It HAS aliens. *

Posted by doubledown on April 18, 2026, 20:01:08, in reply to "The Martian was just okay. Would’ve been much better with aliens*"

Previous Message Previous Message read the book first, because people said the book was great and gives good context that the movie doesn't have. I'm about 20% of the way through and so far this book sucks. It's not billed as a YA novel, but it's absolutely written like one. Is it just a deliberate choice in the beginning because the story starts from the point of view of a guy with some kind of brain damage? Any of you book people know whether this gets better?

Maybe books aren’t your thing*

Posted by shua on April 18, 2026, 19:26:44, in reply to "Finally finished the book. Sorry to say this book is a pile of shit."

Previous Message Pacing is all over the place, there's zero character development, and the whole story is little more than a loose assemblage of lazy plot devices. I hope the movie is better. Previous Message read the book first, because people said the book was great and gives good context that the movie doesn't have. I'm about 20% of the way through and so far this book sucks. It's not billed as a YA novel, but it's absolutely written like one. Is it just a deliberate choice in the beginning because the story starts from the point of view of a guy with some kind of brain damage? Any of you book people know whether this gets better?

As said below, writing is average. Story quite enjoyable IMO*

Posted by cpsteine on April 18, 2026, 15:14:18, in reply to "Finally finished the book. Sorry to say this book is a pile of shit."

i think this is where my ADHD helped me.

Posted by VIV on April 10, 2026, 12:10:33, in reply to "It's a good story but it’s not a literary read *"

i find it difficult to sit down and read a book, but listening to audiobooks to be a breeze and i loved the audiobook for PHM. i'm far from a great judge of what is a good literary read, though. Previous Message "the alchemy of the tartar sauce and cheese with the fish combined with the buttery steamed bun is so good." - Sounder re: a Filet O Fish

This. Dont read Weir for his writing. And this was obvious from the Martian*

Posted by CoronaTheirAss on April 10, 2026, 6:35:35, in reply to "It's a good story but it’s not a literary read *"

Previous Message

It was a finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Novel

Posted by Quiz on April 9, 2026, 19:23:45, in reply to "It's a good story but it’s not a literary read *"

https://reactormag.com/read-editor-carmen-maria-machados-intro-to-the-best-american-science-fiction-and-fantasy-2019/ Previous Message

people struggle with the train. they get way better*

Posted by assassin on April 9, 2026, 17:00:25, in reply to "*bookjack* Started reading the Dungeon Crawler Carl series"

Previous Message Writing there is also not great, and they are utterly derivative. But the first two were an entertaining mashup of various other genres, and the humor elevated them. The third book was terrible, though. Totally convoluted mess that lost almost all the fun bits from the first two. I’ll come back and try 4, but I’m not in any rush. Previous Message read the book first, because people said the book was great and gives good context that the movie doesn't have. I'm about 20% of the way through and so far this book sucks. It's not billed as a YA novel, but it's absolutely written like one. Is it just a deliberate choice in the beginning because the story starts from the point of view of a guy with some kind of brain damage? Any of you book people know whether this gets better? Brandon Schrock of Laredo, Texas, told the federal government that his employer was “poop,” and his occupation was “pooper.”

i started it as well. will finish it after the draft. so far, it's fun*

Posted by VIV on April 9, 2026, 16:58:48, in reply to "*bookjack* Started reading the Dungeon Crawler Carl series"

Previous Message Writing there is also not great, and they are utterly derivative. But the first two were an entertaining mashup of various other genres, and the humor elevated them. The third book was terrible, though. Totally convoluted mess that lost almost all the fun bits from the first two. I’ll come back and try 4, but I’m not in any rush. Previous Message read the book first, because people said the book was great and gives good context that the movie doesn't have. I'm about 20% of the way through and so far this book sucks. It's not billed as a YA novel, but it's absolutely written like one. Is it just a deliberate choice in the beginning because the story starts from the point of view of a guy with some kind of brain damage? Any of you book people know whether this gets better? "the alchemy of the tartar sauce and cheese with the fish combined with the buttery steamed bun is so good." - Sounder re: a Filet O Fish

I’m sort of the opposite

Posted by assassin on April 9, 2026, 11:09:26, in reply to "IDK I quite liked it. (sp-ish)"

I enjoyed the mystery of the disorientation. Previous Message The first 20% is very disorienting, but it settles down. I liked how they handled it in the movie better, to be fair. Brandon Schrock of Laredo, Texas, told the federal government that his employer was “poop,” and his occupation was “pooper.”

Yeah, I’m gonna finish it because I’m not a quitter. But I’m gonna complain. *

Posted by doubledown on April 9, 2026, 10:39:49, in reply to "Just read it. The writing and story are very martian adjacent."

Previous Message The writing does not get better in the sense you are looking for, I don't think. Previous Message read the book first, because people said the book was great and gives good context that the movie doesn't have. I'm about 20% of the way through and so far this book sucks. It's not billed as a YA novel, but it's absolutely written like one. Is it just a deliberate choice in the beginning because the story starts from the point of view of a guy with some kind of brain damage? Any of you book people know whether this gets better?

i think i'd enjoy audiobooks. what app do you use for them?*

Posted by lcubed on April 9, 2026, 9:19:18, in reply to "did the audiobook and loved it. it's better than the martian*"

Previous Message Previous Message read the book first, because people said the book was great and gives good context that the movie doesn't have. I'm about 20% of the way through and so far this book sucks. It's not billed as a YA novel, but it's absolutely written like one. Is it just a deliberate choice in the beginning because the story starts from the point of view of a guy with some kind of brain damage? Any of you book people know whether this gets better?

why?*

Posted by VIV on April 9, 2026, 9:36:07, in reply to "The Martian was great but I have 0 interest in Project Hail Mary.*"

Previous Message Previous Message read the book first, because people said the book was great and gives good context that the movie doesn't have. I'm about 20% of the way through and so far this book sucks. It's not billed as a YA novel, but it's absolutely written like one. Is it just a deliberate choice in the beginning because the story starts from the point of view of a guy with some kind of brain damage? Any of you book people know whether this gets better? "the alchemy of the tartar sauce and cheese with the fish combined with the buttery steamed bun is so good." - Sounder re: a Filet O Fish

^^Dory in law school^^*

Posted by Sammich on April 9, 2026, 9:25:28, in reply to "just keep reading*"

Previous Message Previous Message read the book first, because people said the book was great and gives good context that the movie doesn't have. I'm about 20% of the way through and so far this book sucks. It's not billed as a YA novel, but it's absolutely written like one. Is it just a deliberate choice in the beginning because the story starts from the point of view of a guy with some kind of brain damage? Any of you book people know whether this gets better? I want to break it up I want to smash it up I want to #### it up I want to watch it come down

Yup. *

Posted by Tuscy on April 9, 2026, 9:24:09, in reply to "just keep reading*"

Previous Message Previous Message read the book first, because people said the book was great and gives good context that the movie doesn't have. I'm about 20% of the way through and so far this book sucks. It's not billed as a YA novel, but it's absolutely written like one. Is it just a deliberate choice in the beginning because the story starts from the point of view of a guy with some kind of brain damage? Any of you book people know whether this gets better? "I wouldn't mind the DP here." - jumpingdan

^^^ this. *

Posted by harb on April 9, 2026, 9:18:15, in reply to "just keep reading*"

Previous Message Previous Message read the book first, because people said the book was great and gives good context that the movie doesn't have. I'm about 20% of the way through and so far this book sucks. It's not billed as a YA novel, but it's absolutely written like one. Is it just a deliberate choice in the beginning because the story starts from the point of view of a guy with some kind of brain damage? Any of you book people know whether this gets better? [Assassin] Harb is the epitome of a Goldfish Troll. [Opey] Assholes gonna asshole [tiki] #### all the way off with that, you bloodthirsty hilljack.