Astronaut Mark Watney is the first person to inhabit Mars. His crew left him on the desolate planet after a dust storm caused major damage and put them all at risk. They were sure there was no way that Watney could have survived the accident that was a result of the dust storm and evacuated the Red Planet leaving him behind. Only Watney didn't die, despite the fact that his survival was a complete fluke, Watney is determined to survive the harsh existence that is Mars. In a manner that puts McGuyver to shame, Watney puts his skills to the test in order to survive. He has to figure out a way to eat, so he figures out how to grow potatoes on Mars. He has to figure out a way to communicate with NASA so he takes a bit of a road trip. The Martian is a story of one man's ingenuity in the face of extreme hardship, but is it enough? Will The Martian survive long enough to catch a ride home?
I always plan on reading the book before watching the movie. I don't always succeed, but I am glad I did read The Martian. Because it was awesome!! Mark Watney is one of the more intriguing characters I have read this year. He was the kind of character that you want to invite over for a BBQ, but also hope that he is your neighbor during in a post-apocalyptic world. Because Mark Watney is the kinda guy who could generate electricity from an empty soda can, chicken wire, and duct tape. While there is a lot of science and engineering in The Martian, it is written in a way that is engaging and interesting and even a little bit exciting. Listening to The Martian in audio-book went even one step further at solidifying my admiration for Mark Watney. I found myself cracking up pretty consistently at his one-liners and dry sense of humor. As time passes on Mars the urgency builds and you can picture the crowd in the movie theater on the edge of their seats. Having read the book, I totally understand why they made a movie and why it is getting all of the accolades.
Bottom line - The Martian is one of those rare books that could appeal to all readers. It is thrilling, it is exciting, it will make you laugh and cry. It will make you want to rush out and see the movie. Have you read The Martian? What did you think?
Details:
- The Martian by Andy Weir
- On Facebook
- Pages:400
- Publisher: Crown
- Publication Date: 10/28/2014
- Buy it Here!
My husband and I read the book at the same time, finishing just before the movie came out. We thoroughly enjoyed both. For me, I skimmed through some of the science stuff, but it was well-written and supposedly realistic. This wasn't like reading science fiction so much as science-that-is-happening-or-could-really-happen. :)
My husband raved about the book. The concept sounded cool to me, but not enough to read it. We both very much enjoyed the movie.
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