May 2022 Selection: ‘The Martian’ by Andy Weir
Maude’s May selection is a fun little space adventure with Andy Weir. This month the community has chosen, The Martian! Every month Maude chooses a new Fantasy or Sci-Fi novel with our book club. She uses Good Reads to keep everything in one space.
Synopsis:
“Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he’s sure he’ll be the first person to die there. After a dust storm nearly kill shim and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive – and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive.”
Goodreads
About the Author
Andy Weir built a two-decade career as a software engineer until the success of his first published novel, The Martian, allowed him to live out his dream of writing full-time. He is a lifelong space nerd and a devoted hobbyist of such subjects as relativistic physics, orbital mechanics, and the history of manned spaceflight. He also mixes a mean cocktail.
Maude’s Book Chat ‘The Martian’ Part 1
Talking Points
(15:30) Aaron joins the chat and says that The Martian felt like Cast Away in space. Watney does video logs which is the equivalent of Tom Hanks speaking to Wilson the volleyball. Maude goes on to say that the theme of isolation is relevant during the pandemic and maybe the story wouldn’t have connected if the community read it at a different time.
(56:10) Maude says that the scientific aspects were explained well in Project Hail Mary so it was easier to not have a discussion about it. But in The Martian, Weir dives into it a bit more with not much explanation, prompting a discussion with the community that can be a bit difficult, but funny.
(1:35:40) The community discusses Matt Damon being cast as Whatney, but for book readers who listened to the audiobook, all they could hear was Wil Wheaton’s voice.
Maude’s Book Chat ‘The Martian’ Part 2
Talking Points
(24:36) Colleen is loving the science in the book and really enjoyed the second half. Colleen related to Whatney’s sarcasm and sense of humour. She had the same humour in her science department which she appreciated. She preferred the snarkiness in the book instead of Damon in the film.
(59:23) Maude’s mother joins the conversation and says there’s a strong emphasis on, “We bring our men home”, it’s the whole process of NASA and the government put that as a top priority in their space program.
(1:39:19) The community discusses the casting of the movie and that Sean Bean was only there for the Elrond joke. Jeff Daniels also didn’t work for them, or else the cast was solid.
Have you read The Martian by Andy Weir?
Maude gave it four out of five stars on GoodReads, what would you give it out of five? If you want to join our Book Chat community, head on over to our Patreon and join us today!
