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Book Review: The Martian

THE MARTIAN by Andrew Weir
5 Stars
Verdict:
Original, witty, intelligent - what more could you want?


This is a futuristic novel about a man stuck on Mars, yet the details and atmosphere make it feel like it could be based on real events. Sci-fi isn't a genre I roam into often, but I'm glad I did for this one!

Mark Watney is a fantastic main character. He’s resourceful and intelligent. He maintains a sense of humour throughout his plight, which turns what could have been a depressing situation into a problem solving adventure. I found it inspiring to read about someone who face countless challenges and failures, especially as they picked themselves up each time. He’s a hero to root for.

Watney does a great job of explaining what’s going, using humour as a tool. The technical stuff gladly sailed over my head but I could still understand the point and I enjoyed how real and logical it felt. That said, I wouldn’t read another book like this. It works because it’s utterly unique, and I hope it stays that way.

With how the scientific knowledge oozes off of every page, I was shocked to discover this is from self-inflicted research. Weir is not an astronaut or a doctor of physics. He’s a dedicated writer, and that’s truly fantastic.

There are some nail biting moment, but with a book like this, I felt I didn’t need to read it all in one go. I could pick back up where I left off like visiting an old friend. There’s a pattern to the book – disaster, all is futile, resourcefulness, survive – and it makes it an easy read. As a standalone novel, it’s definitely a book I’d recommend.

Source: My boyfriend might have pestered me to read this one after enjoying it so much. :)

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