Reading 1001 discussion

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy The second time to read this book. I found it a bit more hilarious than the first time I read it but the best part are the first few pages then it loses some of its momentum. Over all, a fun read, audio was well done and I own it so probably will read it again someday. I thought of the talking, annoying robots and computer voices and thought of Hal from 2001 a Space Odyssey and I also thought of those annoying voices of GPS in our vehicles and Siri and Alexa, etc. I think that was forward thinking on the author's part. Rating 2.875.

5 stars

This book is one of two audiobooks I remember reading back in high school (the other being Asterix in Gaul). I had it on tape and then went on to read it and the following books as paperbacks. Now I’ve listened to Stephen Fry read it and it was very well done. Always a favourite.

4 stars - I really enjoyed this book. I'm not usually a fan of absurdist humour but after enjoying Dirk Gently for Sept BOTM I thought I'd give this other series of Adams a go.

It's a light and easy read, lot's of funny moments and a fairly steady plot, although it does meander off at times.

I wouldn't say it's in any way a 'must read' but given its cultural influence over the years I understand why it has ended up on the 1001 list.

I read the next book in the series as well (not a list book) and unfortunately it wasn't as strong as this one, so I don't know if I will end up finishing the whole series.

This is the third Douglas Adams book I have read and I have to admit that I preferred the Dirk Gently books where the absurdist humor ricocheted off the plausible. In outer space, the set ups are all out of this world and lack grounding. However, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a classic and quite a romp. One can't help but identify with Arthur Dent who is looking for a cup of tea where none exists. I have a feeling that if one read it in the early 80's after watching the first Star Trek series and having read Carl Sagan and owning a digital watch and being very high on one's drug of choice, this would have been a very stellar read.
And remember, the answer is 42.

This book features what to me is one of the most traumatic scenes in all literature. Yes, I mean the whale incident. I have cried both times I have read this book.

Apart from the whale incident this book is remarkably funny and much better than I remembered (it was about 20 years ago that I first read it though!)

My favourite character was, and remains, Marvin, the robot whose depression and boredom are such as trigger suicidal tendencies in spaceships.

And oh dear, I have the philosophically challenging cow in the restaurant in the next book to look forward to. I need no computer to foresee trauma in my reading future...

4 stars.