From the Bookshelf of The Reading Challenge Group…

The Martian

Andy Weir

Start date: September 1, 2015

Finish date: September 30, 2015

Discussion: Group Read Archive 2014-16

Why we're reading this: Genre Group Read (Science-Fiction) - Sept 2015
[close] Genre Group Read (Science-Fiction) - Sept 2015

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Showing 2 of 139 topics — 2,834 comments total

Group Read Archive 2014-16

Genre Group Read (Humour) - December 2016 - You Are Not So Smart
By Allison , Quest Hound · 11 posts · 30 views

last updated Dec 28, 2016 04:05PM

Alternate Group Read (Classics) - December 2016 - Mansfield Park
By Allison , Quest Hound · 5 posts · 18 views

last updated Dec 04, 2016 09:34AM

showing 10 of 53 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Jan 24, 2014 🥀 Rose 🥀 rated it liked it

Shelves: science-fiction

This was a super fun read. A science fiction about an astronaut who gets left behind on Mars after his crew believes he's dead. Mark Watney is stuck on Mars for a very long time but hey he's a mechanical engineer and botanist so what better place to use those mad skills to survive.

Mark is a thoroughly enjoyable character that keeps you rooting for him the entire time. He's snarky, witty, super smart and says the most hilarious stuff. All the while he is living in life or death conditions. The s ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Mar 04, 2015 Eileen rated it really liked it

Shelves: science-fiction, audiobook, favorites, 2015

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

2 likes · Like · see review

Nov 06, 2014 C.C. rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2015, reviewed, male-protagonist

This book was pretty fun, you can't help but root for Watney to survive. As someone who blogs and reads others' blogs, I liked that his story was told through his log entries, and I enjoyed his humor. I liked some of the shifts in the narrative to 3rd person as well, but also found some of them unnecessary.

Sometimes the book got way too technical and while I like how much science there was behind it, some of it was a bit hard to follow. I found myself re-reading paragraphs trying to understand ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Mar 16, 2013 Claire Fun rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, science-fiction

Really enjoyable, 4.5 stars but I'm going 5 rather than 4 as it was impressively cheap. if I'd paid full price for this I wouldn't have been disappointed, and I'm certain this one will stick in my mind for some time, as it was different - I read a Lt of SciFi but is never read this general idea. great characters, well explained science bits (not dull like science explanations can sometimes be) and I was engaged and interested the whole way through. Lovely. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Mar 07, 2014 Justyna rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, adventure, sci-fi, thriller, adult-fiction, year-2014

One of the best books, I've read in a long time. I will be recommending it to everyone.

The situation our hero finds himself in is quite horrific. Abandoned all alone on Mars. His only chance of survival is a mission Ares-4 which will land on Mars in four year. Four years is a long damn time, so he has to make do with what he has.
Mark Watney is a fantastic character. If anyone had to be left on Mars, they should have his spirit. The guy is funny, doesn't loose hope and can find a good side of ev ...more

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Feb 26, 2014 Debbie rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2014-challenge

Very good read. Presumed dead following an accident, astronaut Watney's body is left behind on Mars during a emergency evacuation. Only one thing, he survived! Now he is the only living thing on the planet and he is determined to live.

The story is well written. It is set in the near future, and the science is plausible if a little far fetched. Like all castaways Watney uses what he has and improvises as best he can. It makes me wonder how I would fare under extreme circumstances. ...more

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Jan 09, 2015 Tammy rated it really liked it

Love me a good nerd read. Enjoyed the main character's rambling logs. Lots of humor and wit to balance out the scientific details which were equally interesting. Fun, quick read. ...more

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