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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
Loved it!
it's hard to explain the plot of this story, but if you're a fan of Doctor Who, you'll enjoy this book for sure. Full of British humor, fast-paced, and has interesting characters. The only complaint I have is that it feels a bit unfinished, but maybe more will be explained in the following book.
it's hard to explain the plot of this story, but if you're a fan of Doctor Who, you'll enjoy this book for sure. Full of British humor, fast-paced, and has interesting characters. The only complaint I have is that it feels a bit unfinished, but maybe more will be explained in the following book.
I read this as a teenager and was surprised to find I didn't own it. Then I was surprised that it was so hard to find in a library. I had to settle for an EBOOK. Sheesh.
The book runs on for quite some time and every so often you stop and remind yourself that you are reading a mystery, probably. By the time you get to the end of it, you are satisfied that Something Has Happened, but you'll be damned if you can remember what. That's okay, though, because that was probably the author's intent.
A nice, peaceful distraction. I'd watched the TV series, which caused the craving for the reread, and while you can find certain, ah, broad thematic overlap, they are very different experiences. But then, that's normal for Adams. Greg watched approximately ten minutes of the show and declared that it was Doctor Who and later Wikipedia told me that Adams used to write for Who and turned some unused ideas into Dirk, so score another one for Greg's perceptiveness. Good job, Greg!
Okay, goodnight!
The book runs on for quite some time and every so often you stop and remind yourself that you are reading a mystery, probably. By the time you get to the end of it, you are satisfied that Something Has Happened, but you'll be damned if you can remember what. That's okay, though, because that was probably the author's intent.
A nice, peaceful distraction. I'd watched the TV series, which caused the craving for the reread, and while you can find certain, ah, broad thematic overlap, they are very different experiences. But then, that's normal for Adams. Greg watched approximately ten minutes of the show and declared that it was Doctor Who and later Wikipedia told me that Adams used to write for Who and turned some unused ideas into Dirk, so score another one for Greg's perceptiveness. Good job, Greg!
Okay, goodnight!
I love Douglas Adams and nothing in my life makes me happier then reading one of his books. This one is no different. Zen driving is a skill I am going to master.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Quirky, full of wit, and everything you would expect from a Douglas Adams read. There is a lot of nuance in this book and I can definitely see myself picking it back up again to reread.
More 3.5. I would say the last quarter goes off the rails, but it's more of a conductor playing fast and loose with track switching throughout the book than anything.
Little morsels of supernatural occurrences are sprinkled throughout the nontraditional start of this murder mystery as Richard, our every man conduit in this odd tale, visits an old professor at his college with a fascinating secret. This seemingly insignificant meal that he has during the Coleridge (as in the poet) dinner is key to unraveling the mystery going forward. An Electric Monk and his horse is dumped into this realm to complicate everything and a murder occurs, which serves as the catalyst of our protagonists' involvement though it rapidly takes a backseat in the conclusion.
We actually don't meet Dirk Gently until well into the first half of the book. A Sherlock Holmes in his cleverness, eccentricity, and lack of social finesse, Dirk comes into the picture as he spies Richard, an old schoolmate, doing something particularly unusual. He then uses his unconventional mind to solve the whole thing with the professor and the salt cellar, the appearance of Michael Wentin Weakes (another odd character that seemingly had unconnected chapters throughout), and the mysterious landscape at the start of the book. It's difficult to describe without spoilers though I'm afraid I've already written too much - better just to read it as it is quite a quick and easy read.
Little morsels of supernatural occurrences are sprinkled throughout the nontraditional start of this murder mystery as Richard, our every man conduit in this odd tale, visits an old professor at his college with a fascinating secret. This seemingly insignificant meal that he has during the Coleridge (as in the poet) dinner is key to unraveling the mystery going forward. An Electric Monk and his horse is dumped into this realm to complicate everything and a murder occurs, which serves as the catalyst of our protagonists' involvement though it rapidly takes a backseat in the conclusion.
We actually don't meet Dirk Gently until well into the first half of the book. A Sherlock Holmes in his cleverness, eccentricity, and lack of social finesse, Dirk comes into the picture as he spies Richard, an old schoolmate, doing something particularly unusual. He then uses his unconventional mind to solve the whole thing with the professor and the salt cellar, the appearance of Michael Wentin Weakes (another odd character that seemingly had unconnected chapters throughout), and the mysterious landscape at the start of the book. It's difficult to describe without spoilers though I'm afraid I've already written too much - better just to read it as it is quite a quick and easy read.
Entertaining, but not as wholly strange, funny and ontologically satisfying as the Hitchhiker's Guide.
funny
slow-paced