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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
I have read many books where nothing makes sense till the end but this one was just odd. I did enjoy it once I got into it though!!
Amazing! I feel in love from the introduction of the Electric Monk! I might love this more than The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, though a towel does briefly feature in this as well!
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency has many of the same elements as Adams's more well known Hitchhiker's Guide series: mentally ill robots, digital watches, time travel and the end of the earth.
Dirk Gently's story doesn't flow as evenly from scene to scene as [b:the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy|11|The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Trilogy, Book 1)|Douglas Adams|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1156039839s/11.jpg|3078186] does but then there are so many different versions of the Guide that it's possible earlier versions were just as rough. It took me a while to get into the story and to piece together the different threads of the story.
My favorite characters are the Robot Monk, the ghost of Gordon, and Dirk Gently himself. Gordon's plight of learning how to be a ghost made for humorous and interesting reading. I had to agree with Dirk and his frustration and Richard's apparently random actions.
I liked the book enough to pick up the sequel. It's on my TBR shelf; I just need to find it.
Dirk Gently's story doesn't flow as evenly from scene to scene as [b:the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy|11|The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Trilogy, Book 1)|Douglas Adams|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1156039839s/11.jpg|3078186] does but then there are so many different versions of the Guide that it's possible earlier versions were just as rough. It took me a while to get into the story and to piece together the different threads of the story.
My favorite characters are the Robot Monk, the ghost of Gordon, and Dirk Gently himself. Gordon's plight of learning how to be a ghost made for humorous and interesting reading. I had to agree with Dirk and his frustration and Richard's apparently random actions.
I liked the book enough to pick up the sequel. It's on my TBR shelf; I just need to find it.
Not quite as laugh-out-loud funny as Hitchhiker, but still, Adams continues to show his unique talent for mixing weird elements into a wholesome, awesome story. Still I felt the ending was a bit contrived, and I certainly took issue that the only female character in the whole book was only there to have perfunctory role into that messy conclusion. I really felt like there was no need for the ghost to have killed Ross in order to prove that he wasn't full of good intentions, and it was lazy that Dirk manages to realize in a couple of hours what Reg is up to, but they all agree to let the ghost go back to his ship without giving it much of a thought. And I'm still not entirely sure how thwarting Coleridge really solves everything (again, sounds very contrived when the logical, even if immoral solution would be to preemptively kill Michael).
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book takes its time in world-building, and sets up a truly magnificent mystery! And then it all goes to shambles when [SPOILERS] a fucking alien ghost did it. [/SPOILERS] What a stupid ending! I have the suspicion that this book would be 2x as good if it had been cowritten with someone who had said "No, Doug, let's not put aliens into our great murder mystery story." But not if that person were Max Landis.
I read this book as a kid, and vaguely enjoyed reading it. I reread it now after having watched a bit of MAX LANDIS' TV ADOPTION OF DIRK GENTLY. And man, the book is so much better. I know that I'm supposed to be talking about the book and not about Max Landis, but jesus that guy is a hack fraud. How could he have possibly messed up such a great book into such forgettable TV?
Anyway anyway, with that in mind, I guess the book is actually pretty good! Or at least, so much better than it might have been in the hands of someone else. I dunno. Go read it I guess.
I read this book as a kid, and vaguely enjoyed reading it. I reread it now after having watched a bit of MAX LANDIS' TV ADOPTION OF DIRK GENTLY. And man, the book is so much better. I know that I'm supposed to be talking about the book and not about Max Landis, but jesus that guy is a hack fraud. How could he have possibly messed up such a great book into such forgettable TV?
Anyway anyway, with that in mind, I guess the book is actually pretty good! Or at least, so much better than it might have been in the hands of someone else. I dunno. Go read it I guess.
I approached this novel having seen the four episodes of BBC's Dirk Gently', I was fascinated with the idea of it and after spotting the book in the library I thought I'd give it a go. I absolutely loved the way it is written but I have to confess I did get lost a couple of times and the last couple of chapters feel like a bit of a blur. But all in all, it was a great novel and one I will most definitely be re-reading at some point in the near future.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
I have loved Douglas Adams ever since he wrote the Hitchhikers series and I obsessively consumed the entire set in a matter of days. His writing style drives me crazy, and I always wonder, how can anyone write like that? Is it even possible? I mean, it clearly is, because he DID write like that, but still. He puts together ideas and concepts in such a fantastical manner, it seems like he is perpetually on something. The unreal fantasy in this book reminds me a lot of the Lemony Snicket series, which is also something I absolutely adored.
This touches on time travel, ghosts, paradoxes - I mean just look at the cover. It is ALL the science fiction with none of the boring overused tropes. I finished reading this in two days flat and the only reason I wish I hadn't was so I could go back and take it slow. Actually relish the sheer witty craziness or crazy wittiness.
I did go back and read parts of it. Well, most of it. Okay, I went back and read the entire thing. Slower. And since I knew the ending this time round, I read it all in a different light.
So yes, I do recommend reading this. And I recommend reading it twice.
This touches on time travel, ghosts, paradoxes - I mean just look at the cover. It is ALL the science fiction with none of the boring overused tropes. I finished reading this in two days flat and the only reason I wish I hadn't was so I could go back and take it slow. Actually relish the sheer witty craziness or crazy wittiness.
I did go back and read parts of it. Well, most of it. Okay, I went back and read the entire thing. Slower. And since I knew the ending this time round, I read it all in a different light.
So yes, I do recommend reading this. And I recommend reading it twice.