Book Review: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Book Review: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams
Read: 03/04 -23/05/2024
My rating: 4 /5 stars
Book of 2024: 4
On 12 October 1979 the most remarkable book to ever come out of the great publishing corporations of Ursa Minor (and Earth) was made available to humanity - The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
It’s an ordinary Thursday morning for Arthur Dent until his home gets demolished. The Earth follows shortly afterwards, to make way for a new hyperspace bypass, and his best friend has just announced that he’s an alien. At this moment, they’re hurtling through space with nothing but a towel and an innocuous-looking book inscribed with the large, friendly words:
DON’T PANIC.
The weekend has only just begun…
I bought this from the book stalls on Southbank while visiting Becca in London in December 2023. I’d spoken about it with Max, who had said I’d probably really like it.
I did.
It is absurd and so clever and witty and nonsensical and entirely sensical at the same time. It is brilliant and so so fun.
Adams is a craftsman of brilliant words, deeply-understandable character, plots which bounce across galaxies and leave you giggling in their wake.
I kept diving for my pen to underline. I kept laughing out loud on public transport.
This book feels like a leap into new territory for me. I am Arthur Dent, being plunged into new and unfamiliar scenarios. I’ve been a fantasy reader in the past, and early works pioneering the gothic-science fiction ground, but not lately.
I sway towards novels exploring social-commentary, introspective characters, isolated instances, looking into interpersonal relationships.
But truly I did enjoy this. Dipping into hilarity and cleverness and nonsense was a treat.
I'll add my favourite quotes in here soon...
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