Review of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy- Douglas Adams

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy- Douglas Adams

From Goodreads-

Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last fifteen years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor.

Together this dynamic pair begin a journey through space aided by quotes from The Hitchhiker's Guide ("A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have") and a galaxy-full of fellow travelers: Zaphod Beeblebrox--the two-headed, three-armed ex-hippie and totally out-to-lunch president of the galaxy; Trillian, Zaphod's girlfriend (formally Tricia McMillan), whom Arthur tried to pick up at a cocktail party once upon a time zone; Marvin, a paranoid, brilliant, and chronically depressed robot; Veet Voojagig, a former graduate student who is obsessed with the disappearance of all the ballpoint pens he bought over the years.

Where are these pens? Why are we born? Why do we die? Why do we spend so much time between wearing digital watches? For all the answers stick your thumb to the stars. And don't forget to bring a towel!

 

 

I've had the whole Hitchhiker's trilogy sitting in my TBR for a couple of years now, so to get me motivated to start, I made a challenge, The Douglas Adams Hitchhikers Challenge.  I'm so glad I read this, because I have never read anything like it before, and it was hilarious to boot.

 

I knew stepping into this challenge that this series has a cult following, and I was intrigued, but still doubtful of its said brilliance. Wow, what imagination Douglas Adams had!  The book was extremely hilarious, and strange.  I already knew from reading reviews that it was a humorous read, but I had no idea how far out there it was.  I was laughing so hard when they described one alien forms horrendous punishment, reciting his bad poetry.  Douglas Adam makes fun of the human race throughout the whole book, and I laughed all the way through. 

 

One of my favorite quotes

 

"For instance, on the planet Earth, man had always assumed that he was more intelligent than dolphins because he had achieved so much - the wheel, New York, wars and so on - whilst all the dolphins had ever done was muck about in the water having a good time. But conversely, the dolphins had always believed that they were far more intelligent than man - for precisely the same reasons."

 

  The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is very creative, and nothing like i've read before.  I'm looking forward to the next in the series.

Rating: 4/5

Throwback Thursday

Throwback Thursday is a weekly event hosted by Jenny of Take Me Away.

"It is the time each week to recognize those older books… an older book you’ve always wanted to read, or one that you have read and love; maybe one from your childhood; or review an older book -- how about even a classic!"

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From Goodreads-

Colleen McCullough's sweeping saga of dreams, struggles, dark passions, and forbidden love in the Australian Outback has enthralled readers the world over. This is the chronicle of three generations of Clearys, ranchers carving lives from a beautiful, hard land while contending with the bitterness, frailty, and secrets that penetrate their family. Most of all, it is the story of only daughter Meggie and her lifelong relationship with the haunted priest Father Ralph de Bricassart—an intense joining of two hearts and souls that dangerously oversteps sacred boundaries of ethics and dogma.

A poignant love story, a powerful epic of struggle and sacrifice, a celebration of individuality and spirit, Colleen McCullough's acclaimed masterwork remains a monumental literary achievement—a landmark novel to be cherished and read again and again.

I had heard many great things about this book, and finally read it about 8 yrs ago, and completely fell in love with it.  It definitely is a saga with so much going on, you literally are engrossed in it until the end.  I recently came upon Colleen McCullough's Masters of Rome series, and after reading good things about it, I'm now in the process of getting all 7 books in the series, so I can start.

 

"Waiting on" Wednesday - Not My Daughter

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

From Fantastic Fiction:

 

When Susan Tate's seventeen-year-old daughter, Lily, announces she is pregnant, Susan is stunned. A single mother, she has struggled to do everything right. She sees the pregnancy as an unimaginable tragedy for both Lily and herself.

Then comes word of two more pregnancies among high school juniors who happen to be Lily's best friends-and the town turns to talk of a pact. As fingers start pointing, the most ardent criticism is directed at Susan. As principal of the high school, she has always been held up as a role model of hard work and core values. Now her detractors accuse her of being a lax mother, perhaps not worthy of the job of shepherding impressionable students. As Susan struggles with the implications of her daughter's pregnancy, her job, financial independence, and long-fought-for dreams are all at risk.

The emotional ties between mothers and daughters are stretched to breaking in this emotionally wrenching story of love and forgiveness. Once again, Barbara Delinsky has given us a powerful novel, one that asks a central question: What does it take to be a good mother?

 

 

I haven't read much of Barbara Delinsky's books, but this one seems great.  I have two girls, and i'm interested in reading about mother and daughter relationships.

 

Released January 5, 2010

 

 

Hardcover: 352 pages

Publisher: Doubleday (January 5, 2010)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0385524986

Wishful Wednesday

What Books have you been wishing for lately. Weekly event hosted by Should be Reading.

With so many new, interesting books coming out, and plenty of older books I really want to read, its so easy to come up with a couple of books I'm wishing for.

Fiction

I wasn't  really fan of The Time Traveler's Wife, but the book description on this one sounds really good, and I'm always willing to give a author another try.

I'm a fan of both mysteries, and historical fiction, why not get both in one book.  I'm looking forward to getting my hands on a copy of this.

Nonfiction

This one is going to have my emotions flying all over the place.  Enough Said.

I saw a special on TV about Woodstock not to long ago, and after watching it I immediately started searching for books about it.  This one seems really cool, the description says there are a lot of pictures and interviews.

What are you wishing for this Wednesday?

New York Times

As I mentioned earlier on my Sunday Salon, I was emailed by a reporter for the New York Times, Motoko Rich, who was doing a piece on "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett. She came across my review, and wanted to discuss/interview me about it, the very next day I received a call from her. We had a 15 -20 minute conversation about "The Help", it was very exciting to say the least. The article comes out tomorrow, and the online version is up today.

Here's the link.

Queen of the Road- Doreen Orion

Queen of the Road: The True Tale of 47 States, 22,000 Miles, 200 Shoes, 2 Cats, 1 Poodle, a Husband, and a Bus With a Will Its Own- Doreen Orion

From Goodreads:

A pampered Long Island princess hits the road in a converted bus with her wilderness-loving husband, travels the country for one year, and brings it all hilariously to life in this offbeat and romantic memoir.

Doreen and Tim are married psychiatrists with a twist: She’s a self-proclaimed Long Island princess, grouchy couch potato, and shoe addict. He's an affable, though driven, outdoorsman. When Tim suggests “chucking it all” to travel cross-country in a converted bus, Doreen asks, “Why can’t you be like a normal husband in a midlife crisis and have an affair or buy a Corvette?” But she soon shocks them both, agreeing to set forth with their sixty-pound dog, two querulous cats—and no agenda—in a 340-square-foot bus.

Queen of the Road is Doreen’s offbeat and romantic tale about refusing to settle; about choosing the unconventional road with all the misadventures it brings (fire, flood, armed robbery, and finding themselves in a nudist RV park, to name just a few). The marvelous places they visit and delightful people they encounter have a life-changing effect on all the travelers, as Doreen grows to appreciate the simple life, Tim mellows, and even the pets pull together. Best of all, readers get to go along for the ride through forty-seven states in this often hilarious and always entertaining memoir, in which a boisterous marriage of polar opposites becomes stronger than ever.

If you're looking for a good, funny memoir to pick up, may I suggest, Queen of the Road by Doreen Orion? From the beginning Doreen Orion described herself as a "pampered Long Island princess", so I knew I was going to be in for quite a bit of laughs. It's about two married psychiatrists that go on a year long trip, traveling around the United States on a custom prevost bus.

They travel to not so common tourist sites, and I loved that she would give some background, and historical insights to the places they would visit. Many of these places I have never heard of, and its great to read about places off the beaten path, instead of stopping at the most common tourist attractions. As I mentioned before this book was hilarious, Doreen's witty observations were the heart of this book. I found the section about staying overnight at the nudist RV park, side splitting.

Doreen suffers from a bus phobia, and she has no faith in her husband when it comes to driving the bus. She is certain no good will come of it, and totally believes in voicing her opinion about it, which leads to some entertaining banter between her and her husband.

Queen of the Road is good book to pick up when you're in need of a good laugh. Doreen Orion is someone I would love to sit down and have a conversation with, she seems fun.

Rating: 3.5/5

Sunday Salon

This week I was able to get some good books read. I mostly stayed in the YA genre, which are very fast reads for me. I also chose November's pick for my 1001 Books Challenge, I'll be reading The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. I also would like to mention something really exciting that happen to me this week in the blog world. I received a email on Tuesday from a reporter for the New York Times, who is doing a piece on "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett, she came across my review on my blog for the book, and wanted to interview/discuss the book with me. I quickly emailed her back and I received her call on Wednesday, and we discussed "The Help" and she asked me a couple of questions. It was very exciting for me! I also chose my Book of the Month pick, "The Help" Kathryn Stockett. It was such a great read!


Books Read this week- The Smile- Donna Jo Napoli, Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging- Louise Rennison, On the Bright Side, I'm Now a Girlfriend of a Sex God- Louise Rennison, All's Fair in Love, War, and High School - Janette Rallison, and Hush, Hush- Becca Fitzpatrick

Currently reading- Dismantled- Jennifer McMahon

Abandoned Books- This week I abandoned one book, The Debs- Susan McBride. I know a lot of people enjoy this book, but I just couldn't get into it. The writing was good, and the story seemed okay, I just think it wasn't for me. Debutantes aren't something that interest me.


Have a great day, and week ahead!