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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
This book continues to be a favorite and improves on rereading.
This time, I listened to an audiobook that was read by Douglas Adams himself (from the library). It was a good performance but was marred by a copyright nastygram that the production company inserted at the end.
This time, I listened to an audiobook that was read by Douglas Adams himself (from the library). It was a good performance but was marred by a copyright nastygram that the production company inserted at the end.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Sometimes, even if you’re Thor, it’s very hard to get to Oslo.
At least, if you’re Thor in a universe where humans created gods, and the gods need ongoing worship to exist. See generally http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GodsNeedPrayerBadly. This book might have been my introduction to the idea that humans created gods in our own image. And the pathos of being a being created to be worshipped once the worship stops.
It also may have been the first book I read where a lawyer and an advertising executive got together to do something really nasty to some naïve . . . being. . . using a cleverly written contract. That might have had some impact on how I approach questions of substantive unconscionability in contract cases. Hm.
Anyhoo, a lot of the plot happens off the page in this book and must be inferred from what happens. Some of it – like why an eagle keeps attacking Dirk, who is not much of a Sisyphean figure and why Thor travels around with his own Coke vending machine – are explained at the end, more or less, but others – like why Odin’s man servant has a giant green monster with a scythe and why Dirk’s refrigerator ended up there – are left as exercises for the reader. As well as what exactly Dirk did to keep a particular contract clause from being enforced . . . though Thor finding his inner Thor-ness rendered some of that moot.
Dirk Gently of this book is much less like The Doctor of Doctor Who than the Dirk Gently of the Holistic Detective Agency. He’s drifting towards Susan Sto Helit of Discworld (Death’s adopted granddaughter and more than a little bit eldritch herself, despite her stark skepticism of the supernatural) and Shadow of American Gods (though Shadow lacks Dirk’s lively imagination). A more-or-less human character who can see the divine drama, be profoundly moved by it, and figure out the trick of it. I would have loved to have seen where DNA took it.
It is also, quietly, freaking hilarious.
At least, if you’re Thor in a universe where humans created gods, and the gods need ongoing worship to exist. See generally http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GodsNeedPrayerBadly. This book might have been my introduction to the idea that humans created gods in our own image. And the pathos of being a being created to be worshipped once the worship stops.
It also may have been the first book I read where a lawyer and an advertising executive got together to do something really nasty to some naïve . . . being. . . using a cleverly written contract. That might have had some impact on how I approach questions of substantive unconscionability in contract cases. Hm.
Anyhoo, a lot of the plot happens off the page in this book and must be inferred from what happens. Some of it – like why an eagle keeps attacking Dirk, who is not much of a Sisyphean figure and why Thor travels around with his own Coke vending machine – are explained at the end, more or less, but others – like why Odin’s man servant has a giant green monster with a scythe and why Dirk’s refrigerator ended up there – are left as exercises for the reader. As well as what exactly Dirk did to keep a particular contract clause from being enforced . . . though Thor finding his inner Thor-ness rendered some of that moot.
Dirk Gently of this book is much less like The Doctor of Doctor Who than the Dirk Gently of the Holistic Detective Agency. He’s drifting towards Susan Sto Helit of Discworld (Death’s adopted granddaughter and more than a little bit eldritch herself, despite her stark skepticism of the supernatural) and Shadow of American Gods (though Shadow lacks Dirk’s lively imagination). A more-or-less human character who can see the divine drama, be profoundly moved by it, and figure out the trick of it. I would have loved to have seen where DNA took it.
It is also, quietly, freaking hilarious.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
fast-paced
After re-reading the first Dirk Gently book, I seamlessly continued with the second. I remember that it didn't leave much of an impression on me when I first read it fifteen years ago, and it was similar this time.
While the humor and punchlines are brilliant as always with Douglas Adams, the story of "The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul" didn't grip me at all. It was too unnecessary convoluted in places where it shouldn't be and too bland in others, all in all resulting in a plot that didn't have me turning pages as I usually do with Adams' books. Even the grumpy main character, holistic detective Dirk Gently, didn't seem to be at his best, merely stumbling over the pages. Instead of tying it all together in the end, the ending felt too short and hastily pieced together–while it made sense, it left me unsatisfied with the outcome of the story.
I still laughed at the jokes and enjoyed the weirdness of it all (especially with the added Nordic mythology), but would have hoped for a more coherent or at least consistent plot. Too bad we will never experience what Dirk Gently could have become in further books...
While the humor and punchlines are brilliant as always with Douglas Adams, the story of "The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul" didn't grip me at all. It was too unnecessary convoluted in places where it shouldn't be and too bland in others, all in all resulting in a plot that didn't have me turning pages as I usually do with Adams' books. Even the grumpy main character, holistic detective Dirk Gently, didn't seem to be at his best, merely stumbling over the pages. Instead of tying it all together in the end, the ending felt too short and hastily pieced together–while it made sense, it left me unsatisfied with the outcome of the story.
I still laughed at the jokes and enjoyed the weirdness of it all (especially with the added Nordic mythology), but would have hoped for a more coherent or at least consistent plot. Too bad we will never experience what Dirk Gently could have become in further books...
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
This had some really funny lines and I totally adore Douglas Adams’ writing (it’s hilarious) but like ?????? what???