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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
3.5
Douglas Adams is a crackpot, and such a chaotic mess of a book has no right being this good.
Douglas Adams is a crackpot, and such a chaotic mess of a book has no right being this good.
I like the Dirk Gently books, but they've never connected with me the way the Hitchhiker's Guide series did. This one, in particular, just seems busy... too many ideas thrown at the page at once, all of them interesting but none of them really given enough room to breathe or grow adequately as we finally make our way to the rushed finish, which just recycles ideas from some of his Doctor Who scripts. It has its moments, but it could be so much more.
Also, how many adaptations of Dirk on TV and radio have there been now and NONE of them have cast Matt Berry as Dirk? The man *is* Dirk Gently as written on the page.
Also, how many adaptations of Dirk on TV and radio have there been now and NONE of them have cast Matt Berry as Dirk? The man *is* Dirk Gently as written on the page.
Absolutely stunning. This book walked me from "what the fuck is going on" to "how dare this all make sense" and was funny and charming the entire way. I already liked Adams for his Hitchhiker books, but this was really something else. One of my fave fiction books I've read in a while.
Smart, mind-twisty, & fun. Just a really enjoyable book to read! I enjoyed this one much more than Hitchhiker's Guide. (I know that's sacrilege in some circles, but there you have it.) Hitchhiker's Guide didn't live up to the hype, imo, while this one seems to be an under-appreciated gem. Recommended.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I first read this when it was published way back in the 1980s, so remembered it was funny, but could recall almost nothing of the plot. Very wacky, quite bemusing at the beginning, but it all eventually makes sense in a very Douglas Adams sort of way. I loved the joke at the end about the music of Bach.
I wonder what my Book Club will make of it though?
I wonder what my Book Club will make of it though?
I listened to this performed on audio book by a cast. It was done very well. This was the first work of Adams that I have read. Having said that as a new reader it felt there were some inside jokes I was missing, or maybe that is his style. There were parts I found to be quite humorous. I am a bit surprised this made the list of 1,001 books you must read before you die.
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I have to say the plot kind of lost me somewhere about 70% through, but I still want to rate it 4 stars because of the incredible, hilarious writing. He just writes sentences that you kind of don't think are possible, it's hilarious!
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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