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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
challenging
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wonderful and worth the long search it took for me to actually get it.
Unfortunately, I think this book confirms a great suspicion of mine; that the work of Douglas Adams is just not for me. I was never a fan of Hitchiker's, unfortunately, but as a huge fan of the Netflix series (don't hate me, folks) I really wanted to give the book a shot.
The plot is hugely different, so the show seems to have only been influenced by the eccentric titular character, but honestly...and I very rarely say this... the show's plot and character was better. Eeek! I'm sorry, but yes I've said it!
For me, Dirk seemed to really fall flat in this. He never even appeared until over halfway through, prior to which we had just heard a bit of backstory regarding his different name, which I felt served little purpose in the plot, and thus don't really get why it was necessary. When he did appear, he was a relatively 2D, mediocre character; nothing unlikable about him, but also nothing extraordinary about him. The only characters I truly cared for was the Electronic Monk and his horse, however once they serve their purpose to the plot, they kind of disappear, which was a shame.
Speaking of the plot...umm, what? I understand that the weird, eccentric wackiness is Adams' trademark, and I did appreciate the oddness of the atmosphere the book creates (it was one of the few things I did enjoy). However, no matter how trademark this may be, for any author, for me as a reader, it still needs to tie up in a logical matter. For a book based on a character whose life career is to investigate the "interconnectedness" of everything, nothing in this book seemed to connect. I have no clue how the end came to be, and I'm not convinced that everything tied up in a logical way, thus leaving the ending really unsatisfying for me.
The humour is also, personally not for me, however this hasn't affected my grading of the book, as this is personal preference, but I just thought it worth noting.
I think I'm going to call it a day in trying to get on board with Adams' work, I'm afraid. Credit to him as a writer, but he really isn't for me, and I think his literature lacks occasionally in fleshing out characters, and really nailing the balance between wacky plots and a satisfying conclusion.
The plot is hugely different, so the show seems to have only been influenced by the eccentric titular character, but honestly...and I very rarely say this... the show's plot and character was better. Eeek! I'm sorry, but yes I've said it!
For me, Dirk seemed to really fall flat in this. He never even appeared until over halfway through, prior to which we had just heard a bit of backstory regarding his different name, which I felt served little purpose in the plot, and thus don't really get why it was necessary. When he did appear, he was a relatively 2D, mediocre character; nothing unlikable about him, but also nothing extraordinary about him. The only characters I truly cared for was the Electronic Monk and his horse, however once they serve their purpose to the plot, they kind of disappear, which was a shame.
Speaking of the plot...umm, what? I understand that the weird, eccentric wackiness is Adams' trademark, and I did appreciate the oddness of the atmosphere the book creates (it was one of the few things I did enjoy). However, no matter how trademark this may be, for any author, for me as a reader, it still needs to tie up in a logical matter. For a book based on a character whose life career is to investigate the "interconnectedness" of everything, nothing in this book seemed to connect. I have no clue how the end came to be, and I'm not convinced that everything tied up in a logical way, thus leaving the ending really unsatisfying for me.
The humour is also, personally not for me, however this hasn't affected my grading of the book, as this is personal preference, but I just thought it worth noting.
I think I'm going to call it a day in trying to get on board with Adams' work, I'm afraid. Credit to him as a writer, but he really isn't for me, and I think his literature lacks occasionally in fleshing out characters, and really nailing the balance between wacky plots and a satisfying conclusion.
The interconnectedness of things. This makes me want to wonder... what if?
We are all the same atoms.
It took a while for me to get the hang of this book; after all, Dirk Gently only makes his first appearance around page 100 or so. And the first few chapters seem so random and completely unrelated to each other, which I guess, it's the point. To proof how the most unrelated things intertwine together at the end in one way or another. Well done.
Well, post-modernism.
We are all the same atoms.
It took a while for me to get the hang of this book; after all, Dirk Gently only makes his first appearance around page 100 or so. And the first few chapters seem so random and completely unrelated to each other, which I guess, it's the point. To proof how the most unrelated things intertwine together at the end in one way or another. Well done.
Well, post-modernism.
I have just realized that I have never really indulged in this sort of escapist sci-fi stories. And it came as a very pleasant surprise for me that I have enjoyed this as much as I did, especially taking into consideration the rather slow and confusing start of the book.
Will definitely look into this authors books more.
Will definitely look into this authors books more.
This was incredibly boring. I was bored most of the time, but I finished it.
I like how it seems like Douglas Adams was really angry at computers.
Also like it seems he just really wanted to make fun of programmers, in a cute way.
Actually I think it's boring in a really similar way to the way season 1 of the Netflix series is boring? So I think that's well made.
I like Netflix!Dirk better, he's a bit of an asshole in this book.
(I still want to read on, even if I die of boredom.)
I like how it seems like Douglas Adams was really angry at computers.
Also like it seems he just really wanted to make fun of programmers, in a cute way.
Actually I think it's boring in a really similar way to the way season 1 of the Netflix series is boring? So I think that's well made.
I like Netflix!Dirk better, he's a bit of an asshole in this book.
(I still want to read on, even if I die of boredom.)
Let me start by saying that if you have seen the series of the same name, this is nothing like it. I think it's much better. Douglas Adams brings the same brilliant sci-fi nonsense that he has in Hitchhiker's Guide. Perhaps this work is a bit less absurd with more poetic notions. A thoroughly enjoyable read nonetheless.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I couldn't get through this for the longest time. I'd owned the physical book for about a year and had started reading it about 3 times, never getting beyond the third chapter. I don't know why. So I finally decided to listen to the audiobook (the one read by Douglas Adams himself) and I'm immensely glad I did.
The story is really very convoluted and I did have to look up an explanation of the ending but the writing, the ideas, the characters were enjoyable nevertheless.
They are all just so... Douglas Adams.
And I do love a character who appears fun and bubbly but who actually has a dark(er), more serious side.
4.5 stars because it spent quite a bit of time on a character I didn't really care about and because Douglas Adams has set the bar so very high. But I will definitely continue in this series.
The story is really very convoluted and I did have to look up an explanation of the ending but the writing, the ideas, the characters were enjoyable nevertheless.
They are all just so... Douglas Adams.
And I do love a character who appears fun and bubbly but who actually has a dark(er), more serious side.
4.5 stars because it spent quite a bit of time on a character I didn't really care about and because Douglas Adams has set the bar so very high. But I will definitely continue in this series.
