h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Literary is good, Shea.

I read "Grapes of wrath" after seeing the movie version in a film course. I also read "East of Eden" in the Reader's Digest condensed version. Then I read "The Pearl" and "Travels with Charley." There's an opera adaptation of "Of Mice and Men" that I wouldlike to hear some time.

I can't believe a librarian like you would read condensed versions

I've read a few of Steinbeck's novels and I have to say that I enjoy
American literature. I enjoyed Algren's (I think)Somebody in Boots.
Just been to the local bookstore today to look at IQ84 by Haruki
Murakami. £20 for volume 1&2.
So all I could do was touch it and smell the new book smell and read a page.
Maybe I can read a couple of pages each week.

" I can't believe a librarian like you would read condensed versions " [Pierce]

I also use condensed milk, but so what?

For what it's worth, I was not yet a librarian when I read the condensed novel in question.

Phew, that is such a relief!

()

My dad was not happy when I read illustrated classics (don't know if you know those? Jules Verne's, Herman Melville's and other great authors w*rks turned into cartoons?) but I guess he hoped that someday I would read the real things. Well, I did - to some degree at least. Still haven't read Moby Dick, though.

Spoiler alert... the fish did it.

Literary is *very* good, Paul!

I read Moby Dick in high school. I can't recall if it was required or if I just read it on my own.

And actually, the mammal did it.

Yea, I know, but saying, "the fish did it" is funnier.

The only Steinbecks I've read are The Grapes of Wrath (difficult, but worth reading), To a God Unknown (if you want to know what the role of a priest is, read this book), and Burning Bright (I loved that book, and have never read anything like it before or since). I probably should read more.

TRiG.

Hello Trig,

the Cannery Row/Sweet Thursday duo are essential reads if you've enjoyed any of his other works. I can't recommend them highly enough and urge you to seek them out and treat youself to a slice of old time California. You will not be disappointed.

If I wanted to read both, which one should I start with?

Cannery Row is the first of the two and many of the characters also appear in Sweet Thursday, the 2nd one.

I wonder what people's all time favourite (in a lifetime) book might be?
For me it was The Valley of Adventure by Enid Blyton.
I read and re-read that book when I was young.

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy literally changed my life: It was great fun to read. *Every* time I read it. It made me come here almost a dozen years ago and make a lot of new friends, many of whom I have met in real life at meetings throughout Europe. And last but not least it has improved my English

I could mention a lot of other good but none of them have had anything like the profound impact that h2g2 had on me and my life

Yea. I'll go with HHGttG as well. I've got a 42 tattoo after all.

HHGTTG has become my favorite book as well, particularly "The Restaurant at the End of the Universe." The thing is, I came to it late, after I had read and reread Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. I still have a lot of affection for Tolkien's magnum opus. At the Crack of Doom, Frodo literally gave Gollum the finger.

I love LotR as well, but it is just the story of a very long walk to throw something away after all. I wonder if Tolkien first thought of it on his way to the bin?

That's a very good use of the word 'literally', Paul. People too often use 'literally' when they mean 'actually'. In your example it works because there are other connotations.

I'd have to go with Lord of the Rings as my favourite book, if only because it's the book I've read more often than any other, but in this case I love it because of the work and invention that went into it. It's not just a story about a handful of characters going on a quest, Tolkien invented an entire world including its creation, history, peoples, creatures, myths, languages and religions. It's the most carefully crafted works of fiction I can think of. Tolkien went through many, many drafts over several years.

Perhaps, but Tolkien is just so.... wordy! I got bored so many times reading LOTR. I made it through, on the whole I enjoyed it, I'm glad I've read it, but I've never thought to myself "gee, I ought to read all that again". Maybe someday, but there are so many other things to read first.

Hitchhiker's Guide is probably my favorite, or very close. It was the first book that made me laugh out loud. Like Pierce, it's had a lasting impact on my life. It's the book I've most often recommended to others. I've probably bought more copies of it than any other book, not only as gifts, but to replace my own copies when I've loaned them out and they've not been returned. And I have a tat as well .