Ristorante al termine dell'Universo (original 1980; edition 2002)

I started out listening to the audiobook for The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, since I enjoyed the narration of the first book so much. I was disappointed by the narrator of this second book in the series, mainly because he gave Zaphod Beeblebrox an East coast mobster accent, and that just wasn't how I pictured his character sounding. Since I was enjoying the storyline so much however, I dug my husband's old anthology out from under the bed.

My husband has had his anthology of Douglas Adams books sitting around the house for years. Whenever I did see this book on the shelf (years ago when it was on the shelf instead of under the bed) I always thought that the restaurant at the end of the universe was referring to a location. Imagine my surprise to learn that the restaurant is not at the edge of the universe, as I had thought before, but rather sits at the end of time (through some form of time travel) so that the diners can watch the universe end while they eat.

Everything in this second volume is just as crazy and off-the-wall as in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, so if you liked the first book then you should enjoy the second one as well, I know I did. Also, if you are considering reading these books you do need to read them in order if you want to have any idea what is going on. The little details in these books make all the difference in the story. The more you pay attention to the details, the more fun the books are to read (it's like being privy to the details of an inside joke). ( )

Not as engaging or funny as the first book. Did not finish. ( )

I really enjoyed Martin Freeman's reading of this book. It is off the wall and you must read "Hitchhikers Guide" first or you will be lost. This book doesn't always make sense but it is funny and an enjoyable read. ( )

I thought this book was great, but then again I think that Douglas Adams is a pretty phenomenal guy. I can't really add to or surpass all the other amazing reviews of this book, but I will say that it is going on my 'to buy' list as well as my 'reread' list :)

Sadly I didn't have the 3rd book ready to go at the end of this one...

( )

Loved it! It's such a fun story and very entertaining. Definitely going to read the rest of the series eventually. ( )

I wish we could do half stars. (I have written in to goodreads to request this, but apparently nothing came of it.) I'd give this 3.5. It wasn't as good as the first one... (I'm not sure if that's because it wasn't ACTUALLY as good, or because it wasn't being read to me with all the voices...) But it obviously took me a while to get through. It was still very very funny and I quite enjoyed it. I'm still waiting for Arthur and Trillian to hook up, like they did in the movie. False expectations? ( )

My blog post about this book is at this link. ( )

I loved The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, but I somehow never got around to reading the sequels. When I discovered that the audiobooks are narrated by the awesome Martin Freeman, I knew I had to give them a try. And I'm so glad I did! The Restaurant at the End of the Universe is a bizarre, clever, hilarious adventure. Martin Freeman is an outstanding narrator with diverse, amusing voices that perfectly capture each character. I can't wait to listen to the rest of the series, which I hope is just as fun and engaging as this installment. ( )

I really enjoyed [b:The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy|11|The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy|Douglas Adams|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1275622284s/11.jpg|3078186] and was hoping this wouldn't be a let down- and thankfully, it wasn't.

[b:The Restaurant at the End of the Universe|8695|The Restaurant at the End of the Universe|Douglas Adams|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165721425s/8695.jpg|1877624] is the short, funny, bizarre second book in the Hitchhiker's Guide series and had me laughing from start to finish. The writing is so odd and weird that I had to read some parts several times to make sure that's what he really said. I love all the characters and I think their interactions are so entertaining. In the middle of all the craziness, there is also a pretty unique plot which just adds to the book's quality.

What I like most is the wild observations made, particularly the ones about earth and its people/apes. They are often phrased and compared oddly but they still manage to be spot on and I find myself agreeing with them often.

Any book that can make me laugh out loud more than once certainly deserves 5 stars and I'm really looking forward to the third book. ( )

This book is an excellent sequel, and just as crazy as the first one. I did love it, but I didn't breeze through it as easily as the first one, it just felt a bit slow at some parts but the random explanations of useless unrelated facts and excerpts from the guide were as entertaining as always along with silly situations ( )

WHOOT !!! :-) ( )

In this second book of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Series, Arthur and his friends face the hardships of time travel, teleportation and dealing with the man who rules the Universe. Zarniwoop, the meddling and obnoxious editor of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy must be dealt with before the group can be reunited.

This is as funny as the first book in the series and has new problems and adventures to keep the story interesting. ( )

The Restaurant At the End of the Universe - Douglas Adams
Meat isn't murder if it likes it, and loud music nearby can be bad for real estate a well as for the prices. Also, even the biggest and most expensive computer projects are easy to screw up, right up until the end.

Anyway, the sequel to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is almost as enjoyable as the first book, which is a fairly impressive achievement.

http://freesf.strandedinoz.com/wordpress/2007/07/the-restaurant-at-the-end-of-th... ( )

In my review of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (the book preceding this one in the Hitchhiker series) I noted with delight that Adams often veers from the main plot, sprinkling the book with little nuggets of wonderful digression. I was wrong. After reading The Restaurant at the End of the Universe I now see that there is no real plot from which to depart from – the works are themselves composed entirely of myriad situations and witty observations, stitched loosely together with only the thinnest thread of narrative. This sounds like a criticism, but it isn't – it shows great skill and makes for a comfortable, undemanding read.

Although I don't think this is quite as good as its predecessor, it nonetheless provides an enjoyable few hours entertainment. The episode in chapter 24 in which Number Two is anxious to interrogate Arthur and Ford, but must instead make do with 'interrogating' them as to how they would like their complementary drinks served, certainly made me grin. Such episodes abound throughout.

To those who denigrate the Hitchhiker series as merely a collection of childrens' books, I must strongly disagree *; the stories may not be as profound as a volume of Chekhov, but they are, in their own funny way, just as observational and (dare I say it) insightful (though this doesn't therefore exclude children from enjoying them, of course). I think this somewhat snobbish criticism stems from reading too superficially – a habit almost as sinful as reading too deeply. If you have not read The Restaurant at the End of the Universe because you think it is somehow below you, I urge you to give it a chance (after first reading The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy); I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

[ * ] : This is admittedly not a sentiment I have encountered here at LibraryThing, but for what it's worth I shall respond to it here nonetheless.

A great sequel. Must read and have on your shelf if you have children.

VOTO: 8,7

Degno seguito di Guida galattica per gli autostoppisti.

Personaggi sempre più irresistibili!

Tutto il libro mantiene elevato il livello di ironia ma in alcuni punti in particolare si ride di gusto! Adams è un grande!
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Confermo u_u ( )

Guida galattica per gli autostoppisti è un capolavoro di satira e humor. Il presente libro invece sembra seguire per le prime pagine l'irresistibile predecessore ma presto le risate si raffreddano e la trama diventa fitta e confusionaria, perdendo molta verve. Per questo Ristorante al termine dell'universo per me è stata una grossa delusione. Sono ancora in dubbio se leggere i rimanenti tre ( )

Guida galattica per gli autostoppisti è un capolavoro di satira e humor. Il presente libro invece sembra seguire per le prime pagine l'irresistibile predecessore ma presto le risate si raffreddano e la trama diventa fitta e confusionaria, perdendo molta verve. Per questo Ristorante al termine dell'universo per me è stata una grossa delusione. Sono ancora in dubbio se leggere i rimanenti tre ( )

When I finished rereading ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’, I was excited to finally get a chance to read on and see what Arthur Dent and his little group would get up to next. I can say I was quite surprised how this book turned out. I wasn’t expecting this story to go the way it did and I quite liked how that surprised me. Though it did take me awhile to be won over, I began to really enjoy it when they got to Milliways, and was completely won over when Arthur and Ford arrived on the Golgafrinchan ship. I also thought this book seemed slightly darker, and serious than it’s predecessor but that’s only very slightly. I still think ‘Hitchhiker’s’ was better, but I thought this book was very good as well. ( )

I read this whilst enjoying a holiday in Cape Town. It is not as good as The Hitchhikers Guide but a nice quirky, very English, humorous book. ( )

I think science fiction isn't for me! Adams did get in some good jokes, though. ( )

This is the second Hitchhiker's book. It's a continuation of what happened directly at the end of the first one, and in many ways it flows seamlessly, as if it is one story. This one is in many ways very similar - it's got the same sort of humor, the same sort of events happening in the novel, and the same treatment of the characters.

Much of the book follows Zaphod's adventures, but later we check in on our other favorite characters, such as Arthur, Trillian, and Ford. Interestingly, we return to earth, but it is a prehistoric earth that Ford and Arthur find themselves on. Overall the events in this novel are just as intriguing, interesting, and entertaining as those in the first, and this is a very fitting sequel. ( )

Apparently I’m on a Douglas Adams kick lately. This second book in the Hitchhiker’s series picks up where the last one left off, with our strange band of humans and aliens racing/being dragged around the universe, encountering all sorts of weird stuff. It’s odd. It’s not for everyone. But I sure like it.

Read my full review here: http://letseatgrandpa.com/2011/07/31/july-snippet-book-reviews/ ( )

My favorite part of this book is when Trillian and Zaphod meets the man who rules the Universe. He's such an interesting character and I wish there is more of him. But I'm sure this is just the right amount or else it might get repetitive.

This book, along with the first one, is just so brilliant and creative. I can't wait to read the next one in the series.

I also love the ending of this book too. There's such depth that it makes it super thought provoking and at the same time the story, the characters, and the trouble that they face is so creative. ( )

http://booknutreview.blogspot.com/2011/06/restaurant-at-end-of-universe-douglas.... ( )