A fantastic read. 
I was hung up to every page. There is a lot of humour in this novel. It also feels very real even if it’s sci-fi, with all the scientific data and details. 
We experience all the emotions of Mark Watney, alone on Mars, and of the NASA crew. 
I really appreciated the writing: it felt as if I was there with the hero, trying to survive. 
Higly recommended. 

The next time I get stranded on Mars, I’m bringing this with me.

Man, this was- I have no words.
I’m in awe, wonder, and “surreal-ness” all wrapped in one, created this gut feeling that I’m so in love with.

It felt real. Truly. It felt like I read Mark Watney’s actual biography, if he was a real person. I love this. The movie stayed true to the original and I am so grateful. It’s a truly beautiful and unique story that I am glad to experience at least once in my life. This is one of those books that you cannot, or will not, stop thinking about.

One of the first books I wish I could rate 6+ stars on.

This is an interesting and creative story. My biggest issue was the writing. I know that sci-fi is going to have scientific elements, but this got way too technical at the expense of any emotional resonance. I didn’t buy Mark’s character arc, and while some parts were funny, it made him seem detached from the situation he was in. In the end, this book felt like a handbook on how to survive on Mars.

I love science fiction so I was pretty sure I’d like this book. Well I LOVED it. I am surprised this was Weir’s first novel. His choice to tell the story with journal entries adds to the charm and intrigue of the book. The main character, Mark Watney, has charisma and is very funny which creates an explosive tone of drama and humor, light and dark. Watney is the perfect character for this story-the story is good regardless but the main character enhances every moment. 

This book was tense. The premise is striking and a suspenseful idea, reading the book delivers tenfold on that promise with an exhilarating and terrifying story splattered with triumph. Mark Watney and his story feels incredibly real and I felt I was there with him on every page, cheering him on. A remarkable book, an experience I am glad to have had. 

Some of Weir’s writing is a little awkward and clunky. Mostly

in conversations between multiple characters (especially early on in the book). He has the characterization for Watney down, but the supporting characters are weaker at times.

This usually bothers me, but when the book is so unbelievably good as a whole, it’s a small complaint. 

I didn’t understand quite a lot of the scientific explanations, thankfully Weir writes in a way that helps the audience follow along anyhow. I’m not a good source, but the science fiction seems to be built on really solid scientific theory-and that elevates the book. 

The back cover features many quotes that say you won’t want to put this book down and it’s true. It’s a gift rare to find a book that engages me this much. I really recommend this book! 

I've read this book once, a long time ago, about the time when the movie came out, and I really, really liked it. I decided to pick it up again after coming upon it at my local bookstore, and re-reading it was just as easy and fun as I remembered. The Martian is an insanely quick read that keeps you entertained and invested from start to finish, even when you know how it all plays out. Weir's writing style is also excellent in this, both in the first-person POV chapters (Log Entries), and in the third-person observations of what happens on Earth parallel. I recommend this to anyone looking to get into reading Sci-Fi, since The Martian keeps its Sci-Fi pretty grounded and believable, or to anyone that is just looking to get (back) into reading.  Some things in the book rubbed me the wrong way and perhaps aged a bit poorly, but it's generally such a fun read.

⭐⭐⭐⭐