2015 Reading Challenge [Closed] discussion
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Dune
. Week 1: More Than 500 Pages
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Dune by Frank Herbert
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Abhishek
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rated it 4 stars
Dec 28, 2014 06:28PM
I have this sitting on my Kindle for a while now, so I thought, "Why not?" This will be a baptism by fire for me, I've not been a prolific reader at all in recent years (six books in all of 2014). If I finish this book, I think I would be able to make a good fist of this challenge.
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Dune rocked my world. Hope you enjoy it as well!
Dune is my all time favorite book. The spice must flow.
I already started, and it has been riveting so far! Almost all the characters are so strong personalities!
Done! I really liked reading this book.Notes:
1) As noted earlier, the characters were exceptionally strong personalities. From the villainous Baron Vladimir Harkonnen to the Freman chief Stilgar, almost every character had a very strong presence. That the protagonist Paul Atreides manages to stand up amid this cast of luminaries is a testament to how the author has written him. Probably the biggest disappointments were the Padishah Emperor and the na-Baron Feyd-Rautha.
2) I liked how the author interleaved discussions and treatises on religion, philosophy and politics into a very action-packed narrative.
3) If anything, I felt the action was a little rushed at times, especially the climax. I felt the book could have done with a little more expansion, perhaps fifty pages or so more, with more details about the final campaign culminating in the final battle.
4) This is not related to the book, but is relevant to my reading experience nonetheless. Reading a book liberal in its use of an artificial vocabulary on my Kindle was frustrating. I'd have really liked to be able to jump from the current page to the glossary and back at will, which I can do on a physical book, and not on my Kindle.
In regards to #4, use bookmarks to jump back and forth between the glossary and your current location.
About 20% into the book and I'm enjoying it a lot. Herbert's narration is skillful and the way he seamlessly jumps between characters keeps things interesting. I'm also enjoying how you gain insight into everyone's planning and plotting--keeps you guessing as to who is going to fake out who in the end. Excited to keep learning more!
Sara wrote: "About 20% into the book and I'm enjoying it a lot. Herbert's narration is skillful and the way he seamlessly jumps between characters keeps things interesting. I'm also enjoying how you gain insigh..."The first hundred pages or so really drew me in! The first chapter with the Harkonnens was pulsating. Keep updating us as you proceed! I'd like to read your further reactions.
Caleb wrote: "In regards to #4, use bookmarks to jump back and forth between the glossary and your current location."
This is very simple to do. Thanks a lot, Caleb! Gosh, I feel like an idiot right now.
Oh yeah ! I was so into this when I was in highschool ! I was completely fascinated by the world created and still am. I really hope you'll like this one !
There's a Dune dictionary for kindle at http://thefictionary.net/frank-herbert/ that might be easier to use.
Finished just in time to stay within a week!!! That last line is POWERFUL! I really want to keep reading this series but the book categories restrict me. Top of the list for 2016!
