The answer to the biggest question in life is: 42.

I know this because for the past day and a half I read "The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams. I read the book for two reasons: 1) I have owned a leather-bound copy of the Hitchhikers Trilogy forever, and 2) the movie is coming out soon. So, I figure I’d rather read it first.

Wow. I can’t recall the last time I ever forced myself to keep reading a book like this. I read it for 5 hours straight today, out of a pure desire to be able to not have to read it any longer. I tend to not stop reading a book, as I figure I can learn just as much from a bad book as a good one. If that is true, there is a wealth of education in my brain now that didn’t exist two days ago.

The book reminded me a lot of Monty Python, which for the sake of clarification means I found it dreadfully boring.

The word that came up most often was "clever." I don’t tend to use that word in a positive light.

When I am writing, if anything starts seeming to be heading toward being clever, I back-up and take another stab at it. To me it signals when the author is amused at his own creativity, and it finds it way onto the page.

The sole example I can think of where this has blatantly occurred in a book and I thought it brilliant was in Lolita by Nabokov. In that book, Lolita’s name is actually Dolores. And a good distance into the book, which is all about a guy who went to elaborate lengths to bed his young nymphet, they are touring California, specifically San Francisco, specifically a landmark that is about five blocks from my house: Mission Dolores.

In Lolita (and this is from memory, so forgive me if I go astray), Nabokov lists out long lists of places they keep visiting in their extended road trip, in short, punchy lists. And in one list he writes: "Mission Dolores," and quickly adds, "Good title for a book."

I came to a full-stop when I read that in Thailand, and just laughed. because he had so earned that moment. The whole book of Lolita could be called Mission: Dolores.

So, I’m not opposed to clever, and especially not Kissing to be Clever (although I took enough crap for buying that in high school), but the whole British clever that pervades Hitchhiker and Monty Python? Can’t take it.

Needless to say, I shall only be reading the first volume of the Douglas Adams book. It will most likely be available for sale soon at Aadvark Books at Church and Market. Barely used!

"Deliver me from clever art."
– Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club

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