A review by astridrv
Dune by Frank Herbert

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!
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