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A review by lucybbookstuff
Dune by Frank Herbert
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
I mainly read this as supplementary material to the movies, honestly. I'd decided a while ago that I didn't want to bother reading it because I was so sure it wouldn't be my thing. I was content with the Villeneuve movies, which I enjoy. But when I saw Dune Part II, it made me curious to get some of the inner monologue of the story. Because I could tell the movies were missing a bit of context.
I can say, I got some of that. Not nearly as much as I expected/wanted. And otherwise, I had mostly been right that it wasn't my thing.
I'm not saying it's bad. I see why hard sci-fi lovers swear by it and I can understand why it's revered as a foundational sci-fi classic. But it's just not my kind of story.
There were some interesting scenes that had me listening intently, but the macro storytelling was so boring to me. I find myself not even wanting to stop to contemplate its themes. There are plenty of works out there with the same themes that ALSO provide me with a gripping story and the interesting character work that I need in order to consider anything a favorite.
I also have to say - I never would have actually decided to pick it up if I hadn't discovered there is a full cast audiobook. I knew without a doubt that I'd never get through this story on paper. The full cast helped a lot BUT... why the hell was it advertised NOWHERE that the full cast only does like a quarter (MAYBE a third) of the chapters??? Most of it was still just read by the one narrator! Wtf?! And he was good, but I chose this for the full cast and then got short-changed. 😠And truly, the full cast sections held my attention SO much better. Urgh. Incredibly frustrating.
So yeah. Can't say I'm glad I read this or that it was worth the time, honestly. But it's objectively... fine.
I can say, I got some of that. Not nearly as much as I expected/wanted. And otherwise, I had mostly been right that it wasn't my thing.
I'm not saying it's bad. I see why hard sci-fi lovers swear by it and I can understand why it's revered as a foundational sci-fi classic. But it's just not my kind of story.
There were some interesting scenes that had me listening intently, but the macro storytelling was so boring to me. I find myself not even wanting to stop to contemplate its themes. There are plenty of works out there with the same themes that ALSO provide me with a gripping story and the interesting character work that I need in order to consider anything a favorite.
I also have to say - I never would have actually decided to pick it up if I hadn't discovered there is a full cast audiobook. I knew without a doubt that I'd never get through this story on paper. The full cast helped a lot BUT... why the hell was it advertised NOWHERE that the full cast only does like a quarter (MAYBE a third) of the chapters??? Most of it was still just read by the one narrator! Wtf?! And he was good, but I chose this for the full cast and then got short-changed. 😠And truly, the full cast sections held my attention SO much better. Urgh. Incredibly frustrating.
So yeah. Can't say I'm glad I read this or that it was worth the time, honestly. But it's objectively... fine.