the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy -- 9780345391803

This is the fastest I've completed a book in a really long time (aside from the 5 picture books I read Sunday night). I would highly recommend this as a great bus book -- It's short, it's light (but not so light that it's fluffy and entirely, aggravatingly pointless), and in being both of those, I found it very easy to get into and out of within the 10 min span I have between my bus stop outside my apartment and the one I use to get to work. Also, as an added bonus, it fit in my bag in a way that still allowed me to zip it shut. 

I did have two complaints though. Admittedly, both are really more problems with me than actually with the book. 

The first is that I already knew a lot of the best parts of the book. At many points, it felt like watching Star Wars but already knowing that Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker's father (sorry if I spoiled that for anyone...but only a little. Seriously, you haven't seen Star Wars?) or reading Romeo & Juliet any time after 1575. This is my fault for waiting so long to read it, but it was still disappointing. 

The second is that it ended like a first book in a series. You're thinking now "but it is the first book in a series, I don't understand? what's your point?" to which I snobbily reply "yes, but I hate series." I can pretty honestly say that I cannot recall ever reading any series in its entirety. The two possible exceptions are the Fudge series by Judy Blume and The Boys Start the War series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, and I am not sure if i read all of either of those. 

I can appreciate the character building that goes on over the course of 3+ books and the complex story arcs the author can achieve, but I don't like the way they're usually executed and I'm not a fan of being addicted to stuff (I've already got a problem with caffeine, i don't need to acquire any more, thank you very much). Addictions are expensive. And uncomfortable. I would have much preferred the book either a) end on a more clear-cut, complete note or b) kept its current ending without any follow-ups (because then it's just open ended and some sick, twisted part of me likes the frustrating ambiguity of it all). But I know it's a set-up. There. 

So that's really it. Read the book if you haven't already so that you may escape the troubles I had with knowing most of the best parts already. The end. (Until part II, the re-read)