Reading 1001 discussion

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Questions from Abebooks.com

1) The book starts off detailing several seemingly unrelated situations. Did this confuse or frustrate you or has it added interest to the story?

2) In these chapters you read of Samuel Taylor Colleridge's poem Kubla Khan and it's been said to fully understand the book, familiarity with Kubla Khan and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is necessary. Will you read these poems while reading Dirk Gently? Do you think doing so will add to your understanding of the book?

3) There are several references to messages left on answering machines. Do you think there's significance in this? If so, what?

4) So far, which of the characters do you like best or find to be the most humorous?

5) "The term ‘holistic’ refers to my conviction that what we are concerned with here is the interconnectedness of all things," Dirk Gently explains. What do you feel is the message about viewing the whole picture and the interconnectedness of all things?

6) Do you find yourself watching for "clues" as you read?

7) What was your overall opinion of the book? If you've read other books by Douglas Adams, how did this one compare?

8) What, if anything, did you take away from reading the book?

9) The book has been turned into a TV series staring Elijah Wood, have you seen it? What did you think?

1. I read this 25 or so years ago, and was absolutely baffled by the ending. (Unless that was the second book.) I look forward to trying again. As far as I recall, I was keeping up until the end.

2. I read Kubla Khan at university, but I think I'll revisit it, and read The Rime of the Ancient Mariner too. Hopefully it will help!

I'll get back to 3 - 5 later.

6. I generally do when I read a mystery, and I definitely will be here.

9. I have seen both seasons of the TV series twice, and I wish there was more. It has nothing to do with the books. It's a completely new story and set in the US, and the character of Dirk Gently is sillier than I remember him. It has basically just taken the notion of interconnectedness and all the wacky and run with it. It's great. Just don't expect an adaptation of the books.

1) The book starts off detailing several seemingly unrelated situations. Did this confuse or frustrate you or has it added interest to the story? - I was quite confused the first time I read this book, but that was a long time ago. All the bits do come together, eventually, though, even if some of the details were subtle enough that I only noticed the 10th time I read them.

2) In these chapters you read of Samuel Taylor Colleridge's poem Kubla Khan and it's been said to fully understand the book, familiarity with Kubla Khan and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is necessary. Will you read these poems while reading Dirk Gently? Do you think doing so will add to your understanding of the book? - I've read both poems, but I don't think my poor memory of them hindered my appreciation of this novel. It might make the book more fun though for folks who actually like poetry, if they read the poems while reading this book.

3) There are several references to messages left on answering machines. Do you think there's significance in this? If so, what? - Answering machines blur the lines between past and present, and make communication far less linear.

4) So far, which of the characters do you like best or find to be the most humorous? - I think my favorite character is the horse.

5) "The term ‘holistic’ refers to my conviction that what we are concerned with here is the interconnectedness of all things," Dirk Gently explains. What do you feel is the message about viewing the whole picture and the interconnectedness of all things? - If you are Dirk, then all the seemingly random things that go on during an investigation can be assumed to be connected, even if they seem not to be related. But, if everything is connected, some things are still more connected than other things, and the trick is still working out which things are important and how they are related.

7) What was your overall opinion of the book? If you've read other books by Douglas Adams, how did this one compare? - I've read most of Douglas Adams's books. This one is not my favorite, but it is still fun.

9) The book has been turned into a TV series staring Elijah Wood, have you seen it? What did you think? - The series is great. It doesn't follow the books super closely, and develops a whole world around Dirk that is not in the books. The holistic detection idea is well done, though, and I love the holistic assassin character they added. I really wish the series ran more than 2 seasons.

1) The book starts off detailing several seemingly unrelated situations. Did this confuse or frustrate you or has it added interest to the story?
I am sure it was meant to be confusing and it set me up for something very different. It was almost as if the author announced: "do not set your expectations to ordinary". I did not find it frustrating.

2) In these chapters you read of Samuel Taylor Colleridge's poem Kubla Khan and it's been said to fully understand the book, familiarity with Kubla Khan and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is necessary. Will you read these poems while reading Dirk Gently? Do you think doing so will add to your understanding of the book?

I have read these poems before and I read them again when I realized I needed a refresh. I think you could understand the book without a deep knowledge of the poems but you do need to know about Coleridge and the nature of his poetry.

3) There are several references to messages left on answering machines. Do you think there's significance in this? If so, what?
Jamie answered this well.... they are mini time machines.

4) So far, which of the characters do you like best or find to be the most humorous?
I liked Richard and Reg and even Gordon as a ghost and I also rather enjoyed the young girl Sarah and Dirk's secretary. And, of course, the horse.

5) "The term ‘holistic’ refers to my conviction that what we are concerned with here is the interconnectedness of all things," Dirk Gently explains. What do you feel is the message about viewing the whole picture and the interconnectedness of all things? Even though all things are connected and one ripple in time can impact waves of events in the future, one still needs to differentiate between what is important in the moment and then what the repercussions of any action may be.

6) Do you find yourself watching for "clues" as you read? I tend to look for clues in all books because I think that is how my brain works so this was not unfamiliar to me. The fact that everything didn't completely become clear to me in the end was a bit disconcerting....like why was Gordon's phone call his last? And did Reg give Richard the gift of hearing the music of life New? Love other people's help on those two things.

7) What was your overall opinion of the book? If you've read other books by Douglas Adams, how did this one compare? This was my first.

8) What, if anything, did you take away from reading the book? I enjoyed the puzzle of the interconnectiveness and I also appreciated the small human struggles...Reg needing to delight Sarah with the salt cellar trick, Richard needing to write a computer program to get his sofa unstuck (which of course required moving the wall), Richard's struggle with how to love Susan.

9) The book has been turned into a TV series staring Elijah Wood, have you seen it? What did you think?
I have not seen it but I might go looking for it.

1. The sequence of seemingly unrelated starts didn’t bother me, they were relatively short and the story moved on at a fast clip, so the interconnectedness of all things soon began to make itself apparent.

2. I haven't read Kubla Khan or The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, but given how finishing the book did leave me with some unanswered questions I may go onto read them now and see if it sheds any light.

3. Just because you leave someone a message doesn’t mean they will get it, probably best to call back later.

4. I really liked Reg with his forever forgetfulness, also he was very sweet to little Sarah and really wanted to save the Dodo. And of course, I also loved the horse. It was less about one single character for me and more that I just enjoyed their interactions with each other and the general light-hearted tone of the book.

5. There is always more going on than you realise. If you can’t find the solution nearby try looking somewhere unexpected and only loosely connected.

6. Yes, I was looking for clues, I always do when reading a mystery novel.

7. This was my first Douglas Adams novel and I was pleasantly surprised. I'm not a fan of absurdist humour, but on the whole I really enjoyed this novel and am looking forward to his others on the list.

8. When in doubt, ask a child for help, sometimes the simplest solutions are the best.

9. No, I have not seen the TV series, I doubt I’ll watch it, but I will read the rest of the books in the series.

1) The book starts off detailing several seemingly unrelated situations. Did this confuse or frustrate you or has it added interest to the story?
It was a different approach compared to The Hitchhiker's Guide, but I didn't feel disoriented or confused, I knew in the end that the pieces would fall in together at some point.

2) In these chapters you read of Samuel Taylor Colleridge's poem Kubla Khan and it's been said to fully understand the book, familiarity with Kubla Khan and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is necessary. Will you read these poems while reading Dirk Gently? Do you think doing so will add to your understanding of the book?
I have heard of these poems, but never read them. I have just read Kubla Khan, and I am not that it adds much to my understanding of the book.

3) There are several references to messages left on answering machines. Do you think there's significance in this? If so, what?
Apart from saving a fragment of time, I can't see any other deeper meaning or reason why it has been used frequently in the story.

4) So far, which of the characters do you like best or find to be the most humorous?
I would say Reg, I'd compare him to a Dumbledorf who has over-indulged on LSD and is now paying the consequences with his recurrent memory lapses.

5) "The term ‘holistic’ refers to my conviction that what we are concerned with here is the interconnectedness of all things," Dirk Gently explains. What do you feel is the message about viewing the whole picture and the interconnectedness of all things?
It has to do with cause and effect: not everything can be clearly explained by isolating cause and effect, most events are the fruit of multiple factors and causes which might or might not be interconnected.

6) Do you find yourself watching for "clues" as you read?
Not really, because I have learned to expect the unexpected when I read The Hitchhiker's Guide.

7) What was your overall opinion of the book? If you've read other books by Douglas Adams, how did this one compare?
It was funny in parts, but not as much as The Hitchhiker's Guide. It also felt more "traditional" in terms of storytelling and of story compared to the abovementioned. I liked it though, but not my favorite.

8) What, if anything, did you take away from reading the book?
Like Ginny said, sometimes kids find the best solution because it is a simple one.

9) The book has been turned into a TV series staring Elijah Wood, have you seen it? What did you think?
Alas, I haven't seen it.

So, it turns out that almost everything I thought I remembered from this book must have been from the sequel. That includes the confusing ending. This first book ties up all the threads quite neatly. But it was definitely time to read it again, since the only things I actually remembered was the sofa and the thing with Dirk and the exam papers.

I don’t think that you necessarily need to have read those two poems to understand the book, but knowledge of them and their backstory does add a bit to the story. Just the recognition of the dodo as the albatross, and the man on the train being “one of three” from a wedding party. But I especially enjoyed how Dirk was the reason why Coleridge never completed Kubla Khan.

I thought the whole story was very cleverly composed, and contained a lot of the absurd and philosophical black humour that Douglas Adams is known for. But all in all, I prefer the Hitchhiker series. It has more scope and depth, and just more of everything.

Favourite character? I’m not sure. I always have a soft spot for the absent-minded professor types, but I also really liked the horse and the detective who disapproved of, and firmly and actively ignored, all of Dirk’s strange goings on.

The book starts off detailing several seemingly unrelated situations. Did this confuse or frustrate you or has it added interest to the story? It's a lot strings going every which way but its chaos theory so it all is related

2) In these chapters you read of Samuel Taylor Colleridge's poem Kubla Khan and it's been said to fully understand the book, familiarity with Kubla Khan and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is necessary. Will you read these poems while reading Dirk Gently? Do you think doing so will add to your understanding of the book? I am familiar with both but have not read them recently and they are just crazy anyway and I don't think you need to read them.

3) There are several references to messages left on answering machines. Do you think there's significance in this? If so, what? It is an interesting thing, answering machines not really the technology now but we have voice mail. One of the things about answering machines is you can hold on to a person's voice even after then die. And yes, it the book, the answering machine ends up being the message that clears Richard and is also the way in which the ghost is able to find rest.

4) So far, which of the characters do you like best or find to be the most humorous? My favorite character is Rig and secondly it would be Susan. I did not like Dirk. I also liked the horse.

5) "The term ‘holistic’ refers to my conviction that what we are concerned with here is the interconnectedness of all things," Dirk Gently explains. What do you feel is the message about viewing the whole picture and the interconnectedness of all things? Well it is better to not micromanage things and to take in the whole picture.

6) Do you find yourself watching for "clues" as you read? Not really and I think I missed some of them because I wasn't.

7) What was your overall opinion of the book? If you've read other books by Douglas Adams, how did this one compare? He isn't my type but I think I liked A dark tea time of the soul best.

8) What, if anything, did you take away from reading the book?

9) The book has been turned into a TV series staring Elijah Wood, have you seen it? What did you think? I watched almost one episode. I did not like it. Too much blood. If it could have been more like the book I would have liked it.

1. I bought the BBC audiobook because Zejane had recommended it, before I realised that I had actually read this book in 2017 and had completely forgotten that I had. So I thought I would listen to it again and I found it just as confusing, as was intended, the second time.
2. I have read both poems without understanding a word of them, when I was at school (60 years ago), but I don't think my lack of appreciation or memory really detracted from my enjoyment of the book.
3. I think Gail's idea that answering machines are mini time machines is absolutely brilliant.
4. My favourite character was Miss Pearce, played by Olivia Coleman, but Reg was also delightful.
5. In the Eternal Tea Time of the Soul Dirk takes his theory to absurd lengths by following any car at random because he believes that holistically it will take him where he needs to be. The idea is absurd, but it always works out!
6. The BBC audible version is completely madcap. Good luck to anyone listening for clues!
7. I read The HitchHiker's Guide to the Universe too many years ago to remember, and I have read The Eternal Tea Time of the Soul, inadvertantly, because it was on the same audio programme and it didn't realise the first book had finished! My 2017 review was effusive. I do think that the BBC adaptation, with all the sound effects and disparate voices was great fun.
8. There were wonderful analogies, very funny dialogues, impossible situations, it was all very British.
9. No, I wonder where I can get it?

I liked the beginning of the book better than the end. Especially the introduction to the electric monk and his horse (my favourite characters). I liked the way you could trace the different storylines through the book...I am just not sure that I fully understood the ending.

I read the Hitchhiker's Guide series in my early twenties. I didn't love the books but they are more memorable than this Dirk Gently one. Even the electric monk is not comparable to Marvin the robot.

Don't own any Coleridge but might see if the library has anything available. Also, not particularly interested in the TV show.

I took away... that robots are the best characters in Douglas Adam's work. And that universities need to modernise, if a don can be there for 200 years with nobody noticing! Oh, and that we should try to think innocently like a child (or just ask one).

I think this may have been a BOTM a few years ago, because I have actually read it twice. I enjoyed it, but maybe not enough for a third revisit.