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A review by thisbookishcat
The Martian by Andy Weir
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
What a thrilling, intense, chaotic and playful novel this was!
I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this book except the ending, which I will address at the end.
Firstly, what did I love about this book?
I loved that the author was able to make such a relatable character despite the fact that he's an astronaut and I am not -nor will I ever be- an astronaut. He was able to tell this narrative, even the really complex parts of it, in a way that even people who do not have a strong background in science could understand and enjoy.
I also loved that there was just enough stuff going wrong in this book that it didn't feel like a Disney fairy tale or a Marvel epic where everything goes right for the main characters because they're the 'good guys'. Things were going wrong for him left, right and center, and it was through sheer luck, will-power and stubbornness that he was able to prevail. Everything you need for a truly enjoyable adventure.
What did I dislike about this novel?
The ending. When our hero gears up to get off of Mars, it is a dramatic, tense, butt-clenching moment. He makes it into space. His crew is just able to intercept him. He makes it back to the ship. HOORAY! Oh, he stinks. Go have a shower in celebration because HE MADE IT! And....done.
What?
That's it folks, he makes one little funny quip about being able to go back to Earth at the end and that's it. How...cute?
This is something that I thought that the movie handled better -and I'm not one to agree with movies over books-. In the movie it ends with him some time later, talking to students about how to survive on Mars, how to expect the unexpected, how you need to remember not to panic and to trust your training. This to me was a much more satisfactory ending because it shows him finally acclimating back to life on Earth, which is something he touches a little about in the book while he's still on Mars. The movie ending I feel tied the story up together a little more neatly than the book.
That being said, still a tremendous book that I would highly recommend.
I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this book except the ending, which I will address at the end.
Firstly, what did I love about this book?
I loved that the author was able to make such a relatable character despite the fact that he's an astronaut and I am not -nor will I ever be- an astronaut. He was able to tell this narrative, even the really complex parts of it, in a way that even people who do not have a strong background in science could understand and enjoy.
I also loved that there was just enough stuff going wrong in this book that it didn't feel like a Disney fairy tale or a Marvel epic where everything goes right for the main characters because they're the 'good guys'. Things were going wrong for him left, right and center, and it was through sheer luck, will-power and stubbornness that he was able to prevail. Everything you need for a truly enjoyable adventure.
What did I dislike about this novel?
The ending. When our hero gears up to get off of Mars, it is a dramatic, tense, butt-clenching moment. He makes it into space. His crew is just able to intercept him. He makes it back to the ship. HOORAY! Oh, he stinks. Go have a shower in celebration because HE MADE IT! And....done.
What?
That's it folks, he makes one little funny quip about being able to go back to Earth at the end and that's it. How...cute?
This is something that I thought that the movie handled better -and I'm not one to agree with movies over books-. In the movie it ends with him some time later, talking to students about how to survive on Mars, how to expect the unexpected, how you need to remember not to panic and to trust your training. This to me was a much more satisfactory ending because it shows him finally acclimating back to life on Earth, which is something he touches a little about in the book while he's still on Mars. The movie ending I feel tied the story up together a little more neatly than the book.
That being said, still a tremendous book that I would highly recommend.