fluffybunny Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 I was thinking of reading the Hitchhikers Guide to the Universe to my son who is an average 11yr old. I haven't read it myself yet so would like some feedback. What age group is this story suitable for, ie would he understand it, is there anything unsuitable for kids his age, etc? I don't want to start a book and have him not want to hear anymore, as he usually rejects that book forever then. Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Nyssa Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 I think older teen. Also, if you are religious, there is a very cynical attitude toward faith which you may not like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kim in Appalachia Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 I would agree that it would be better for older teens. I don't believe my 11 year old would get most of it. The pace is strange and can be hard to follow, plus many of the jokes can be hard to get, either subtle or requiring greater experience in life. :001_smile: I do enjoy that book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pooh bear Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Its title is Hitchhicker's Guide to the Galaxy My 11 ds has read the first book, Hitchhicker's Guide to the Galaxy, and found it very funny. I do wonder if this has something to do with the fact that I am English and he watches a lot of English TV shows. You know how English humor is very different to American humor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 My daughter read the book (13) and liked it. My 11 year old loved loved the movie and still talks about it a year later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan in SC Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 My oldest son has read it several times and he is 11. He does enjoy British humor, so maybe that is why he liked it at a young age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 We read that book when ds was 11. We'd already seen the movie, which we adore! There were a few points that I felt weren't age appropriate, I can't even remember if they were s*x related, a comment about the women on another planet, or what. The comments were brief and went over ds's head. Ds found the book hilarious, but like others have said that's kind of our sense of humor. We celebrate towel day, randomly sing So Long and thanks for all the Fish, and think 42 is the answer to every question. :tongue_smilie: We'll watch the movie when we're having a bad day. It's a standard in our household. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassenach Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 You should read it first. Level of appropriateness is very subjective. It's been awhile since I read it, but the age that popped into my head was 13. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 He loved it. I believe the 'F' word comes up once. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 My dd is reading it now at 13 and enjoying it. She most certainly appreciates British humor. Because she loves the show Sherlock, she hunted around the internet and found some British radio show that actor appeared on (never heard of it - Cabin Pressure) and is listening to them all on her iPod and says it's the funniest thing ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 I have read these books *many* times. I let my kids read them at 13. There is talk of one-night-stands, there is the triple-bre*sted wh*re of some planet, there are a *lots* of jokes, comments and set ups like that. So, it depends on what you think of as age appropriate. I would highly recommend a pre-read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lolly Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 My ds read it last year at 12. He found it to be wonderfully hilarious. I'd say it is probably his favorite book of all time. Wait, How do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight would be in that place.:lol: Second favorite.;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy in C-ville Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 I'm not going with the majority. I just don't like it. I tried, but I don't like it. It was just weird to me and I didn't find it engaging at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 I loved the book. What everyone else has said is spot on, though. It's a certain kind of humor that your son may or may not have, or may or may not be old enough to understand. And I second the comment about the very cynical view of God. If you believe in God, be aware that there are many pokes against God and religion in the book. It's up to you to decide if your son can handle having his beliefs made fun of with gleeful abandon. Eleven might be too young for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 I have read these books *many* times. I let my kids read them at 13. There is talk of one-night-stands, there is the triple-bre*sted wh*re of some planet, there are a *lots* of jokes, comments and set ups like that. So, it depends on what you think of as age appropriate. I would highly recommend a pre-read. :iagree: There is also drinking, if that annoys people. I love the books, I have read them several times. The author actually wrote for classic Doctor Who. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawna in Texas Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 DD read it last year (can't remember if it was before or after she turned 12). She loved it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ben Elliss Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 My son just started on it, and he is 8. He's fairly advanced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 Zombie post caught me! aaargh....thud Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 I am conservative, and so I tend to favor waiting a bit longer than many. :) Eleven seems quite young to *me* -- I wouldn't suggest this one until age 13 or older. The reality at our house: I read the book aloud, skipping the few dicey bits (I mention them below) to DSs in late middle school/early high school and we all thought it was hilarious. For solo reading at our house -- upper high school. We greatly enjoy off-beat British humor -- lots of it in this book. The tone of the book is absurdist, and slightly irreverent towards pretty much all topics: God, religion, evolution, science, culture... There are a few crudities/double entendres ("Big Bang"), and mention of "Er*tica Gallumbits, the triple-br**sted wh*re"; and several scenes of drinking and drunkenness, but it is clear that the characters who drank too much suffered consequences from the drinking. It's a pretty quick read, so perhaps check out the first 6 chapters yourself and see what you think -- you'll have hit most of the "dicey bits" by that time. BEST of luck, whatever you decide! Warmest regards, Lori D. ETA: As far as the SERIES -- there are five books, and I felt only the first two were worth it; the rest fell into a LOT of crudities, four-letter words, and a bit meaner spirit -- they just did not have the light-heartedness nor amazing creativity of the first two books. Instead, books 3-5 felt like fast-written knockoffs trying to capitalize on the success of the first two books, with not enough worthwhile moments to make it worth reading. Definitely, if you read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, also go for the first sequel, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe. I strongly suggest skipping the others, and then have fun with Douglas Adams' Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency -- although, again, I'd recommend it for teens, not below, but mostly due to a lot would go over younger children's heads. Just my 2 cents worth! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto2Cs Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 I was just thinking about this series for my ds, who will be 12 in a couple of months. I think he'd really like it, but we have an odd sense of humor in this house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenNC Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 My husband is getting ready to read it aloud with our 12yo, once they've finished the rest of Terry Pratchett's Guards series (having already done a number of Discworld books, both the juveniles and the adult series). Like others, we do a lot of British humor---she's seen Monty Python's "Holy Grail" (but not "Meaning of Life" yet ;) ) and is an ardent Dr. Who fan. We also tend to the quirky side of humor. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto2Cs Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 I went ahead and picked up The Hitchhiker's Guide for ds while at the library yesterday, and he's loving it! I heard a lot of giggling during his reading time yesterday evening, so I think it's a hit! I'm thrilled because now I'll be able to reference the book when talking to him (loved the series myself). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momling Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 I think jr high or high school sounds right (because that's when I read it). My daughter read the three books at 10. She had finished all of Terry Pratchett's books and many Neil Gaimon and wanted more like it. I don't really censor books much and she tends to reread books, so I have no doubt she'll get more out of them when she's older. But... She did enjoy them. Anyway, I figure a child won't read what they're not ready for. If its too scary or grown up or complicated or difficult, they'll put it down. It's not a big deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trillian Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 DS read it this year and loved it. I do agree that very religious people may not like it. He didn't care for the sequel (only tried the 2nd). I warned him I didn't think it was as good as th first. I do think a certin sense of humor is required. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumto2 Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 Ds read it when he was 10. Loved it. Not at all traumitized by the content. I did pre read it. One scene (can't remember what but s*x related) gave me pause. I decided that it would fly over his head and it did. He thought the 3 B's weird. Loved the movie. Please note we are British (sort of) so the style is familiar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 ETA: As far as the SERIES -- there are five books, and I felt only the first two were worth it; the rest fell into a LOT of crudities, four-letter words, and a bit meaner spirit -- they just did not have the light-heartedness nor amazing creativity of the first two books. Instead, books 3-5 felt like fast-written knockoffs trying to capitalize on the success of the first two books, with not enough worthwhile moments to make it worth reading. Hitchhiker and Restaurant are taken from the radio series (which is fun to listen to). Adams turned the radio series into the books, then kept on writing. Neil Gaiman wrote Don't Panic: The Official Hitchhiker's Guide Companion in the 80s. It's neat too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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