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!
