The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

by Douglas Adams

Rating: ***** (5 stars)

Length: 216 pages

Genre: Science Fiction, Humor

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy has been a favorite book of mine since I was in middle school. I once wrote an epic novel using the writing style of Adams as inspiration. Sadly I do not have that book any longer. Thankfully I do have this original book which I have read more times than I can count.

Douglas Adams first developed the idea for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy while he was hitchhiking around Europe. He later made it into a radio show in England and eventually into a book.

This book should be on everyone's to be read list. The writing is whimsical and light but also possess a great depth to them. The main characters of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy are Arthur who is an Earthman who at the beginning of the novel is trying to save his house from being demolished for an expressway. Ironically enough, the Earth is also about to be demolished to make way for an expressway. Thankfully Arthur's friend, Ford Prefect, is actually an intergalactic hitchhiker and bums a ride on the ship that is destroying the Earth. This is just how the story begins. The plot becomes a lot more convoluted from there.

Purchase The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy from Amazon

Ready Player One by Ernest Cine

Ready Player One

by Ernest Cline

Review: ***** (5 stars)

Book Length: 386 pages

Genre: Science Fiction

Most new Science Fiction hasn't made it into the long list of sci-fi greats. I mean there are a lot of really great science fiction authors, and science fiction readers are very passionate about them. You can even see that in this book. The main character -Wade- names his spaceship Vonnegut after one of the greats. Seeing a book that was published in 2016 on all of the great lists (well those published or modified after it's release) took me by surprise. I, of course, had to read it. I am extremely glad that I did.

Ready Player One was a nice engaging read. The book was fun, it captured my attention and pulled me in. It pulled me in so much I decided that reading was a lot more important than sleep. I finished close to one this morning. Since I wake up at five you can see my addiction to finishing this novel.

This novel is a cult classic celebrating cult classics. It is dedicated to all things 80s specifically arcade games. Can you remember your first video game? I can, it was a brand new Nintendo console where I played Mario Brothers and shot birds on Duck Hunt. Soon after I also got a Genesis (like an Atari) and played some of the classics.

Those games are nothing like the video games that we have now. I mean compare them to Pokemon Go or World of Warcraft. Yet, they will forever live in the hearts of gamers everywhere. If you can relate to what I am saying then go right now and get this book. You will absolutely love it!

If not then you may still love it. The writing is good, the plot flows well, and the characters are engaging. It is fascinating and extremely relevant to think about the world where we have developed a virtual reality. This book adds to that nitch in a fun and new way.

Magazine Review - The Ensign - December 2016

The Ensign

December 2016

The Ensign is a magazine published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is geared towards adults.

Rating: ***** (5 stars)

Length: 86 pages

Genre: Religion

At the end of the 2016 year it is not surprising that there were no changes in the formatting of the magazine. All the categories that we have seen all year (and some for many years) were included. 

The issue starts with the First Presidency Message given by Henry B. Eyring about having peace. It is a powerful message as we have many questioning the direction that our nation and our world is headed. 

Being the December issue there is a heavy theme of Christmas and Christ's birth. There are a lot of short stories about the magic of the season. 

One of the most influential articles for me was "The Divine Power of Grace" by James J. Hamula. Like the title suggests the article is about the power of grace in our lives. The most impactful message in the article for me was that God does not expect perfection. What he expects is for us to continue to work towards perfection. 

"All this suggests that we must learn patience with ourselves and others in our current weaknesses and imperfections, and we must learn perseverance in the unavoidably gradual process of growth unto perfection."

This was a message that I know that I needed to hear.