Bookclub

GOOD OMENS

by Neil Geiman & Terry Pratchett

What’s so bad
about knowing
the difference
between good and
evil?
 A demon can get
into real trouble ,
doing the right
thing.
WHICH
BOOKCOVER DO
YOU LIKE BEST?
 HAD DARK HAIR AND GOOD CHEEKBONES AND HE WAS WEARING
SNAKESKIN SHOES, OR AT LEAST
PRESUMABLY HE WAS WEARING SHOES, AND HE COULD DO REALLY WEIRD
THINGS WITH HIS TONGUE. AND, WHENEVER
HE FORGOT HIMSELF, HE HAD A TENDENCY TO HISS.
HE COLLECTED BOOKS. IF HE WERE TOTALLY HONEST WITH HIMSELF HE
WOULD HAVE TO HAVE ADMITTED THAT HIS BOOKSHOP WAS SIMPLY
SOMEWHERE TO STORE THEM.
HE HAD BEEN COLLECTING FOR A LONG TIME, AND, LIKE ALL
COLLECTORS, HE SPECIALIZED.
HE HAD MORE THAN SIXTY BOOKS OF PREDICTIONS CONCERNING
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE LAST HANDFUL OF
CENTURIES OF THE SECOND MILLENNIUM.
WHEN HE WAS TEN HE LIKED BASEBALL; HE
LIKED PLASTIC TOYS THAT TRANSFORMED
INTO OTHER PLASTIC
TOYS INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM THE FIRST SET
OF PLASTIC TOYS EXCEPT TO THE TRAINED
EYE; HE LIKED HIS STAMP
COLLECTION; HE LIKED BANANA-FLAVOR
BUBBLE GUM; HE LIKED COMICS AND
CARTOONS AND HIS B.M.X. BIKE.
WARLOCK
HE FELT VERY PLEASED ABOUT THE
MORNING'S WORK. HE'D ALWAYS KNOWN
THAT THE WORLD WAS AN
INTERESTING PLACE, AND HIS IMAGINATION
HAD PEOPLED IT WITH PIRATES AND BANDITS
AND SPIES AND ASTRONAUTS
AND SIMILAR. BUT HE'D ALSO HAD A NAGGING
SUSPICION THAT, WHEN YOU SERIOUSLY GOT
RIGHT DOWN TO IT, THEY
WERE ALL JUST THINGS IN BOOKS AND DIDN'T
PROPERLY EXIST ANY MORE.
She was a bright child, with a pale face, and black eyes and hair. As a rule she tended to make people
feel
uncomfortable, a family trait she had inherited, along with being more psychic than was good for her,
from her
great-great-great-great-great grandmother.
She was precocious, and self-possessed.
DO YOU THINK THAT AZIRAPHALE AND CROWLEY
ARE DISTINCTLY EITHER GOOD OR EVIL?
WHY OR WHY NOT?
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THEIR ATTITUDE TO
EACH OTHER AND THEIR VIEWPOINTS ON THE
UPBRINGING OF THE BOY?
 It is suggested throughout the story that there
is some divine plan that lays out every action
and event in life. When Adam averts
Armageddon at the Tadfield Air Base, it seems
to surprise many that are present. Do you think
that this surprise is part of the divine plan, or
do you think that there was no divine plan in
action? Explain.
AZIRAPHALE AND CROWLEY
MADE CONCERTED EFFORTS
TO SHAPE THE UPBRINGING
OF THE ANTICHRIST UNTIL
THEY DISCOVERED THAT
THEY HAD THE WRONG
CHILD. DO YOU SUPPOSE
THAT ADAM WOULD HAVE
FOUND HIS POWERS SOONER
HAD THEY BEEN INVOLVED IN
HIS LIFE? WHY OR WHY NOT?
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THEIR
INVOLVEMENT IN WARLOCK'S
LIFE MADE A DIFFERENCE?
What are your thoughts on the recurring theme
that no angel or demon could even think up the
horrible things humans do to each other or the
wonderful things they do to help each other?
How do you see the role of humanity in the
book vs. the role of the supernatural?
DO YOU FIND A MESSAGE IN
THIS BOOK? IF SO, WHAT? DO
YOU THINK ITS SATIRE
WORKS AS INTENDED?
In your opinion, would this novel work better if
viewed as a “political” novel (as books with
religious themes tend to be viewed, currently),
or if viewed as a humorous novel that happens
to satirize religion? In what ways does the
humor add and detract from its message?
HOW DO YOU VIEW THE
ROLES OF AGNES NUTTER
AND ANATHEMA? DO THEIR
PROPHECIES FIT IN TO THE
SATIRE OR ARE THEY MERELY
THERE AS A PLOT MOVING
DEVICE? WHAT ABOUT THE
ROLES OF OTHER
SECONDARY CHARACTERS?
(NEWT, SHADWELL, MADAME
TRACY, THE CHATTERING
ORDER OF ST. BERYL, ETC.)
DID YOU ENJOY READIND THE BOOK OR WATCHING
THE TV SERIES?