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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
Es la primera vez que leo a Douglas Adams en versión original y está claro que no es mi rollo.
El libro empieza con muchas cosas que parecen no estar ni un poco relacionadas, y la gracia es ir viendo cómo todas se relacionan a medida que avanza. No obstante, tarda mucho en arrancar la sensación de "propósito" del libro, con lo que el primer 60% me lo pasé más pensando "pero qué me está contando" que otra cosa. El último 40% me lo leí casi del tirón porque necesitaba saber cómo se ataba todo, pero francamente si no recordara con tanto cariño la Guía del Autoestopista quizá no habría llegado hasta la parte interesante.
Y los cliffhangers, madre mía, de un párrafo al siguiente un cliffhanger. Señor Adams, la tila xD
El libro empieza con muchas cosas que parecen no estar ni un poco relacionadas, y la gracia es ir viendo cómo todas se relacionan a medida que avanza. No obstante, tarda mucho en arrancar la sensación de "propósito" del libro, con lo que el primer 60% me lo pasé más pensando "pero qué me está contando" que otra cosa. El último 40% me lo leí casi del tirón porque necesitaba saber cómo se ataba todo, pero francamente si no recordara con tanto cariño la Guía del Autoestopista quizá no habría llegado hasta la parte interesante.
Y los cliffhangers, madre mía, de un párrafo al siguiente un cliffhanger. Señor Adams, la tila xD
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
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The characters were likeable. And by characters, I am excluding Reg, who I found uncomfortable to be around with, especially with the way he interacted with the characters, though he might not be responsible for the circumstances he is in. I also exclude Michael Wenton-Weakes, who comes off more pathetic than likeable. These characters, uncomfortable and pathetic they may be, definitely added character to the story. The contrasting personalities played into the story well, and each of the characters had their own defined roles.
Then there’s the actual story. The story was unpredictable, but yet predictable (if you are open to sudden, strange encounters and have a mind for mad happenings). It felt like a mad ride into science fiction, one that was not into hardcore worldbuilding or having fantastic technologies, but simply existed to have fun. Different eccentric theories are proposed and spilled over the page followed by a usual confused and puzzled Richard who has a lot of questions. This unpredictability makes an entertaining experience of a story.
As for the writing, so far what I’ve read of Douglas Adams’ writing consists of many fun ventures into wordplay and is usually in a open, humorous tone that is just so carefree and fun to read. It isn’t devoid of gravity, but plays about with it, so that you get a bouncy, carefree feel that can be intoxicating and be a little off-putting when you’re not in the mood for it. I enjoy his writing, but I usually need to be in a definite mood for something silly for his words to actually get through the haze in my mind.
Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency is a fun book, but it leaves a lot of loose ends (in this one book anyway) that may be open to interpretation or exploration for the readers. I was unsatisfied with the lack of clarity or depth of the worlds but then again some floaty part of me that demanded nothing of logic or sciencec knew that it all made sense.
From Words & Nocturnes
lighthearted
mysterious
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Dirk Gently was once at school at Oxford, until a mix-up with the answers to a term end final test led him to be dismissed from the school. In this first adventure Dirk helps out a former school mate wanted by the police in connection with the bizarre murder of his boss. Everything is connected in Dirk’s holistic mind, including the Electric Monk, Musical financial software, a stuck sofa, a rude Oxford porter and more than one ghost. Oh yes, and a lost cat. The cat is crucial!
There were so many moments where I was enchanted by Adams turn of phrase which brought a smile to my face. Despite only having seen the BBC series based on the character before this, Gently has firmly entrenched himself as one of my favorite characters in literature. After having watched the (way too short) Dirk Gently series, I will always picture Stephen Mangan as Gently and now reading the book I can see that he really did an awesome job in his portrayal.
One thing I would note about this particular version, it was at times hard to follow the action in this radio-play adaptation of the novel, which shouldn’t be a challenge for those already familiar with the novel, but for others it may be best to start with the novel and then listen to this audio, it’s definitely a book worth a few re-readings!
There were so many moments where I was enchanted by Adams turn of phrase which brought a smile to my face. Despite only having seen the BBC series based on the character before this, Gently has firmly entrenched himself as one of my favorite characters in literature. After having watched the (way too short) Dirk Gently series, I will always picture Stephen Mangan as Gently and now reading the book I can see that he really did an awesome job in his portrayal.
One thing I would note about this particular version, it was at times hard to follow the action in this radio-play adaptation of the novel, which shouldn’t be a challenge for those already familiar with the novel, but for others it may be best to start with the novel and then listen to this audio, it’s definitely a book worth a few re-readings!
An unusual and, at times, confusing book that was still fun. I especially liked Dirk Gently's quirky character.
3.5 stars
fun! very Douglas Adams-y, i liked it. Will definitely pick up book 2 if I ever see it anywhere
fun! very Douglas Adams-y, i liked it. Will definitely pick up book 2 if I ever see it anywhere
this book is marvelously clever, and i could rant about it for hours, but i'll save myself the embarrassment.
The vastly superior first book of the Dirk Gently series is a rather interesting 1980s England period romp through space-time. In that sense, it's rather like a missing Doctor Who episode, right down to the oddball timelord.
Douglas Adams is an acquired taste, but if you enjoy "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" there's a good chance you will like this witty, nerdy story of a couple of Ghosts, a Holistic Detective, an Electric Monk and his horse, and a gangly computer nerd who basically goes around the novel goggle-eyed and Incomprehending.
Sadly. If you loved this book, you might be tempted to read the second book in the series. I found it to be much worse, without the charm or even attempted plot of the first. Ah well, at least lightning struck once.
Recommended for Adams fans, Doctor Who fans, and nerds of a certain age.
Douglas Adams is an acquired taste, but if you enjoy "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" there's a good chance you will like this witty, nerdy story of a couple of Ghosts, a Holistic Detective, an Electric Monk and his horse, and a gangly computer nerd who basically goes around the novel goggle-eyed and Incomprehending.
Sadly. If you loved this book, you might be tempted to read the second book in the series. I found it to be much worse, without the charm or even attempted plot of the first. Ah well, at least lightning struck once.
Recommended for Adams fans, Doctor Who fans, and nerds of a certain age.