Wrapping Up...

'You know,' said Arthur, 'it's times like this, when i'm trapped in a Vogon airlock with a man from Betelgeuse and about to die of asphyxiation in deep space, that I really wish I'd listened to what my mother told me when I was young.'

'Why, what did she tell you?'

'I don't know, I didn't listen.' 

Chapter 7, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adam's (published 1979). 

Well, I've started a new book by now, The Last Tycoon, by F. Scott Fitsgerald, and as I have stuff to share with you from it, I guess it's time that we wrapped up Hitchhiker's.  Not that it wants wrapping up.  I enjoyed it too much.  There's too much in it.  It's so choc-a-clock with gags and laughs and such sweet little moments, and metaphors that I feel that it can't possibly grow old.  How could something like this grow old?  It's a great experience, and I would urge everyone to take a couple of steps into it at least.  So much fun!

Having a plethora (now that's a word I don't often use) of DVDs at my fingertips, I decided quite promptly after finishing the book to watch The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy movie.  It's actually a very trusty adaption, and bears quite the same witty, blunt and comical atmosphere.  In fact, there are long sequences of dialogue which are straight from it, which was exciting!  And what stands out to me most of all, is that the things that made me nearly choke on my tongue in the book are the same things that made me splutter my tea everywhere in the movie!  But then, to their detriment and exaltation (take it which way you would rather), the same things that were a tad odd in the book remain unchanged in the movie.  Like the whole sperm whale thing.  It goes for just a bit too long to be really hilarious, and they did it exactly the same way in the film, which is lovely and considerate of them, don't you think?  It's kind of cute even.  Anyway, the movie is a good one, and Martin Freeman as Arthur Dent is great.  Here's the trailer. 

It kind of makes me want to read the whole book again!  It was exactly what I wanted and needed at the time, but over too quickly, like a really nice lolly that disolves too quickly in your mouth.  And it isn't just sweet and shallow, but rather full of quite quirky and challenging metaphors which pop up like meer cats along the narrative.  I think I'll need to do it again some time.  Actually, I know I will, because I can hardly keep my mind off it!  Uughh!  It's time to wrap it up in a nice big towel, pat it tenderly, tell it not to panic and let it float into hyperspace for a bit. 

... If only I knew where my towel was...