From the Bookshelf of Around the World in 80 Books…
Find A Copy At
Group Discussions About This Book
No group discussions for this book yet.
What Members Thought
I thought this book was only okay. I did not think it was particularly well-written. Entire sections of the book are super dry and technical. The characters seem like emotionless super genius robots. Then during other sections the characters morph into very immature frat-boy types, like teens. The women scientists are weirdly sexualized and demeaned throughout. Did not seem realistic at all and I couldn't ever get really into the story or believe the tension was real. It got tedious. I didn't fi
...more
Oct 08, 2015
Tanya
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
format-audiobook,
2015
This was a fun listen as an audiobook. Not sure I would have picked it up to read, except that I got into a conversation with my daughter's teacher and he was searching for an audio version before heading out to see the movie. I felt that the humor provided a nice balance with the technical information. I am amazed at how the rescue plan can continue to evolve and how much MacGuyvering can occur if one is nerdy enough to have have that much relevant technical information. Some ideas and even phr
...more
Listened to audiobook of The Martian long before there was a movie. Both spouse and I were so impressed by the tenacity of the protagonist. He simply would not be defeated. Loved the audiobook and the movie.
Mark Watney is left behind on Mars when the rest of his crew has to make an emergency exit and believes Mark has died in a sandstorm. Mark is left to try to find a way to survive and to get in touch with Earth to tell them he's alive and hopefully be rescued. An edge of your seat read. A lot of bad things happen to Mark but the author makes it all very believable and the science understandable. I couldn't put this book down. I had to know what happened next.
...more
I had to give this 5 stars even though some of the science and engineering was beyond me (or I got tired of the details). But i will never think of manned space travel in the same way. Already made into a movie coming out in November. The story is fabulous and Mark is a great main character. There was lots of humor, adventure, and education about being on Mars. Loved looking up pictures as i was reading it.
Sep 09, 2015
Neila
marked it as to-read
Dec 27, 2016
Alan
marked it as to-read
Nov 13, 2017
Jules
marked it as to-read
Jan 07, 2018
Micha
marked it as to-read
Nov 17, 2018
Katie
marked it as to-read
5 Stars
May 04, 2020
Pantteri
marked it as to-read
May 10, 2020
Natasha
marked it as to-read
Sep 04, 2020
Kim DeCina
marked it as to-read
Nov 29, 2020
Martha
marked it as to-read
Jan 21, 2021
Kirsten Barber
marked it as to-read-soon
Mar 24, 2024
Viviana Martinez
marked it as to-read
