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A review by dnietoperafan
Dune by Frank Herbert
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I watched Dune's films (2021 & 2024) before reading the book, and I think that helped me really appreciate this work thoroughly. The films made me relate to the characters, their flaws, and desires. They allowed me to focus on the chain of events that led to tragedy.
With the story's skeleton clear, as I read the book, I was able to really dive into the thought processes of each character. Scenes that seemed quite fast-paced in the films, were now put under a magnifying glass. Dune's prose is full of character, it really does come alive. From political schemes and economic landscapes, to religious messiahs and cultural aspects; Dune really made me feel like an omnipresent god overlooking so many people and their personal goals.
The only reason this book is a 4-star and not a 5-star is because of its poor view surrounding women. I felt like it took away from the 'real life' feel that it definitely has when it talks about politics, economics, and cultures. Women were caricatures, whilst male characters really got that amazing development / decline that Dune is famous for. Don't get me wrong I still classify this novel as 'excellent' yet not 'outstanding', in relation to my personal standards, because of this flaw.
This book definitely deserves the hype. If you are scared to tackle it, just watch the films before you read it, so you can get that base knowledge that helped me appreciate it fully.
Furthermore, I would 100% recommend Dune to every sci-fi lover, fantasy lover, and intellectual people.
With the story's skeleton clear, as I read the book, I was able to really dive into the thought processes of each character. Scenes that seemed quite fast-paced in the films, were now put under a magnifying glass. Dune's prose is full of character, it really does come alive. From political schemes and economic landscapes, to religious messiahs and cultural aspects; Dune really made me feel like an omnipresent god overlooking so many people and their personal goals.
The only reason this book is a 4-star and not a 5-star is because of its poor view surrounding women. I felt like it took away from the 'real life' feel that it definitely has when it talks about politics, economics, and cultures. Women were caricatures, whilst male characters really got that amazing development / decline that Dune is famous for. Don't get me wrong I still classify this novel as 'excellent' yet not 'outstanding', in relation to my personal standards, because of this flaw.
This book definitely deserves the hype. If you are scared to tackle it, just watch the films before you read it, so you can get that base knowledge that helped me appreciate it fully.
Furthermore, I would 100% recommend Dune to every sci-fi lover, fantasy lover, and intellectual people.