Reviews tagging 'Car accident'

The Martian by Andy Weir

10 reviews

strawberrytheauthor's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This book was way more interesting than I thought it would be. I seriously loved it. There is a lot of science talk that I don’t understand and it doesn’t explain it all, but it didn’t hinder the experience. I really enjoyed the sass ones of the main character, Mark Watney. He is such a punk and I love those types of characters.

Content Warnings

alisonfaith426's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous hopeful tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

Content Warnings

katethecatlady's review

Go to review page

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Content Warnings

jasminrain's review

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful 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

4.5

Such a good book! One of those you can't put down and when you do you keep thinking about getting back to it. Having watched the movie dozens of times kinda removed some of the excitement and I feel like I would have loved this more if I hadn't known the plot. I think I actually prefer the film. That being said I had such good time reading it. I don't usually prefer plot driven books over character development nor first person narrative but the main character was strong and witty enough to pull the narrative and didn't need the character development I'd usually be looking for. Super keen to read Project Hail Mary now!

Content Warnings

theinfamousj's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

BCID: 16450927 {http://bookcrossing.com/journal/16450927}

I read this book for Movie Book Club {http://moviebookclub.carrd.co/}, where we read a book that has been adapted into a movie every month, and then watch the movie. Though I’ve wanted to read this book since 2018, it finally got done in 2022 because of Movie Book Club, and also because I happened to find a copy of it in a Little Free Library {http://bookcrossing.com/journal/16450927} on my adventures.

I was one of three people who had read the book prior to watching the movie (sometimes more of us have, sometimes I haven’t had a chance to read the book ahead of time, and so it goes) and throughout the movie there were many questions about what was happening in the movie and why which I was able to answer from having read the book. In this sense, the book is more complete than the movie. However, the movie differs from the book in ways that better fit the medium of a feature length movie and I do not fault it for that. For example, the book had Watney giving himself stitches and the movie had skin staples; the book had a more complex and far more realistic way of separating hydrazine to generate more water and the movie had a chiminea; the book acknowledged that Watney did not bathe during his year plus on Mars and the movie had a lovely nude shot of Matt Damon’s rear as he supposedly was emerging from the shower.

It is true what they say, there are no new plots left. This is Robinson Crusoe, MacGuyver, and the entire Gentlemen Bastard series all painted over with the iron oxide rust red of Mars. But hey, I enjoy variations of that plot and have yet to become tired of it.

Aside from that, check out my reading notes, spoiler free and full of in-the-moment reactions.

“... So I came up with a brilliant plan that didn't work.”
― Andy Weir, The Martian

“He’s stuck out there. He thinks he’s totally alone and that we all gave up on him. What kind of effect does that have on a man’s psychology?” He turned back to Venkat. “I wonder what he’s thinking right now.”

LOG ENTRY: SOL 61 How come Aquaman can control whales? They’re mammals! Makes no sense.”
― Andy Weir, The Martian

“Problem is (follow me closely here, the science is pretty complicated), if I cut a hole in the Hab, the air won't stay inside anymore.”
― Andy Weir, The Martian

“They say no plan survives first contact with implementation. I’d have to agree.”
― Andy Weir, The Martian

Reading Notes

March 28, 2018 – Shelved
December 29, 2021 – Started Reading
December 29, 2021 – page 6 1.63% "Why is he taking antibiotics if he is on Mars? Exactly which bacteria is he prophylactically trying to prevent taking hold?"
December 29, 2021 – page 7 1.9% "Dropping the f-bomb in the first 10 pages. That's bold. And it worked. I'm so hooked."
December 29, 2021 – page 7 1.9% "Wait, chapter 1 is done already? That was short. I'm only supposed to read a chapter a day and yet I want to read on. No. Must exercise willpower and impulse control. Must."
December 30, 2021 – page 8 2.17% "Firstly, the willpower won out. I made it. It is a whole day later and I'm ready to read another chapter. Attagirls for me!"
December 30, 2021 – page 9 2.44% "Props to the author for explaining the MAV acronym (Mars Ascent Vehicle) but then just dropping MDV on us and leaving it up to us to figure out what that stands for. I did! And in only one sentence. Mars Descent Vehicle. Weir's signposting is stellar. But I'm still askance about the antibiotics, tho."
December 30, 2021 – page 12 3.25% "And then on page 12 he admits there are no bacteria on Mars. See. What'd I tell you about the course of antibiotics? What editor missed that?"
December 30, 2021 – page 14 3.79% "Ah ha! The antibiotics are finally explained. He brought a grocery bagful of Earth soil with him that has all its macrobiotics in it including our good friends the bacteria that cause tetanus. Of course the bag hasn't been opened and is still hermetically sealed from the journey through space. But don't let that disrupt a good story."
December 30, 2021 – page 14 3.79% "'Human waste has pathogens in it that, you guessed it, infect humans. But it's not a problem for me. The only pathogens in this waste are the ones I already have.' THEN WHY ARE YOU ON ANTIBIOTICS?!!"
December 30, 2021 – page 15 4.07% "'My back is killing me .... so I took Vicodin.' Bro, you skipped right over Advil. I'm not saying you're an addict or anything, but ..."
December 30, 2021 – page 17 4.61% "And that's the end of that chapter with the cliff hanger that our busy bee is a thousand days of food short despite all of his precious work. But hey, he can still write up the results of his viable Martian soil experiment. This cliff hanger wasn't as delicious as the previous one. I won't have any trouble keeping the book on the bedside table until tomorrow. Unlike yesterday."
December 31, 2021 – page 18 4.88% "Made it to the next day without any desire to peek at the next chapter ahead as suspected. Happy New Year's (Eve) as I next cracked open the book on 31 Dec 2021."
December 31, 2021 – page 19 5.15% "Ah ha! I now understand what a "sol" is. It is an Earth day which, due to Mars being a different planet means it lasts a different amount of time than sunrise to sunrise on Mars."
December 31, 2021 – page 26 7.05% "That is an interesting chemistry lesson. Being formally trained in chemistry in college (I have a whole bachelor's degree in it), I am curious about this catalyst that is in the MAV."
December 31, 2021 – page 27 7.32% "And now the chapter is done and I must abed. These are pretty short chapters and there are only 26 of them, so what constitutes the bulk of this book? Maybe they get longer?"
January 1, 2022 – page 28 7.59% "Good morning and happy 2022. So far the year has started off being unseasonably warm (it is 72F in January in North Carolina) so I sit on the back deck to read today's chapter, with the windows open to air out the house. Here is hoping this is a great omen for the year ahead to come -- warmth and light and freedom and enjoyment. But not for Mark who is presently stuck on Mars with potatoes grown in poop."
January 1, 2022 – page 31 8.4% "And now he's going on abut having bags. That's ... nice, I guess. But what does that have to do with making water so he can farm potatoes?"
January 1, 2022 – page 33 8.94% "'If ruining the only religious icon I have leaves me vulnerable to Martian vampires, I'll have to risk it.' I LOLed. But not out loud. No one ever LOLs out loud. But we say we do. Humans enjoy telling lies."
January 1, 2022 – page 34 9.21% "'I could have finished faster, but I figured caution's best when setting fire to rocket fuel in an enclosed space.' I LOLed silently, again. Mark Watney and Andy Weir are on a roll with these gallows humor, science driven one liners."
January 1, 2022 – page 35 9.49% "Previous page: 'Things are finally going my way. In fact, they're going great! I have a chance to live after all!' /// First line of this page: 'I'm fucked, and I'm going to die!' /// Add comedic timing, too! I may yet actually chuckle aloud one of these days."
January 1, 2022 – page 37 10.03% "'The Hab is now a bomb.' /// See, now that's how you give me another cliff hanger of an ending that makes me bitter I have a self-imposed one-chapter-a-day reading limit. There is plenty more book left, so I'm guessing that the Hab does not, in fact, blow up. But also, I want to know how the Hab does not, in fact, blow up. Waiting is hard."
January 2, 2022 – page 38 10.3% "And thus it continues. Did you know there is a Y2K bug for 2022? It affects emails handled by Microsoft Exchange Servers. This explains why my email for a FreeCycle.org butter bell didn't go through. That said, on to Mark who cannot send any email at all ... /// We begin this chapter with him teaching us the condensation point of various gases: O2, N2, and H2. Let's see where this leads us."
January 2, 2022 – page 41 11.11% "'Things weren't 100% successful. They say no plan survives first contact with implementation.' I've never heard that saying, but now it's in my lexicon."
January 2, 2022 – page 43 11.65% "'I may not be able to reprogram the regulator, but I can turn the bastard off completely.' Truer words were never spoken, my friend."
January 2, 2022 – page 43 11.65% "Mark in here bragging about how he can turn off the oxygen regulator one minute but apparently cannot turn off the fire alarm the next minute is impressing no one."
January 2, 2022 – page 43 11.65% "'Everything went great right up to the explosion.' See now that would make a fabulous chapter end. Except it isn't a chapter end. It isn't even a page break. Does this mean the chapter end is going to be dull?"
January 2, 2022 – page 47 12.74% "'Do you know how much oxygen you absorb out of the air when you take a normal breath?' Actually, yes, I do. Or rather I know the human average. 20%. I was taught this when I was taught about rebreathers. They feed you the same air 5 times which is why they require such little air."
January 2, 2022 – page 48 13.01% "And with a snarky final comment about Dukes of Hazard, the chapter is done. As suspected, a dull chapter ending rather than a cliffhanger. This dude is now 42 days in to never having talked to another human being and feeling stranded. I'm surprised he hasn't adopted a volleyball to be honest. I'd be completely coo-coo. 42 days is more than a month. No. Thank. You."
January 4, 2022 – page 49 13.28% "So it is two days later. Yesterday was extremely busy with two floods in the morning accompanied by damaging winds, then snow at noon. I can take a day off for severe weather. But that means I need to read two chapters today and so I shall... /// This chapter offers a format and location change. We are now on Earth at the Johnson Space center in Houston where the memorial service for Mr. Watney had just concluded."
January 4, 2022 – page 51 13.82% "A very accurate assessment of what the internet would do with photos of a dead astronaut, I do declare. But missing the part where it would be memed."
January 4, 2022 – page 53 14.36% "And after all this time they finally think to give a look see to make sure Watney is truly dead and they find ... a cliff hanger. But not the kind that ends a chapter."
January 4, 2022 – page 55 14.91% "And now the implication that NASA knows Watney is alive, but they don't say it in words, just imply. Which would make another good chapter ending except it isn't a chapter ending. It is just a section ending. This chapter ending better be good."
January 4, 2022 – page 58 15.72% "These section breaks are good. NASA has finally admitted that Watney is alive, his parents are getting the good news, there is a team assigned to figuring out how to chat with him, the rest of the Ares 3 crew are being kept purposefully ignorant, and someone else did the math to figure out that Watney is going to die of starvation before he can be rescued. And then a section break. That was a lot for a section."
January 4, 2022 – page 60 16.26% "So NASA has just admitted that they don't have a way to talk with Watney, but the section ends with a very dry and wry on-the-nose joke starting with the fateful words, 'What are the odds?'"
January 4, 2022 – page 61 16.53% "And in this chapter section, NASA rips off the bandaid and tells the world that Watney is not among the dead but instead is among the living."
January 4, 2022 – page 64 17.34% "So in the final two NASA sections, we have a speech forced down our throats as well as an idea of a rescue plan that requires Mark to live for 4 years. Then they, as I already was, wonder about his mental state. Which leads us to a log entry pondering the powers of Aquaman to answer the mental state question. And scene...or rather chapter. But since today is a two-chapter catch-up day ..."
January 4, 2022 – page 65 17.62% "And now that I have dropped off my significant other at the airport so he can risk catching COVID and spreading it to his Mom, we are on to the second chapter of the day. This one once again begins with a log entry. A log entry where he throws shade on 1970s television. Underhanded compliments? I'm here for it."
January 4, 2022 – page 67 18.16% "Oh look, I just learned that Earth gets 1400 watts per square meter of sunlight. That's a handy number to know if I ever want to calculate my own solar power consumption. That is, if this number is accurate. But given what is said about Andy Weir as a human being, I'm quite sure that number is accurate and has been triple checked."
January 4, 2022 – page 69 18.7% "So he's describing this harness system for the spare battery for Rover 2 and how it held when going over rocks and since I have no idea what a Martian rover looks like, I cannot even possibly picture what it is that he has contrived. Can someone send me a visual? I need a visual. Otherwise, these are just words. Pretty words, but still, just words."
January 4, 2022 – page 69 18.7% ""I spent the rest of the day sweeping off the solar cell farm. Soon, I shall be looting it." Why? Why is he looting it *soon*? If his rescue mission won't be there for four years, why is he in such a hurry to leave his comfortable setup with potatoes and 1970s television to get into a super cramped rover and drive to his pickup point four years early? Loot the solar cells in 3 years, my dude."
January 4, 2022 – page 71 19.24% "Wait a minute, if 39 sols is about 40 Earth days then a sol is a Martian day. Heavens help me that wasn't clear earlier. I thought a sol was an Earth day."
January 4, 2022 – page 71 19.24% "A large collection of eBooks? ears perk up Agatha Christie? neck swivels Yes, do keep whispering sweet nothings to me via page."
January 4, 2022 – page 71 19.24% "The f-bomb count is presently at three. This one seemed shoehorned in and doesn't flow as well as I'd prefer. Maybe it is a sign of Watney's deteriorating mental state but I think it is more that the author wanted to make him seem edgy."
January 4, 2022 – page 76 20.6% "Wherein a lot of words are spent for Mark Watney to go get himself a space heater. (pun totally intentional and entirely mine)"
January 4, 2022 – page 79 21.41% "And the chapter ends with grand plans to make a large road trip without coming home to dead houseplants. The pattern of good cliffhangers being mid chapter meaning poor chapter ends holds."
January 5, 2022 – page 80 21.68% "And we're back. I have 15 minutes until this pub quiz starts and I'm hoping I can get this chapter read by then. Yes, I've taken my computer with me to the pub for pub quiz, but that is because the other 5 members of my team are remote and we have special permission. In a way, I'm Mark Watney, except I have communication with NASA back on Earth and they are telling me to write down answers to difficult trivia qs."
January 5, 2022 – page 85 23.04% "I don't think I'm going to make it before quiz, so I'll summarize what has happened so far -- We are back on Earth. They are tracking Mark extensively. Mindy wishes she was communications lady Annie. Annie is suddenly a foul mouthed hard ass full of crass. Mindy -- that's the woman who discovered Watney was still alive -- just got groused at by not having enough rank and is having a moment."
January 5, 2022 – page 85 23.04% "Also, the suits around the table gave Mindy total control over the Martian satellites and decided that they'd tell the Ares 3 crew that Watney is still alive only after they have a feasible rescue plan."
January 5, 2022 – page 87 23.58% "NASA hasn't figured out that Watney has food handled. I presume that before the book is over, NASA will figure that out."
January 5, 2022 – page 90 24.39% "Wherein we learn that the USPS doesn't issue stamps of living people. Ever. This I just learned. And I learned it thanks to this book."
January 5, 2022 – page 90 24.39% "Well that's depressing. Rather than a suicide note, a suicide radio transmission."
January 5, 2022 – page 91 24.66% "Communication by confetti. I love it."
January 5, 2022 – page 94 25.47% "And the chapter ends with the discovery that Watney is on his way to a radio by way of a Martian rover. Soon, communication will be for everyone and NASA will learn of the potatoes and no one will have OT pay."
January 6, 2022 – page 95 25.75% "And we're back for another chapter. And we're back on Mars to be party to Mark's thoughts which are now his road trip log, letting us all know his road trip routine. Apparently he still shaves. Probably so that he can attach masks to his face if necessary. Otherwise, why not grow the beard and appreciate the extra insulation it offers? Most interesting of his tales are that of eliminating waste."
January 6, 2022 – page 96 26.02% "Ah, he's mentioning that he's wearing cutoffs and a thin shirt while the nuclear radioactive device provides heat. That's probably why he isn't after growing a beard. But, like, no one can see you dude so drive naked rather than turning pants into non-pants. You might need them to be pants later, methinks?"
January 6, 2022 – page 97 26.29% "'... so I came up with a brilliant plan that didn't work' << I'm stealing that line, by the way. Next time someone asks me why I didn't meet a deadline it will be because of my brilliant plan that didn't work. My brilliant plan? Procrastinating and hoping a better plan arrives by osmosis. /// Also, you should go like the quote. https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/1110..."
January 6, 2022 – page 100 27.1% "Our first mention by Mark of being lonely."
January 6, 2022 – page 104 28.18% "He got the communication thingie! And now he drives another 10 days back to the Hab."
January 10, 2022 – page 153 41.46% "So those of you reading my update feed, I didn't forget about you or my one-chapter-a-day rule. I just was doing some screen-free self-care. Something Watney is NOT doing now that I'm on p. 153. /// Since last I yelled into this here internet void, Watney has gotten the rover, it has communicated with Earth, he's talking to NASA, and we've gotten the story of the day he was abandoned."
January 10, 2022 – page 154 41.73% "Oh, and his Ares 3 crewmates have been told that he's alive. Commander Lewis didn't take it very well at all."
January 10, 2022 – page 157 42.55% "Oh my. Now THAT is how you end a chapter on a cliff hanger! Poor potatoes."
January 11, 2022 – page 158 42.82% "I'd say I'm back on track, but somehow I managed to get ahead of myself. I'm on Chapter 14 but day 12. I'm two chapters ahead. Do I take the day off? No! We read on and bank them for another severe weather day yet to come. /// This chapter opens with Watney having a tantrum because, like, he's running out of air and is going to die. Oh, and also his potatoes probably died."
January 11, 2022 – page 162 43.9% "Finally, a believable f-bomb."
January 11, 2022 – page 167 45.26% "Again with the comic timing. Final line of the previous page + first line of this page. You have to read it to see for yourself."
January 11, 2022 – page 171 46.34% "Once again, he's going to die of starvation. But then there is more book. So I guess he isn't."
January 13, 2022 – page 172 46.61% "And that brings us to today. I claim a mental health day for yesterday and since I had two buffer chapters, I won't even require myself to make up the missed chapter. Such is prioritizing one's mental health; it is important and needs to be treated so. /// And so this chapter begins with the information that the farm is dead, that the water reclaimer is offline, and that somehow the computers still work even ..."
January 13, 2022 – page 173 46.88% "... though that one laptop from a few chapters ago went dead when exposed to the Martian atmosphere instantly. So how are these good? We shall never know, shan't we."
January 13, 2022 – page 175 47.43% "And the water reclaimer is up and running again."
January 13, 2022 – page 191 51.76% "I've never been this invested in protein cubes on a journey in my life. Thank you Andy Weir for that."
January 14, 2022 – page 199 53.93% "Yusssss Rich! Represent neurodivergence!"
January 15, 2022 – page 228 61.79% "Nothing new to say except I'm starting to become immune to the rollercoaster of 'Watney is going to die - solved the problem - Watney is going to die'. It no longer has the emotional punch it used to. I may have even yawned. From a personal life point, remember how the 1400 watts/m2 figure came up and I suspected it would be useful for trivia? IT WAS! Last night! :: gloats happily ::"
January 16, 2022 – page 242 65.58% "I survived another episode of Top Gear: Mars."
January 17, 2022 – page 248 67.21% "I notice how they separated out botanist from biologist. I, personally, would have put those roles together. But I am not the mind of Andy Weir."
January 17, 2022 – page 256 69.38% "I'm not sure five humans can sustain someone for eight months."
January 18, 2022 – page 268 72.63% "As someone who goes camping and has fixed many a tent, I related to this chapter."
January 19, 2022 – page 274 74.25% "New fact that I'm sure will end up in trivia/pub quiz shortly: Pure O2 will stop most headaches."
January 19, 2022 – page 275 74.53% "Another sighting of the 'No plan survives first contact with ...' line. This one sounds less impressive so it must have been written first."
January 19, 2022 – page 280 75.88% "Wait, who is Beck. Not the doctor. Not Navy or Air Force. Not the nerd (that's Johannsen). Not the German one. I ... Beck?"
January 19, 2022 – page 284 76.96% "Oh look, Mars is trying to kill Watney again and he's on is own as a rugged individualist. At the same time, now, Hermes is trying to kill the rest of the Ares 3 crew. But there is more book so I know Mars and Hermes don't kill. I am not even trying to guess how all this works out. I'm just a passive observer like someone in deep meditation."
January 21, 2022 – page 285 77.24% "Yes, I know, I skipped another day. In my defense, I was tired. Bone ready tired. Super, incredibly, tired. But I'm back at it with the desire to do two chapters today. So there. This chapter begins ten days into the great migration."
January 21, 2022 – page 287 77.78% "This is starting to remind me of "The Truman Show" with CNN tracking his every move and reporting on it with behind-the-scenes analysis."
January 21, 2022 – page 288 78.05% "Wherein we learn how to use a sextant."
January 21, 2022 – page 290 78.59% "'Mawrth Vallis' may be real, but it also sounds like the name of a Pokemon."
January 21, 2022 – page 294 79.67% "Uh oh. Watney is in the dust storm and it is having an effect. Sads."
January 21, 2022 – page 296 80.22% "And now he's figured out that he's in a dust storm, but at least he knows he has to go around it to survive. So that's good."
January 21, 2022 – page 298 80.76% "Second chapter of the day, my penance for taking a day off yesterday."
January 21, 2022 – page 299 81.03% "When he says he's going to drop a cell and record the wattage, how exactly is he going to do that? He doesn't exactly have computers that work in the free Martian atmosphe-- Oh look, the book just said what I was thinking. Well, I feel good about my understanding of the situation, then."
January 21, 2022 – page 302 81.84% "We interrupt this description of home made monitoring equipment to remind you about potatoes."
January 21, 2022 – page 305 82.66% "Oh look! Another rover."
January 21, 2022 – page 310 84.01% "Watney got into Mars's first car accident. Now that's something I find worthy of biting my nails. And to put it at a chapter end, too! We are finally back to the cliff hangers I hoped for that make me want to turn the page."
January 22, 2022 – page 324 87.8% "He's at the MAV. And I'm knackered. Good night all."
January 23, 2022 – page 326 88.35% "He's back to saving his urine. Why for I cannot even begin to guess."
January 23, 2022 – page 327 88.62% "Ohhhhh ... MAV fuel. He's going to fly into space on his own urine. Not bad. Not bad at all."
January 23, 2022 – page 330 89.43% "You know, when you really think about it, 4% odds of failure aren't bad when there are 100% odds of failure for not doing the thing."
January 23, 2022 – page 336 91.06% "Hurray for standardized valve systems! (you'll get it when you read this page)"
January 23, 2022 – page 341 92.41% "He's eaten his final Martian potato."
January 24, 2022 – page 358 97.02% "'As a chemist, Vogel knew how to make a bomb.' Can confirm. Also have a chemistry degree. Do know how to make a bomb. They teach us for the degree, you see."
January 24, 2022 – page 366 99.19% "They did it! They've got Watney! It is done! What a ride! Oh, but wait, there is more book."
January 24, 2022 – page 368 99.73% "Fair point about body odor. We become nose blind to our own stink."
January 24, 2022 – page 369 100.0% "And it ends with a message of universal cooperation. Oh how little you knew about a pandemic, Andy Weir."
January 24, 2022 – Finished Reading

Content Warnings

creepypiespice's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous funny hopeful medium-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

4.75

Content Warnings

meganpbennett's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging funny hopeful tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

The Martian is an incredibly fast-paced survival adventure. Set on Mars. 6 days into a 30-odd day mission, the Ares 3 crew is forced to abandon the mission, and astronaut Mark Watney is injured in the rush to get to the MAV. Injured, and with an EV suit registering both massive, sudden depressurization and no life signs, his crew is forced to leave him behind, not even attempting a body recovery. Except...

He's not dead. Close, yes, but not dead. He does a quick repair on the EV suit, and makes it back to the HAB, where he quickly figures out that he has no way to survive until the Ares 4 crew lands, and no way to talk to Earth.

The Martian is a page-turning thriller of a sci-fi novel - with understandable technobable that's probably pretty accurate - that manages to be extremely hopeful, even when there is no hope. It's terrifying, and yet... wonderful.

Content Warnings

ggcd1981's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging funny informative inspiring fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Se alguém tivesse me dito em 2020 que eu leria The martian, eu não teria acreditado. Não é que pensasse que o livro seria ruim, mas a história nunca foi particularmente interessante para mim. Então porque leria esse dentre tantos livros que me interessariam mais? Contudo, eis que realmente li The martian, e gostei bastante. Devo isso ao Audible ter deixado disponível a assinantes por alguns meses. Como sabia que não iria querer gastar um crédito comprando o livro, aproveitei a oportunidade para ouvir a obra, e esta foi uma grata surpresa.

Muitas pessoas recomendam esse livro, mesmo assim minha expectativa era de não gostar. Mas o livro fluiu muito rápido e terminei quase sem sentir. Os pontos positivos para mim foram: protagonista cativante e engraçado (eu aparentemente tenho fraqueza por protagonistas engraçados); apesar do teor científico pesado a narrativa parecia fluída mesmo assim; Personagens coadjuvantes que se tornaram um bom complemento quando Mark Watney não estava em foco; os personagens femininos, apesar de terem pouco tempo de página, ainda sim mostraram força, inteligência, agência e coragem (É claro que gostaria mais tempo com essas personagens, mas estou contente com sua representação); a resolução de problemas do personagem foi didática de forma que a parte científica não se tornou um obstáculo ; Gostei bastante do livro mencionar, mesmo que brevemente, as consequências psicológicas que Watney sofreu pós-retorno a terra, como pesadelos, reclusão e ataques de pânico; Finalmente a narração por Wil Wheaton foi ótima e deu vida e carisma a Watney.

Os pontos negativos foram poucos, de forma que é difícil lembrar deles. Um ponto negativo que vi outras pessoas apontar foi o senso de humor do protagonista, pois em nenhum momento ele mostra real angustia ou desespero. Isso não me incomodou realmente pois acredito que um astronauta que passa por intensa avaliação psicológica e se prepara psicologicamente para possível morte na decolagem ou missão seria capaz de manter relativa calma diante de uma situação de vida ou morte, mas uma piada aqui ou ali foram de gosto duvidoso. Pode-se argumentar que as piadas do protagonista eram um escape para seu medo e ansiedade. Um ponto que posso considerar negativo é que alguns elementos e eventos foram muito “Convenientes” para o protagonista superar alguns dos obstáculos enfrentados. Contudo, isso não realmente impediu que eu desfrutasse a história. Outro ponto negativo foi que quando personagens não americanos tinham falas o narrador não executou sotaques convincentes, mas fora isso a narração, como havia dito, foi ótima. Meu último ponto negativo é mais um problema meu do que do livro em si, em alguns poucos momentos onde a explicação científica se tornava mais complexa eu tive dificuldades de acompanhar o procedimento/explicação. Mas isso ocorreu poucas vezes de forma que não atrapalhou a leitura.

Em resumo o livro foi divertido e interessante. Seus pontos positivos superam os negativos e a obra me manteve engajada e torcendo pelo protagonista. Um dos melhores livros que li até agora em 2021. Dou 5 estrelas.

Content Warnings

trophywithabee's review

Go to review page

adventurous inspiring tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

I removed one star for each use of the word “ghetto” to describe anything. This book is obviously well researched in terms of the space travel aspects but the humor was a big miss for me.

Content Warnings

manarnia's review

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I love this book so much. I think it paints an unrealistically optimistic portrait of humanity, but it's a portrait that I return to over and over again, especially when I need a solid dose of hope. I can and do reread this book endlessly without ever getting tired of it.

Content Warnings

More...