Justin's Notes
Nov. 9, 2025
I have the assumption that many people know of this story, whether it is from the book or from the movie. I know I have seen the movie multiple times, and if I remember correctly, it was incredibly popular. That said, I think the book is great. As someone who watched the movie first, reading the book basically feels the exact same. Sure, there are some nuances and small differences, but the story feels so similar between the two. I actually love how similar they are; it is nice reading a book after the fact and feeling like the movie did it justice.
The story follows Mark Watney, an astronaut on a mission to Mars who is quickly stranded and left to survive. The story, while mostly told through journal entries of his, provides an exciting story full of some pretty captivating twists. The way Weir builds the environment of Mars is incredibly well done, accurately portraying a sense of isolation and the unknown. Weir also somehow makes what is a pretty large amount of scientific language feel digestible, which I think comes from Watney's humor in how he writes his entries. I also just love the point of view. Hearing about what happens in the book primarily in the past, with reflection and learnings baked into the chaos and struggles he faces, makes it really enjoyable to read.
I would recommend this to pretty much anyone. Even if you aren't a big sci-fi fan. While some parts may feel a little slow, usually due to some denser sections of scientific language, I think it tells an engaging story. Also, who doesn't love an easy to root for character, as opposed to morally gray characters in much other fiction?
I would also obviously recommend the movie, and I actually think this is a case where I think you could read first and watch after, or watch first and read after. The story felt so similar between the two that I think they just complement each other. That said, I do think if you like the movie, you should absolutely read the book as well.
