I have to confess I’ve never read Good Omens or anything by Neil Gaiman (other than Fortunately the Milk with the kids) or Terry Pratchett (I tried in high school but – my head – well, it still hurts.) so when my husband insisted my son and I watch Good Omens with him on Amazon – well, honestly I had no choice. I was sort of told I was watching it and I sort of had to because I’m a huge David Tennant fan. It was six one hour episodes, so like a mini-series and we binged watched it over a couple of days.
So we spent last weekend watching all six episodes while randomly covering my 4-year old daughter’s eyes or taking her out of the room altogether. And when it was done my husband looked at me, as he so often does after he lets me into a little of his world, and said: “So, what did you think?”
“I think I need to start the next book in The Mitford Series so I can escape into a very sweet, very innocent and maybe even a little pointless world.”
And that’s what I did. I put the thoughts of Armageddon behind me, even if it was a humorous take on the end of the world, and finally finished the fifth book of the Mitford series “A New Song.” As for what I really thought of Good Omens: I’m still very confused by it all but I’m still a David Tennant fan and I think even more so now. Yes, Michael Sheen was very good as well and I actually was able to stand Jack Whitehall for more than five minutes, which is longer than I can normally stand him.
What was hilarious to me was how Gaiman got slammed on Twitter for making Adam and Eve black (hello… they most likely were). That’s what people were upset about? The whole series was pretty much mocking the Christian faith, in a way, though not in the worst way I’ve ever seen, but someone got their panties in a bunch over Adam and Eve being black? Um… okay? Weird.
After watching Good Omens, I saw an interview with Gaiman about writing that I really enjoyed.
As so often happens when I start asking questions about a favorite author of my husband’s, I ended up with another piece written about said author being shoved into my hand:
I can’t say I minded. It was very interesting, well written (of course) and the artwork outstanding. The story was intriquing, a bit baffling for me in parts (since I don’t know every incarnation of Batman in the comics), and definitely engaging.
Keeping with my weird, eclectic literary taste, I watched Good Omens, read Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader and then finished Jan Karon’s light, skipping through the tulips writing with “A New Song” (the fifth book in The Mitford Series) and then also, finally, finished All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot (or real name Alfred Wight).
I thought I’d try a Debbie Macomber book since I saw an interview with her I really liked, but then I saw the pilot episode of a series on the Hallmark Channel, based on a series she wrote, and am having second thoughts.
The worse line in the Cedar Cove show?
“One thing she won’t have in the city are her memories because they are here in Cedar Cove.”
Uh … no … her memories are in her head. Dork. That newspaper editor who was supposed to have written that should be fired. Immediately. And if it that is how Macomber’s books read I may have to fire her too. We’ll see what I think after I read “A Little Bit Country.”
So, I approach my first Debbie Macomber book with a huge amount of trepidation, even though I loved this interview with her on YouTube (though less so the awkward interviewer):
Also in my queue to start this week are the following books:
All Things Bright And Beautiful by James Herriot
In This Mountain by Jan Karon
The Elmo Jenkins Trilogy by McMillan Moody
The Father Brown Complete Collection by G.K Chesterton
As for my blog this week, here are the links to what I rambled about.
Franny: A little piece of fiction
So what is on tap for all of you this week in books, movies, or shows?
Let me know in the comments or leave me a link to your contribution for this week’s Sunday Salon, which you can find on Readerbuzz or the Sunday post which you can find at Caffeinated Bookreviewer.
Boondock Ramblings 
I tried twice to read Good Omens, ages ago, and found the tone sort of exhausting. I’ll probably enjoy the series, but currently we’re subscription free. Maybe in fall…
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I’m sure it will still be there then.
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I meant to add: We should go subscription free – it’s nuts all the subscriptions everyone wants to offer now 🙄
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Yeah, we kind of revolve through them. Trying to go free for a while and see how that goes.
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I LOVED the Elmo Jenkins Trilogy! They aren’t usually the type of book I go for, but they were hilarious and engaging. 🙂 God Bless!
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I’d never heard of the books before but they were suggested by BookBub, something my husband suggested I sign up for to learn when there are deals on authors or genres I enjoy.
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I loved Good Omens, Also loved the Mitford series and Debbie Macomber, have not watched the Cove series you mentioned. Need to check out Batman version you mentioned. I am currently watched season one of the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and loving it.
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I enjoyed the first season of Miss Maisel but am stuck a bit in season 2. Still good – just not as so far. some really funny stuff though! I think Debbie’s early stuff is what I’m not liking because I just looked at one from this year and it looks better
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I loved the Good Omens mini series. I think it is awesome that Neil Gaiman was big on inclusivity. It’s about time that people of color have the opportunity to be a part of something like this. I don’t understand why it is hard for people to believe that Adam & Eve or anyone else for that matter were people of color. Thank you Lisa for giving an honest review. Not everything is for everybody.
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I did enjoy it , so don’t get me wrong. The acting was great – I do think they could have shortened it a bit toward the end but it was a labor of love for Neil. I didn’t really think it was a big deal the couple was black – African – whatever they were saying because I’ve heard that if there was a garden of eden it would be in the areas where people had darker skin so – hello. It’s accurate. I actually didn’t even notice it until my husband said people had complained. 🙄 whatever. People!
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I haven’t read the book but I am thinking about it now!!
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I’m going to try but don’t expect to get too far. Fantasy isn’t always my thing
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I was really looking forward to watching Good Omens but I wasn’t terribly impressed by the first episode, and not because Adam & Eve we’re black (If I actually believed, I agree with you that they would most likely be black). I might try again at some point.
I actually like Debbie Macomber when I’m in the mood for an uncomplicated HEA, Cedar cove was too hallmarky for me though.
Have a great reading week
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We enjoyed it but I think you have to have to have a warped sense of humor like us 😂
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I’m not watching Good Omens but I have read the book. I missed the Twitter kerfuffle over Adam and Eve. My weekly updates
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I missed it too. I’m glad. My husband saw it.
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Love that you posted an author interview. I listen to interviews on youtube all the time and this one definitely had an awkward interviewer. Love his question, ‘what makes a book a romance!!!’ what a question… #sundaysalon
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I started her books and I can’t say I’m a huge fan of her writing but I really do like her as a person so maybe I’ll keep pushing through. I think the guy may be autistic or something but his questions made sense – he was just awkward. Not that being autistic is bad but I mean it might explain his pauses and odd stares.
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I read Good Omens a long time ago and loved it even though it also offended me. (What is it about books that are wildly funny yet also wildly offensive? They seem to stick more than the insipidly funny ones.) I have it on my must-read list and favorites list at Goodreads and I’ve often thought about a reread (which I rarely do). I’m glad to hear the movie (series?) didn’t disappoint.
I am intrigued about the juxtaposition of reading Good Omens and Mitford. It sounds odd but it was a long time ago that I read both of these. If I read them today, I would most likely have an entirely different take on them. The two together might be a perfect meal.
Have a great week!
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I did forget to mention that Good Omens was six episodes so like a mini series. I guess reading Mitford was a way to clean my pallet. 😉
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I’ve read two things by Gaiman – loved one and didn’t “get” the other.
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I’m going to try a couple and see what I think about the rest of his books. I’m not a huge fantasy fan so I don’t know if I’ll make it through them or not
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We still have yet to see Good Omens but will…someday. I think Kim remembers more about it than I do.
I think that’s what makes comics difficult, or less than appealing, for Kim too: all of the various incarnations of the heroes (and villains). Myself? I like the idea of reboots, of the second (and third up to innumerable) chance at maybe getting it right (or not).
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This one tied in a bunch of other versions of Batman, almost tying them all together from over the years. It was very interesting and the artwork was outstanding.
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