Thomas's Reviews > The Martian
The Martian
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![2018505](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1567953607p2/2018505.jpg)
How many exclamation points can you shove into one book?
Time to start off 2015 with an unpopular opinion: I did not like how Andy Weir wrote The Martian. He writes science well, and his background in research and technical prose shows, but by page 100 the style of the book got repetitive. Watney discovers a problem. Watney worries for a sentence or two. Watney comes up with a solution. Watney enacts the solution with minimal struggle. Watney celebrates. Rinse and repeat.
I also have no idea how Watney even operates as a character. His way-too-frequent exclamations (yay! yay! yay!), his somewhat offensive commentary (please do not ever use "rape" in a joking context), and his lack of introspection left me bewildered. His rampant optimism felt unrealistic in the context of his situation, and Weir developed his other characters in a similar one-dimensional, stereotypical, and disappointing way. I kept asking: does anyone feel traumatized by this at all? Do any of you suffer from any psychological repercussions of having a teammate or a coworker or an admired astronaut left behind to die? Even the dialogue came across as too-good-to-be-true, with every conversation ending on a neat note that made me roll my eyes.
I have no doubt that the movie of this book will succeed, or at least it will feel more natural than its source. My overall thoughts on The Martian center on its lack of introspection and repetitive descriptions of action, its disconcerting lack of characterization, and the drought of struggle each of the characters underwent. Watney faces a difficult situation, but I at no point in my entire reading thought he would suffer, based on his Pollyanna tone. However, I would still recommend this story to those who enjoy sci-fi or find its synopsis intriguing; my review rests in the minority.
Time to start off 2015 with an unpopular opinion: I did not like how Andy Weir wrote The Martian. He writes science well, and his background in research and technical prose shows, but by page 100 the style of the book got repetitive. Watney discovers a problem. Watney worries for a sentence or two. Watney comes up with a solution. Watney enacts the solution with minimal struggle. Watney celebrates. Rinse and repeat.
I also have no idea how Watney even operates as a character. His way-too-frequent exclamations (yay! yay! yay!), his somewhat offensive commentary (please do not ever use "rape" in a joking context), and his lack of introspection left me bewildered. His rampant optimism felt unrealistic in the context of his situation, and Weir developed his other characters in a similar one-dimensional, stereotypical, and disappointing way. I kept asking: does anyone feel traumatized by this at all? Do any of you suffer from any psychological repercussions of having a teammate or a coworker or an admired astronaut left behind to die? Even the dialogue came across as too-good-to-be-true, with every conversation ending on a neat note that made me roll my eyes.
I have no doubt that the movie of this book will succeed, or at least it will feel more natural than its source. My overall thoughts on The Martian center on its lack of introspection and repetitive descriptions of action, its disconcerting lack of characterization, and the drought of struggle each of the characters underwent. Watney faces a difficult situation, but I at no point in my entire reading thought he would suffer, based on his Pollyanna tone. However, I would still recommend this story to those who enjoy sci-fi or find its synopsis intriguing; my review rests in the minority.
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Reading Progress
August 6, 2014
– Shelved
December 29, 2014
–
Started Reading
January 5, 2015
–
Finished Reading
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Tosei
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Jan 05, 2015 09:37PM
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If it has that many exclamation points, maybe my sister wrote it.
![Thomas](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1567953607p1/2018505.jpg)
Thank you, T.S.! Yeah, the hype led me to read it, but despite how much so many others loved The Martian I still cannot recommend it without feeling dishonest.
Martin wrote: "I felt the same way. Thanks for this review."
I always appreciate the solidarity of someone who relates to my opinion; thank you for commenting, Martin.
Lianne wrote: "If it has that many exclamation points, maybe my sister wrote it."
Ha ha, even if your sister did not write the book, maybe she would enjoy it?
![Chris528735](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1420070613p1/17411258.jpg)
![Thomas](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1567953607p1/2018505.jpg)
![Kat](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1342282250p1/10951567.jpg)
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![Thomas](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1567953607p1/2018505.jpg)
You are welcome. :)
Kat wrote: "Yes, thank you. I cannot figure out why people like this book so much, but you've hit on many of the reason I disliked it."
Thank you for reading, commenting, and for your solidarity!
Leslie wrote: "I completely agree. I can't believe how little tension and suspense there was in a book with a guy who's stranded on Mars and has very little chance of survival."
Yes. You can predict that he will survive again and again, in a way that limits the tension of the story and any possible repercussions of his actions.
Nevermore wrote: "I agree with your review, the only thing I would add is that it struck me as extremely immature and suited for a young audience. I am not sure exactly why I thought that but it might be that Mark's..."
I agree with your comment, and I would venture to add that a lot of the characters in YA lit have even more emotional depth than Watney. Glad to know that the shallowness of his thought process perturbed other readers than just me.
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