Novel Title: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Author: Douglas Adams
Date of Publication: 1979
# of Pages: 159
2. Why did you choose this book?
After looking in advance at the top 100 books of the century I decided that I would like to choose one of them for my Independent Study Novel (I.S.U). I know personally that I much prefer fiction to non-fiction, therefore any books based on true events (WWII etc.) were out of the question. Also, after having read a number of books serious in nature I decided that I wanted to read something more upbeat and lighthearted. So after much deliberation, and scouring of the top 100 list (which was mostly compiled of books about war and even "Twilight" on one of them...) I had decided on The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. However, it was not quite as easy as this. After deciding I did some research on the novel through secondary sources (a recommendation by Ms.Vallier) to see if such a book could be analyzed and critiqued without much trouble (more info on the secondary source in question 7). After reading a review by this critic and realizing that I may indeed be capable of analyzing "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" it was decided.
3. How do you like the book so far? Be honest and be specific.
The book so far has surprised me in the least. Douglas Adams's writing style is very much different than anything I have ever read before. He seems to have almost a complete disregard for story building and tension building and he gives the reader more of a ecstatic sense of adventure. I do not continue reading because I am scared what is going to happen next, I do not continue reading because I want to relieve tension, I continue reading because I have a genuine sense of wonder and curiosity of what will happen next in the universe in which Douglas Adams has created. This sensation of wonder and curiosity is new to me as a reader, and is something completely exclusive to Douglas Adams's writing. As a result I have already borrowed the second and third installments in the series from the library.
4. How much have you read so far? Be honest and be specific.
As explained before I am thoroughly enjoying the novel, as a result I am on page 129/159 (81%).
5. What has happened so far? Please refer to plot, setting, characters, mood, and things you've noticed.
So far in the novel our main character Arthur Dent, has had both his house and home planet (the earth) destroyed. However, as a result of pure dumb luck and the correct travel companion (an intergalactic hitchhiker named Ford Prefect) he has survived. Ford Prefect was able to bring Arthur along as he caught a ride on the ship seconds before earth was demolished. Now Arthur and Ford are on a journey to wherever they can get for "less than 30 Altarian Dollars a day". Ford seems to be an easy going person, who is intelligent and is looking for nothing more in life than a good time. Arthur Dent also seems to be easy going but rather than making his own path, Ford seems to drag him along with him. The mood of the novel so far seems to be quite upbeat in nature, despite the destruction of the earth and all.
6. What themes seem to be forming? What do you think the author is trying to say about these themes?
I would say that the most apparent theme in the novel would have to be that life takes us on strange paths and no matter how grim or frustrating your situation may seem you should try to make the best of it. As in the end, your life is to enjoy. I think the critical essay written by Tim Wynne-Jones summarizes this idea the best by saying:
"There seems no room in Adams's thinking for despair. So things are bad, what are you going to do, lie down in the mud? Well, that's not such a bad idea. As long as you keep your eyes open. There are things in the mud you probably should know about."
This upbeat ideology presented by Adams seems to be contagious, when reading his novel I personally cannot help but feeling cheery.
7. What secondary sources have you found so far? What is interesting or confusing about them?
The most significant secondary source I have found so far would have to be the critical essay "The Unravelling of DNA: Douglas Noel Adams, 1952 - 2001" written by Tim Wynne-Jones. I found it interesting how little negative feedback this critic had to say about Douglas Adam considering how different of both a novel and his writing style is. Also I was unaware of how tragic an end Douglas Adams came to, as he died of a heart attack at the young age of 49.
8. Choose 1 (one) line from the novel so far and write a paragraph describing why it speaks to you. You can completely ignore the context of the quotation and just focus on your personal response to it - this is called reader response theory (fun:).
"Perhaps I am old and tired, but I always think that the chances of finding out what is really going on are so absurdly remote that the only thing to do is to say hang the sense of it and just keep yourself occupied"
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