How we cite our quotes: Chapter.Paragraph
Quote #1
Then she straightens and resumes her walk, humming a little prayer, which is not so much a prayer as a hope, a private incantation: "Dear God," she prays, "I should like to fall in love." (1.8)
Is there really a difference between a prayer and a hope? Maybe one difference is that a prayer is directed at someone, while a hope is personal. But if God is lazy or just not listening, is it still a prayer?
Quote #2
God's passion for humans always leads to catastrophe, to meteorological upset on an epic scale. What is wrong with the boy that he can't get it up for some nice Goddess? Why, oh why, can't he pursue a sensible relationship, one that will not end in disaster? (2.37)
It almost seems like Bob is drawn to hopeless situations. Maybe he likes mortals because they will die—just like he thinks suffering and evanescence is beautiful. Hmm, maybe he's deeper than we thought.
Quote #3
Mr. B has seen it all before. Earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes. God's unique inability to learn from his mistakes: yet another wonderful trait he's passed on to his creations. (2.38)
Now we all know who to blame for the fact that, no matter how many times we tell ourselves we're not going to do it anymore, we still manage to lock ourselves out of the house.
Quote #4
He hoped the committee would be proved right about Bob—hoped his energy and creativity would somehow make up for what looked, on paper, like a lamentable lack of experience. Mr. B shut his eyes and hoped against hope that somehow it would all turn out fine. He had lived long enough to grasp the danger of hope. (3.11)
Wait, isn't hope good? Well, sure. Unless you just sit around and hope all day without doing anything about it.
Quote #5
"I'm dedicating every minute of my life, as usual, to the futile pursuit of order. I am but a humble fisherman engaged in the hopeless task of unraveling the frantic net of despair you have cast upon the victims of your creativity."(18.2)
Poor Mr. B is just like Sisyphus, pushing that rock up the wall. Hopeless. (Psst, Mr. B: not to spoil the ending, but things turn out pretty well for you in the end.)
Quote #6
"What bad things? What are you talking about? I've done incredibly well! Everyone thinks so!" Mona looked away and studied her nails. "If you say so, darling." "Look." He struggled to regain control. "If I'm so completely useless, how did I get to be God?" Mona blinked, face arranged in an expression of genuine sympathy. "Perhaps no one else wanted the job?" Bob sat down hard. That possibility hadn't occurred to him. (22.40)
Considering how obvious it is to everyone else, we wonder how Bob was able to ignore how he failed at everything he planned to do. Oh, right: because he's a lazy teenager. (Don't worry: we know that not all teenagers are lazy. But you have to admit, this one is.)
Quote #7
Had he ever been happy? Would he ever be happy again? (34.34)
And here are a few more questions: What does it mean to be happy? What do you think would make Mr. B happy? Besides some new wellies and a very sensible briefcase?
Quote #8
"Did somebody say 'help'?" Mr. B looks up from his work. "Yes, help. Please help me," gabbles Bob, a miserable wretchlike version of his former self. "Everything's gone wrong." (40.32)
Bob is an ideas man, but he's not so good at the follow-through. When things need to be done, Mr. B comes through. So now we're wondering: does anyone have both Bob's fantastic ideas and Mr. B's attention to detail? (And if so, will you send us your résumé?)
Quote #9
"Perhaps the way to proceed is to think of life on earth as a colossal joke, a creation of such immense stupidity that the only way to live is to laugh until you think your heart will break." He [Mr. B] looks upward to the branches, rich with summer green, stares through them to the sky beyond. (45.43)
Oh, Mr. B. If only you were mortal, because we would totally be your platonic life partner. Seriously, though, isn't he right? When things go wrong—you're late to work, it's raining, and your car battery dies; you ordered a pizza with extra cheese and they delivered a pizza with extra sauce; you have 10,000 spoons, and all you need is a knife—there's nothing to do but laugh.
Quote #10
"I shall miss you all, and trust you to carry on, without me, the job I sought to do, and to remember in my name that there is much to accomplish on earth, despite what often appears to be the most hopeless burden of woe . . ."(48.34)
This is your straight-up irony right here: Mr. B is going on and on about hopelessness when the most wonderful thing in the novel (Bob leaving) is just about to happen.