The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul

Rating:
Summary: Classic Douglas Adams
Review: A check-in counter at London's Heathrow Airport spontaneously explodes in a ball of flame, and is ruled by the authorities as "an act of God." As it turns out, the explosion was an act of *a* god---Thor, the God Of Thunder, trying to catch a plane to Oslo, Norway. But why would an almighty god be trying to catch a plane flight in the first place? Enter holistic detective Dirk Gently to solve the mystery....The second and, sadly, final "Dirk Gently" book written by the late, great Douglas Adams, "The Long Dark Tea Time Of The Soul" is a hysterically funny book, and a major improvement over the decent but unspectacular first book, "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency," which certainly had it's funny moments, but was too long (and long-winded) and confusing. This time around, Adams' writing is a LOT sharper & funnier, and he keeps the book excellently paced. And the character of Dirk Gently really grows here---he's much more concise and focused, and he doesn't ramble on and on about his philosophical views & methods of detective work as he did in the first book. "Long Dark Tea Time" contains many outrageously funny scenes---Dirk's dilemma with his old refridgerator, and his surprising encounter with a young boy watching TV are both particularly memorable---and great characters, too, not only Dirk Gently but also the spunky American girl Kate Schechter, Thor the hot-headed God Of Thunder, and the vile creature named Toe Rag. The story is clever, moves along nicely, and, if I haven't made it clear enough, is very, very funny.I'm saddened that Douglas Adams never got around to writing a third "Dirk Gently" book, as I would've loved to have read further adventures of this most oddball of detectives. But at least Adams wrote a pair of them, and "The Long Dark Tea Time Of The Soul" is a fabulously hilarious book that can proudly sit right alongside Adams' very best "Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy" books, in particular volumes 1, 2 and 4. "The Long Dark Tea Time Of The Soul" is classic Douglas Adams all the way.

Rating:
Summary: A Confusing but Humorous Book
Review: A long dark tea-time of the soul. Only the title makes you aware of Adam's genious way of writing. The dark time of our souls... It is written with a British humor which I love, being áboring Swede'. Sometimes it really confuses me and I have to read a few parts twice, but it is generally a great novel with a silly sense of humor. He geniously connects to his other books, i.e. by having a sofa from `The hitchhiker's...` (I think) appear. There are lots of encounters with Gods, especially Thor and Oden (Odin in Eng.) If you liked 'The Hitch-hiker's...'you will love this as well as 'Dirk Gently's Holistic Agency`.

Rating:
Summary: John Cleese + Isaac Asimov = Douglas Adams
Review: A reader of this book could easily get lost in Douglas Adams' unrelenting British dry humor and overlook the touching tragedy in his brilliant tale about immortal gods who have been cast aside, ignored and all but forgotten by their vapid subjects. His characters spend their time stumbling down a bouncing high-wire, teetering between silliness and profundity. Just when they seem in danger of plummeting off one side or the other, the author pulls them back and sends them down another plot twist that at first seems absurd and then seems absurd that it's all beginning to make sense. Adams has an ability to at once convey both the complexity and the insanity of the post-quantum physics world. This is a book which will help us understand why Einstein always had that bizarre, far-away look in his eyes. Einstein had caught a glimpse of the true nature of the universe -- and so will the reader of this extraordinary story

Rating:
Summary: Yes and Yes!
Review: Actually an improvement over the first Dirk Gently, the stakes not being so high improves the telling of the tale. Whereas the Hitchhiker ultimately disappointed in the last book, Dirk seems to improve and increase. Why Douglas has neglected him since then I wish I knew! There is an odd disjointed beauty in the overall structure, details such as the mental ward Dirk visits, the mystery of Harold Bell, the truck driver followed by a lovesick rain cloud stick in the mind. I found the tape version cleared up some of the more British details (the eagle with RAF marks on its wings, for example) without distracting from the whole. The only writer who seems to whet my appetite for more Adams isthe Japanese Haruki Murakami, who may have drunk from the same spring as Adams. But its not the same! Will Dirk ever solve the mystery of what happened to Fenchurch, from Hitchhikers? Mrsmishima

Rating:
Summary: Douglas Adams' best
Review: Although the HitchHiker's series was good, this novel truly surpasses all of Adams' other works. "The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul" is far more suttle than most of his other books, and it contains some truly classic moments. I especially enjoyed the bit about the eagle. This is BY FAR THE FUNNIEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ. If you don't have it, get it.

Rating:
Summary: A huge Adams fan finally must face reality.
Review: As a long-time Douglas Adams fanatic (read all 5 of the trilogy, at least a dozen time, even wrote down every noun in all 5 for a database,) I read both Last Chance to See and DGHDA and loved them. Then I read this sequel and had to admit that it was likely the worst book I'd ever encountered. I didn't laugh once and literally had to force myself through it with several lapses between readings. Odin and Thor bored me senseless. I can now understand why there's been no third addition to the series. Time wasted on this could have been much better spent working on yet another HHG novel.

Rating:
Summary: Do pick it up, pick it up, pick it up...
Review: Audio can be a wonderful way to experience the Douglas Adams aura. This sequel is much better than its precursor. Dirk Gently is funny and bizarre, yet oh so seriously English. Funny.

Rating:
Summary: Confusing, but very funny
Review: Dirk Gently is back! Hooray! I enjoyed Tea-time almost as much as the Holistic Detective Agency but for one thing: It was very, very confusing. The first half of the book is creepy, funny, and really great. Adams is nearly at his best here. But the second half is more confusing. Now that I think about it, many things are left undone as well, unless I missed something, which I most likely did. Ah well. Read it anyway, just read it carefully and you should enjoy it.

Rating:
Summary: Summary in 96 words, let the penguins sort this out...
Review: Dirk had.
Dirk knew Lupton Road. "Suicide?" said Dirk.
" thought Dirk. Dirk stared at him.
"Listen," insisted Dirk again.
"Dthraydge!" insisted Dirk.
"Yed," said Dirk. "Straighter," said Dirk. Mr Dirk Gently."
"No," said Dirk. Kate shrugged.
"Yes," said Dirk.
Dirk shrugged. "Chickens?" said Dirk. Dirk frowned.
"Really?" said Dirk. "What?" said Dirk.
Dirk felt very awkward. simmered Kate. Dirk shook his head. Dirk groaned.
"Thor! Thor! Dirk stood speechless. Odin, thought Dirk. Dirk asked him.
Dirk waited.
"Oh ah," said Dirk.
"Contract?" said Dirk. "What?" said Dirk. "Thor - " said Kate.
"Thor - " said Kate.
"Thor -"
Kate shrugged.

Rating:
Summary: Douglas Adams does it again!!!!
Review: Douglas Adams has done it again. In this sequal to Dirk Gently, are goos old detective is out to solve another baffling case. Adams takes every thing in this book and makes it make sense in the end. One of his best. As humorus as Dirk Gently but with it's own twists. Adams is one of the BEST writers in the world and and can make anything a good read. What are you doing sitting here reading what I have to say. ORDER THIS BOOK. You won't be disappointed. I wasn't