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4.36 AVERAGE
4.36 AVERAGE
Thoroughly enjoyable. I'd say it's an excellent airplane read, except it is primarily a story about surviving a travel disaster, and so probably not appropriate.
Damn this was so good
I will admit that Mark was way too emotionally hardy to be realistic but THIS WAS REALLY EXCITING AND FUNNY AND ENJOYABLE so I am going to ignore it.
I will admit that Mark was way too emotionally hardy to be realistic but THIS WAS REALLY EXCITING AND FUNNY AND ENJOYABLE so I am going to ignore it.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I honestly had no idea that the movie was adapted from a novel. Not until I watched the StarTalk episode. Of course, I told myself to quickly get it and read.
Well, the startalk episode sure helped me understand both the book and the movie. However, I like the book more in term of characterization. The movie Watney has his sarcasm toned down by lot. I mean, really. It's a really delightful read and I can relate to how he jokes around to deal with his current situation.
As Spongebob once said, we all need to be able to laugh at ourselves.
Well, the startalk episode sure helped me understand both the book and the movie. However, I like the book more in term of characterization. The movie Watney has his sarcasm toned down by lot. I mean, really. It's a really delightful read and I can relate to how he jokes around to deal with his current situation.
As Spongebob once said, we all need to be able to laugh at ourselves.
I need to write a rather unpopular viewpoint. I had grand expectations as so many friends recommended this with great enthusiasm, promising hilarity and essentially raising the bar impossibly high. I wanted to like it so badly but I had so many issues with the book. The character is consistently optimistic and although very likeable, his punch lines (although funny in themselves) felt forced after a while to the point that had me cringing. His humour and general state of mind seemed somewhat unrealistic for someone encountering so many ridiculous scenarios while in isolation for over a year. Even someone like him would surely unravel a bit? My second issue was with all the calculations. Although likely all he would think about given his survival depended on constant calculations and adjustments, it got a bit boring to read and I found myself skimming over the details after a while. I'm all for science, being a bio major, but it just got excessive. Thirdly, I didn't feel connected to the lesser characters. Only in the last half were they really given dimension and even that was limited. I still would like to see the movie as I think it would be really entertaining, but this book probably could have been revamped a bit before being set loose into the world. All power to Weir for self publishing, but I still think it could have been polished up a little more.
don't crucify me for this...
okay the plot was incredible. such an exciting story. I've got lots of gripes though.
Mark Watney is unlikable. just not funny and not relatable. I started to feel indifferent about his being rescued lmao
the technical aspects could've been trimmed. a lot. like brother I don't care about the chemistry and physics behind what you're doing. I'm an accountant :')
maybe that's on me though. I think everyone goes into this book knowing it's super technical.
lastly, I think it was just a tad longer than it needed to be. we could've taken out at least ONE of the many failure -> solution -> dread sequences.
okay the plot was incredible. such an exciting story. I've got lots of gripes though.
Mark Watney is unlikable. just not funny and not relatable. I started to feel indifferent about his being rescued lmao
the technical aspects could've been trimmed. a lot. like brother I don't care about the chemistry and physics behind what you're doing. I'm an accountant :')
maybe that's on me though. I think everyone goes into this book knowing it's super technical.
lastly, I think it was just a tad longer than it needed to be. we could've taken out at least ONE of the many failure -> solution -> dread sequences.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-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:
Complicated
adventurous
slow-paced
Preface- I don’t think I’m the target audience for this book hahaha. I don’t know much about space, math, or science and a lot of this went over my head and made it hard to engage. Beginning was wayyy too slow, and the ending was abrupt. This book desperately needed an epilogue so thank God the movie corrected that. It’s definitely funny and Mark is a very sympathetic and likable character. Overall, I liked trying something new and appreciated it more than I expected. The pacing was just too far off for me and the writing was so technical (I understand why) it was hard for me to find it engaging, until closer to the end.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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