Marțianul

I’m stranded on Mars.

I have no way to communicate with Earth.

I’m in a Habitat designed to last 31 days.

If the Oxygenator breaks down, I’ll suffocate. If the Water Reclaimer breaks down, I’ll die of thirst. If the Hab breaches, I’ll just kind of explode. If none of those things happen, I’ll eventually run out of food and starve to death.

So yeah. I’m screwed.

--back cover

I watched the movie adaptation of this book back when it released as I wasn't a reader back then and I remember enjoying the movie but admittedly the only thing I really remember about it was that he grows potatoes on Mars so reading this over 10 years later was basically like going in near blind.There's so much in this book that happens where I'm shocked I didn't remember it from the movie but then realise that there's probably parts that were cut for time so I'll have to watch it again but I can honestly say that this is such a fun read, it can get pretty science heavy at times but that's part of the fun but I can imagine is not for everyone.Watney is a great main character with plenty of witty remarks and the switch between him and what's happening back on Earth is really well done.Loved it, and definitely want to buy the special edition version of the book now but also want to rewatch the movie.

Far shorter than I anticipated. A quality read.
I've been a long time fan of the movie. And I have to say this goes on the same tier as Dune and LOTR for a book to film adaptation.

I found the writing style to be so casual in a way that lessened the impact of Watney being in constant, life ending peril. But that is the heart of his character and I came to enjoy the contrast between his POV and the never ending stress of everyone back on earth.

It was so wonderfully human. On every page I saw the truth of what it means to be human. Our hope, our fear, our ingenuity and perseverance.

I also saw a window into how the world functioned over a decade go. Indeparmental cooportation and global support was not a work of fiction, instead it was an unlikely but reasonable expectation. What a contrast to the world we live in now...