The answer to the Ultimate Question, the question of life, the Universe, and everything, is 42. Or at least it is according to the book A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, the first in a series of 5. This bizarre yet utterly captivating tale follows a young man named Arthur Dent and his friend Ford Prefect (less of a man and more of an alien) as they journey across the galaxy following the destruction of Earth.
I can honestly say that this is one of the best books I have read in recent memory- it is witty and unexpected at each new turn and impossible to put down. However, there are some aspects of the plot and writing style which may turn off some readers. There are quite a few sections where it requires you to completely suspend all common sense and simply enjoy the story, and the characters are not especially deep or nuanced. Adams tends to use slightly absurd language and go on tangents, and a large amount of the plotline is totally improbable. It’s definitely a casual or beach read, readers looking for a deep or thought-provoking novel will not find it here. In short, The Hitchhiker’s Guide is a brilliant but very niche book- I personally loved it, but it is not for everyone. I would recommend it for fans of the science fiction genre looking for a light and humorous tale.
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