Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy [June 1, 2021]

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

This is a Buddy Read for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams starting June 1, 2021.

[Saar The Book owl]

Thanks, Niki :)

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Yw :)

[Graeme]

Cool. I'll join in. Bought this by chance a week ago.

[Narilka]

In! I love this book :) I'll probably start a little early.

[Graeme]

Hi Narilka, cool to see you here.

[Jessica]

Oooh I've been meaning to read this for years! I'll try to finish up what I'm currently reading and hopefully join you guys

[Chris]

A little bit early, but I picked this up from the bookstore last week and started it. I'm only three chapters in though. Lol funny read so far!

I got the Ultimate Hitchhiker's guide, but I assume (hopefully) there are no noticeable changes for the actual first book.

[Gaea]

I have the Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide omnibus too! I remember reading the first part/book ages ago but I remember not really being in the mood for it at the time. Hopefully this time will be better~

[Chris]

Gaea wrote: "I have the Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide omnibus too! I remember reading the first part/book ages ago but I remember not really being in the mood for it at the time. Hopefully this time will be better~"

Hopefully so! I kinda just picked it up on a whim when I saw it at the store, so no real expectations really. The bit I read is refreshing though! I've never read something this tongue-in-cheek, except maybe for Anansi Boys by Gaiman.

No idea if the mood of it changes throughout, but it's nice so far. :) The other book I'm in the middle of is a lot darker and heavy, so it makes me appreciate the silliness even more.

[Claudia]

This has been on my TBR list for ages, I hope I can join in on this one! depends on my progress on the other BRs :)

[Pragya]

Great!! I love this book! Would love to join!! so excited!!!!

[Narilka]

I have my towel and will be starting tonight :D

https://nationaltoday.com/towel-day/

[Saar The Book owl]

I'm waiting on my copy from the library :) Normally around the 7th or 8th.

[Narilka]

Saar The Book owl wrote: "I'm waiting on my copy from the library :) Normally around the 7th or 8th."

No problem! I'll keep you company regardless :D It's a short, fast read. I finished 4 chapters so far.

Poor Arthur Dent. This has to be the worst Thursday in history.

[Gaea]

I started this today - just couldn't resist any longer haha~

(view spoiler)["I'm game, we'll see who rusts first." - will always be one of my favourite lines.

Also not going to lie, much of my motivation for reading this is due to what I remember (and loved) about Marvin.. XD (hide spoiler)]

[Narilka]

Gaea wrote: ""I'm game, we'll see who rusts first." - will always be one of my favourite lines."

This book is highly quotable :)

I'm trying to take it slow. Just finished Ch 11 (view spoiler)[and met Marvin :D

The Infinite Improbability Drive. Such a great idea. Someone should invent it! (hide spoiler)]

[Chris]

I have only just finished chapter 7, but yeah this book is insanely quotable. Lol it's hilarious.

Idk how to handle spoilers tags on the mobile app (or how to turn them on cause I can see other spoilers automatically too), but I'll say I feel like Arthur is handling things relatively well all things considered!

[Johanna]

I would love to join!! I have read the series maybe 20 years ago (whaaat??!?!), but I think I was too young to appreciate it. I would love to re-read this with you.

[Narilka]

I couldn't help myself and finished :D I still enjoy this silly, irreverent story. Hope everyone else does too.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I hopped aboard and listened to the audiobook narrated by Stephen Fry this morning... pretty short... movie seemed pretty accurate adaptation... ending felt a bit abrupt... comment some more after work...

[Narilka]

It's been so long since I've seen one of the movies. I bet Stephen Fry was a fun listen. One of these days I'd like to find a copy of the original radio drama.

[Jessica]

Lol is anyone still reading this? Or did everyone finish already? I'll try and start this today and see if I can finish it up this weekend

[Johanna]

I haven't read this yet! I have to get this first from the library

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Chris wrote: "I have only just finished chapter 7, but yeah this book is insanely quotable. Lol it's hilarious.

Idk how to handle spoilers tags on the mobile app (or how to turn them on cause I can see other sp..."

I had a smile on my face throughout much of my listening...

And spoilers can be done the same as on PC, it just doesn't tell you that/how...

you just need to use < spoiler > and < /spoiler > tags...

[Jessica]

Johanna wrote: "I haven't read this yet! I have to get this first from the library"

awesome! I was worried that I'd be the only left reading it

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I already started and finished ;)

Sounds like I'm in the minority of readers that hadn't read it before tho :D

[Marit]

I also haven't read it before Iain, but yes I think we are the minority here

@Jessica: I also haven't started yet, hope to get around to it tomorrow or Wednesday

[Jessica]

@Iain I haven't read it before either, been meaning to for years but kept finding excuses to read other things lol

@Marit awesome! I just started it today, but have a ton of stuff I have to do so I probably won't have much time until tomorrow to really read much

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Are there plans to continue?... I want to continue soonish, probably, given how unsatisfied I was at the cutoff point (felt more like a pause point than an ending, especially with how short the book is)...

[Jess]

I am listening to the original radio play and enjoying it. Does anyone know how it compares to the book? It doesn't seem to have chapters but instead episodes of around 30 minutes.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Quick internet search says the 2 are pretty similar, with minor variations, except for book 2 The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, which differs alot in the middle...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Looks like Martin Freeman takes over narration for book 2-5... not Stephen Frye, but I guess it's alright... he played Arthur Dent in the movie...

[Narilka]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Are there plans to continue?... I want to continue soonish, probably, given how unsatisfied I was at the cutoff point (felt more like a pause point than an ending, especially with how short the boo..."

We never set dates for the rest of the series. How soon is soonish?

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

If other people weren't interested, I would just squeeze them in whenever there's time or the mood strikes... not sure, now that interest is shown... probably a book every 2 weeks... if each book is as long as the first one, it'll only take me 3hrs to read...

Sounds like the first 3 books are a trilogy?... not sure how connected the final 2-3 books are... I think, past book 5, it's fanfic by other authors like Eion Colfer?

[Narilka]

You have it right. It was originally meant to be a trilogy and then Adams added on two more books. The final two are related but not as consistent as the original three.

[Narilka]

How does this sound...

Book 2 - 6/14
Book 3 - 6/28
Book 4 - 7/12
Book 5 - 7/26

I think they're all about a similar length as the first one but would have to go check that.

[Saar The Book owl]

Still no copy from the library, so I'll be behind on you all, guys, but that's no problem.

Narilka wrote: "How does this sound...

Book 2 - 6/14
Book 3 - 6/28
Book 4 - 7/12
Book 5 - 7/26

I think they're all about a similar length as the first one but would have to go check that."

I think I can do that.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Sounds good to me, too...

[Johanna]

Saar The Book owl wrote: "Still no copy from the library, so I'll be behind on you all, guys, but that's no problem.

Narilka wrote: "How does this sound...

Book 2 - 6/14
Book 3 - 6/28
Book 4 - 7/12
Book 5 - 7/26

I think ..."

Same here! :D

[Marit]

Looks good to me :)

[Jessica]

My copy includes the first three books so I'd be down for reading the others too and those dates look good for me also

[Chris]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Chris wrote: "I have only just finished chapter 7, but yeah this book is insanely quotable. Lol it's hilarious."

Thank you! Do you know how to set it to hide spoilers though? I'm on my PC now, so no worries, but on the mobile app it just automatically shows what others put in spoilers for some reason. I couldn't find a setting for it.

Anyway, finally got to read a bit. I had company over, so I had put this down.

Just finished Chapter 16:

(view spoiler)[ Marvin is hilarious. I'm either smiling or giggling throughout, but the line "Do you want me to sit in a corner and rust, or just fall apart where I'm standing?" really got me. Lol this book is a treat so far. (hide spoiler)]

My first read as well, and I've never seen the movie either. Gonna have to find it after this. Also think those reading dates will work for me assuming it's as short as you guys are saying. Not sure how far along I actually am since it's the Omnibus version.

[Chris]

Jess wrote: "I am listening to the original radio play and enjoying it. Does anyone know how it compares to the book? It doesn't seem to have chapters but instead episodes of around 30 minutes."

Missed this before typing my earlier response.. I didn't know it was originally a radio play! I guess it got popular enough he just turned it to a novel series?

[Graeme]

Looking to hook into this tonight.

[Narilka]

I'll request threads for the remaining books tonight.

[Graeme]

Well, you know what is getting stolen by you know who...

The thing about this book is that it keeps you smiling as it goes along.

[Graeme]

Narilka wrote: "Poor Arthur Dent. This has to be the worst Thursday in history...."

Indeed!

[Graeme]

Narilka wrote: "I'm trying to take it slow. Just finished Ch 11
..."

Apparently such an invention is - dare I say it - high improbable.

[Graeme]

I'll see if I can't hurry up so that I can join the extra threads.