoying it a lot. I am a fan of Gaiman and Pratchett. The Omen reminds me more of Christopher Moors (Stupidest Angel; Lamb). Love the dark-ish humor and anti-religious satire.
It's a while since I read one of your mashup reviews, but this did not disappoint.
Manny wrote: "Thank you Jürgen! Have you read any of the Just William books? I read them as a kid and Adam's language is very familiar to me..."
"According to Gaiman, he originally began the book as a parody of Richmal Crompton's William books, named William the Antichrist, but it gradually outgrew the original idea."
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Om...
Manny wrote: "Thank you Jürgen! Have you read any of the Just William books? I read them as a kid and Adam's language is very familiar to me..."
"According to Gaiman, he originally began the book as a parody of Richmal Crompton's William books, named William the Antichrist, but it gradually outgrew the original idea."
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Om...
Oh, it's just what usually happens to people who are trapped in a lifeless marriage and start playing around. Though apparently it caused a great deal of excitement when Flaubert pointed this out.
I should visit Madame Bovary and re read good omens with her. Maybe she can make a cameo in the film?
Kaya wrote: "I should visit Madame Bovary and re read good omens with her. Maybe she can make a cameo in the film?"
Thank you Kaya, I hadn't noticed that it's soon going to appear as a movie!
Neil Gaiman, are you listening? Can you make this happen?
Thank you Kaya, I hadn't noticed that it's soon going to appear as a movie!
Neil Gaiman, are you listening? Can you make this happen?
Hi Manny! I believe that the whole thing started with an idea by Neil Gaiman. His original title was “William the Antichrist.”
And they are currently filming a 6 part TV series with David Tennant as Crowley. Miranda Richardson is Madame Tracy! We have to wait till next year, though.
And they are currently filming a 6 part TV series with David Tennant as Crowley. Miranda Richardson is Madame Tracy! We have to wait till next year, though.
I am kind of looking forward to seeing this. From the advance pictures, I think David Tennant is enjoying the role...
This book is very interesting and has a very dramatic plot. That is why, in my opinion, this book is great for people into supernatural powers and comedy. However, some things I disliked was the first part of the book because the author introduced too many characters at once. Additionally, these characters were not really relevant towards the book and only offered brief anecdotes. Besides this, I really liked how the author made the plot very dramatic and interesting but also funny. Additionally, the book is decently easy to read for the majority of the pages, however some other pages are hard to understand and process. In general, this book was a great choice and I would continue to read more books from Neil Gaimen and Terry Pratchet.
I quite agree, several characters were only marginally relevant, and the plot is in general quite illogical. In particular, I do not think one can reasonably say that the Just William books prefigure the coming of the Antichrist.
Manny wrote: "I do not think one can reasonably say that the Just William books prefigure the coming of the Antichrist."
I always thought Violet Elizabeth was one of Satan's acolytes - the female and demonic equivalent of a cherub.
I always thought Violet Elizabeth was one of Satan's acolytes - the female and demonic equivalent of a cherub.
What can you not achieve when you've managed to sign up Gustave Flaubert, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman as assistants? I can tell you it took some organisation. Gustave and Terry in particular really didn't agree on certain key issues.
Why did Flaubert never get around to writing a sequel? James Patterson could have taught him a thing or two.
Maga, you need to get started on Madame Bovary 2 before someone scoops you. Obviously she faked her death, but then what?