The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #1) in The Perks Of Being A Book Addict

Aug 19, 2008 Michael rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: summer-reading-2021, favorites, read-in-2021, re-read, science-fiction

How does one review The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy without the review being a long series of witty or hilarious (or both) quotes from the book?

This is a seminal book in the sci-fi genre, if only because it's so darn well known and because a lot of "funny" sci-fi writers since that time have tried to do what Douglas Adams makes look so effortless -- be devastatingly funny.

Like many, I've experienced multiple versions of Adams' famous story -- radio show, TV show, movie, video-game, novel. T How does one review The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy without the review being a long series of witty or hilarious (or both) quotes from the book?

This is a seminal book in the sci-fi genre, if only because it's so darn well known and because a lot of "funny" sci-fi writers since that time have tried to do what Douglas Adams makes look so effortless -- be devastatingly funny.

Like many, I've experienced multiple versions of Adams' famous story -- radio show, TV show, movie, video-game, novel. The interesting thing is that while Adams starts from the same point, he often diverges wildly in where the story goes along the way. Yes, he will still hit some of the same notes and build to the same jokes, but he doesn't always follow the same path to get there. It's why I can enjoy the movie without being mad that they changed things -- Adams never told this story the same way twice, so why should the movie be bound to tell it religiously tied to the book?

The first entry in the series is a light, fun read that often gets brought up as a good starting point for sci-fi/fantasy book groups to start out reading. I feel like this is a mistake because, again, you just end up quoting favorite passages to each other.

That said, this time around I was struck by just how masterfully funny Adams is -- and how observant. His pointing out the absurdity of things (say, for example, our fascination with digital watches (ask your parents, kids!)) is nicely done. The asides for entries from the guides are well observed and help fill in gaps (it's almost like having a companion ask the Doctor for an explanation...and since Adams worked as script editor for Doctor Who, it's easy to draw this comparison). The plot, such as it is, moves along from funny showcase to funny showcase.

Look, if you haven't read this yet, you probably should. And if you haven't read it in a while, it's a fun book that will distract you from how cruddy the world can be sometimes. That alone puts it on my list of favorite books of all time -- even if I think the radio version is just a bit funnier. ...more

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Nov 09, 2009 Trisha rated it really liked it

A very good light-reading book. I spent many many moments literally laughing out loud with the book down trying to not fall off the couch. The "...er..." in the conversations were a little annoying, but otherwise the conversations between all the many people were great. I loved how each character had a personality all their own.

and, of course, it all makes sense now. It's good that I finally have the answer. :) ...more

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Jan 14, 2017 Catsalive rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: pre-bc, 2023

Wow! I haven't read this since 1980, although I remembered most of it. I've never heard the radio-play but I did see the BBC series in 1981 (much better than the movie). I even remembered almost all of Vogn Jeltz' poem, "Oh, freddled gruntbuggly..." - my memory was only missing the "crinkly bindlewurdles" - funny the odd things one retains.

Anyway, it was great fun to catch up with the bewildered Arthur Dent after so long, & all the rest of the gang: Ford Prefect, Zaphod Beeblebrox, Tricia 'Trill ...more

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Oct 23, 2014 Shay rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I really enjoyed reading this. It wasn't as funny as I expected but it did have its moments. I loved the beginning with Ford and Arthur, they were my favorite characters. It dragged a little in the middle for me but then at the end picked back up. I look forward to reading the second book. ...more

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Jul 02, 2013 Renuka rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, science-fiction, adventure, mystery, action, paranormal, adult, e-book, cliff-hangers, reviewed

So I found out that I was supposed to have read this book in Middle School or something. Apparently it's something all people know they're supposed to read. And now I know why.

This book makes no sense. But it does. It's about this: Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, Zaphod Beeblebrox, Trillian, a highway bypass, another highway bypass, some Vogons, the End of the Earth, a book, a babelfish, a supercomputer, some mice, some terrible poetry, some dolphins, and probability.

It isn't super character focused, ...more

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