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astridrv's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
I finished it! A very layered, complex books that was quite difficult to get into but rewarding after about a third. I am quite pleasantly surprised by the female characters (although gender essentialism remains). Big warning for fatphobia though, the villain is essentially described by his size as an incarnation of cruelty and greed in upsetting ways (add to that that he is gay and a pedophile, UGH). But otherwise, the deeper themes are very compelling, the writing is difficult but I think entirely on purpose, some sentences blew me away, and I hope to re read it some day. It is also interesting to couple this read with The Parable of the Sower, which also counts the birth of a messiah / goddess, but her theology is so communal, built on discussions with others, and faces greater difficulties than Paul does in this book. I would like to delve into that analysis a bit more some day...
In the end, this book is not even that long for the depth of the universe it presents. Onto the next one!
In the end, this book is not even that long for the depth of the universe it presents. Onto the next one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Colonisation, Drug use, and Genocide
Minor: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Violence, Murder, Pedophilia, and Homophobia
lowkeymarie's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Finally done, thank God. My interest in this steadily dropped as I got further in; the last few chapters especially were a real chore.
Hopefully the movie is better. (And chills out with the fatphobia/homophobia.) 🤞
Hopefully the movie is better. (And chills out with the fatphobia/homophobia.) 🤞
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, Fatphobia, and Homophobia
internalnonsense's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It's a classic for a reason. Sure, there's a lot I did not enjoy about it, but for every wall I hit there were sections I absolutely flew through. If all you're looking for is epic sci fi with archetypical but still compelling characters, it'll work for you. For me, the most interesting aspect was seeing it's influence in sci Fi and fantasy--the politicking space opera, the making of the chosen one, the codex entries, self aware predetermination, tropes I've read dozens of times (done better and worse) but were really codified here.
Fair warning: it's still a book written in the 1960s. It as absolutely earns a "fair for it's day" tag but still has pervasive misogyny, homophobia, racism. Nothing blatantly offensive but enough to be uncomfortable at times.
Fair warning: it's still a book written in the 1960s. It as absolutely earns a "fair for it's day" tag but still has pervasive misogyny, homophobia, racism. Nothing blatantly offensive but enough to be uncomfortable at times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Child death, Pedophilia, and Fatphobia
Minor: Homophobia and Misogyny
sebastian_3002's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Fatphobia and Homophobia
thisdykecanread's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I thought the concept of the story was interesting, but the whole book was wrapped in a lot of misogyny and homophobia. So I was unable to enjoy it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Sexism
hermyknee19's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Super boring and dumb. Way too complicated. Herbert has a weird obsession with making his characters "perfect" ie they all read like Mary Sues. Or Gary Stus, I should say, because there's only one female character. Weird time jumps. Way too much detail about politics and how fat and predatory the bad guy is and Way Way Way not enough character development. I couldn't tell you a single thing about any of the characters except how fucking perfect they all are.
If Eragon (especially Brisingr) was your favorite book, you'll really like this.
If Eragon (especially Brisingr) was your favorite book, you'll really like this.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Pedophilia
owenwilsonbaby's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I really liked this book! It's the first book I've read for fun in almost two years and I think it may have reset something inside my brain. It is very long and the pacing drags at times but the plotting and narration more than make up for it.
I would definitely say I found the first two sections of the book - Dune and Muad'Dib - much more interesting. I think that might just be my personal preference fortragedies and survival narratives but the last part felt comparatively weaker, mainly owing to strange pacing, as information was released very slowly and then very quickly. I LOVED the themes of self-loathing and foreboding around an individual's own capabilities. In particular, the dark prescience and subsequent self-loathing Paul experiences. The burdened with 'a great and terrible purpose' line feels like it was specifically written in for my angsty tastes!
I did struggle with the scope of the world building. Often, in order to motivate myself to keep reading, I would just have to accept that I didn't really grasp all of the wider political and social contexts for the events of a scene. I also had to make peace with the fact that it's a book from the 1960s, so sometimes it's tricky to tell if it's pro or anti capitalist, and also that sometimes its Islamic influences can read a bit islamophobically. Also the blatant homophobia of having the villainbe the only camp and queer coded character but also a paedophile!
Overall it's definitely a good book and a well-deserved classic - I'm more excited for the movie now I kind of understand the plot and world! It is going to be interesting to see how Villeneuve cuts the book in half. I definitely think the first two sections are stronger and will make an excellent film, but I'm not sure the final third will work as a standalone.
I would definitely say I found the first two sections of the book - Dune and Muad'Dib - much more interesting. I think that might just be my personal preference for
I did struggle with the scope of the world building. Often, in order to motivate myself to keep reading, I would just have to accept that I didn't really grasp all of the wider political and social contexts for the events of a scene. I also had to make peace with the fact that it's a book from the 1960s, so sometimes it's tricky to tell if it's pro or anti capitalist, and also that sometimes its Islamic influences can read a bit islamophobically. Also the blatant homophobia of having the villain
Overall it's definitely a good book and a well-deserved classic - I'm more excited for the movie now I kind of understand the plot and world! It is going to be interesting to see how Villeneuve cuts the book in half. I definitely think the first two sections are stronger and will make an excellent film, but I'm not sure the final third will work as a standalone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Violence
Moderate: Grief, Torture, Religious bigotry, Body horror, Medical content, and Pedophilia
Minor: Homophobia and Islamophobia
crying_again's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Misogyny, Sexism, and Slavery
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child death, Death, Fatphobia, and Homophobia
wlarianna's review against another edition
It's fatphobic & homophobic.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia, Pedophilia, Homophobia, and Rape
meremeth's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Drug use, Death, Fatphobia, and Homophobia
Minor: Genocide
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