Survey results for The Martian (US summer reading)

Results for the summer reading survey are in! Out of 175 responses from students and faculty who read Andy Weir’s The Martian, two-thirds rated the book a 4 or better. (On our six-point scale, the 4-6 range corresponds to “liked it,” “really liked it,” and “it was amazing.”)

Here is a selection of comments from the survey (with ratings in parentheses):

The book felt much like I imagine an actual space trip…. I feel like I really got to know Mark Watney and his journey. There were moments when I had to remind myself to breathe as I was holding my breath for him… I found all the characters to be believable and their dialogue seemed real. I appreciated Andy Weir's research, style and knowledge of the technology and people which made the book most enjoyable to read. (5)

I LOVED the book! Every life-threatening moment was amazing! (6)

It was super interesting to see how he manages to survive. It was also pretty funny. (4)

[The novel was] terribly dull, and plotted with all the numbing, back-and-forth repetitiveness of an oil derrick…. I get that the author meant to make him relatable by filling his narration with ready snark and a child's delight in gratuitous cussing, but these do not characterization comprise. (1)

Profanities were gratuitous, characters were not developed, and the plot was clearly predictable and pedestrian. It was painful to read. (1)

I LOVE science, so it was a phenomenal read for me. I enjoyed how it was written; the profanities made the character seem even more real. (6)

I loved the style of how the journal entries of Mark were written because it helped me further understand him as a person. (5)

I thought the plot was very interesting and clever. (4)

The debates that were argued were interesting, because of the risk of killing one person versus five people. (5)

The reason I enjoyed this book was because the ideas presented were very original and intriguing. I stopped myself several times in awe of how incredibly intelligent the characters in the novel were. (4)

You come to realize this man is brilliant in what he does. He can fend for himself and somehow turns air into water! Too cool. (4)

It's great as an example of problem-solving for STEM subjects, but as a work of literature, it is lacking. (2)

This book literally represents the decline of literature in the 21st century… as predictable as an episode of Phineas and Ferb…. (1)

I preferred, honestly, the parts that weren't Mark Watney's SOL diaries, [the parts] about the people working at NASA, trying to get Watney back. (2)

I thought that the book was too scientific... (2)

Being a geek I liked the math and the “calculations” of how long he had supplies for etc. etc. (5)

I liked the science aspect of it. Also Mark Watney was a very funny character that I enjoyed. Would read another book like it again. (4)

Although the concept was good I found his writing style tedious. Huge sections that had all the emotion and beauty of an instruction manual for assembling a dishwasher. (2)

While the book was not "beautiful," I enjoyed the fairly accurate science and realistic string of events. Also, Watney's sense of humor was great. (5)

Because of Watney's witty humor, what would've been a very depressing situation for others was made absolutely hilarious...” (6)

I thought the way The Martian kept his cool and just kept solving problem after problem was inspiring. (5)

I really enjoyed the book, and it was a book that I wouldn't have picked up on my own, so I appreciated the selection.  Looking forward to the movie. (5)

My favorite book that I read over the summer. (6)

I liked the book so much I convinced my dad to read it. (5)

As a student who appreciates the humanities over science, I still really enjoyed the book, its humor, and its suspense. I shared it with my family members and they all liked it. (6)

I loved how the whole Ares 3 crew was so determined to get Watney back and when they did it was such a dramatic and happy moment for the characters and me, the reader. (4)

I raced through the last 40 pages of the book while losing awareness of the time. My eyes welled up several times, sometimes in fear, sometimes in anticipation and potential joy. When "The control room exploded with applause. Leaping from their seats, controllers cheered, hugged, and cried. The same scene played out all over the world, in parks, bars, civic centers, living rooms, classrooms, and offices." I also felt joy in my room with earphones on listening to space music as I finished this fabulous little book…. (5)

The movie is coming on October 2!

SEE THE TRAILER HERE