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tregina's review against another edition
4.0
I'm writing this in the first moments after finishing the book, in a flush of joy and relief, so right now I want to cry to the heavens about how wonderful it is and how wonderful the world is.
But for the first sixty pages or so, I have to admit that I just did not warm to Mark's voice at all. It was really only when his journal entries and his asides were juxtaposed against the people at mission control and the crew of the Hermes that he really stood out as a character. The book needed that interaction; four hundred pages of just Mark detailing his science—and really, that's what this book is—might have been unendurable. It's hard science from start to finish, in almost minute detail, but it's got that heart too.
It calls itself Apollo 13 meets Cast Away, but really it's Apollo 13 meets Cast Away meets Saving Private Ryan. (I guess that means Mark is Tom Hanks. Or really, at this point of his career, maybe Colin Hanks.)
Ultimately, I could not put it down. I literally drained my ereader battery to the last percent in my effort to finish, and it, like Mark, somehow managed to hold out to the very end.
But for the first sixty pages or so, I have to admit that I just did not warm to Mark's voice at all. It was really only when his journal entries and his asides were juxtaposed against the people at mission control and the crew of the Hermes that he really stood out as a character. The book needed that interaction; four hundred pages of just Mark detailing his science—and really, that's what this book is—might have been unendurable. It's hard science from start to finish, in almost minute detail, but it's got that heart too.
It calls itself Apollo 13 meets Cast Away, but really it's Apollo 13 meets Cast Away meets Saving Private Ryan. (I guess that means Mark is Tom Hanks. Or really, at this point of his career, maybe Colin Hanks.)
Ultimately, I could not put it down. I literally drained my ereader battery to the last percent in my effort to finish, and it, like Mark, somehow managed to hold out to the very end.
betterbelieveitsbecca's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
darthgrim's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
eknowledger's review against another edition
3.0
Robinson Crusoe on Mars!
The last chapter is brilliant, funny, and thrilling!
The last chapter is brilliant, funny, and thrilling!
jabouch98's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
catparroll's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
cecchinsette's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
sparky_lurkdragon's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Excrement and Blood
Minor: Cannibalism