The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
From what I can tell, I’m not in the majority when it comes to rating The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. I’m giving it a 3, which means I still liked it… but unfortunately, I wasn’t as fond of the humor as most people are.
This was a book club selection from about 6 or 7 years ago. We agreed to read just the first one in the series. And it was the first science-fiction novel we took on. I was excited. Several had already read it but wanted to again.
I’m generally a fan of crazy humor. I love Spaceballs, the movie. I kinda liken it to that, but for some reason, this wasn’t as funny as I felt everyone said it was. Tons of laughs. Many great lines. The characters were memorable. I’m pretty sure there are a few movie or cartoon adaptions of it.
And I honestly would recommend that everyone read it — even non SF fans. There are parts you will totally enjoy. But it’s hard to get into for a non-SF reader right from the beginning. My first reactions were “Oh that’s not possible…” But then I realized I wasn’t reading a typical novel, so I suspended the lil’ bit o’ grouch in me… and I was able to enjoy it.
Very imaginative. Lots of cool commentary on life as other people would see it. A fair approach for someone new to the universe, so to speak.
I may go back and read it now that I’m older and have read a few other SF and fantasy books. I’m curious… what’s the huge appeal for others about this book?
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I read this years ago, didn’t really like it at the time, and don’t remember anything about it now.😬 I guess it is one of those books that people really like…or don’t!
I read Douglas Adams–the whole series as each book came out. I was a big fan. This means I read The Hitchiker’s Guide 50 years ago! I had the privilege of e-mailing a former student’s Young Professionals Book Club to give my take on the book and compare our views of the book at the 50th anniversary of its publication when they read it. I think the best book in the whole series was the last, So Long and Thanks for the Fish (The porpoises are saying that as the earth ends). Or maybe I was just glad to get to the ending. Ha.
When I re-read ….Galaxy for the student’s book club, I found I wasn’t as thrilled over it as I was as a twenty-something. Maybe I’m becoming an old curmudgeon in my latter years!
Very funny. And cool to be able to re-read it under those circumstances. Not a curmudgeon… I think it’s a point in time book for a lot of us. At the right point in one’s life, it makes total sense. Otherwise, it might just be a funny book that you could take or leave.
Very true. Sometimes I choose to “leave it.”
As someone who is a huge fan of the book, I found this to be a great review and very fair at that! I would be curious to see how it sits with you if you re-read 😉
I love alternative opinions! I’ll let you know if I go back to it.
So glad to know there are others who share the same opinions on this book! The humor just wasn’t up my alley. Like you said, the interesting, out-of-box thinking found in The Hitchhiker is worth giving it a read 😀
Yes! I thought there were only a few of us.