Good morning 👋
How’s your weekend been?
Do you need a reminder of what’s possible when people come together? A story about the human spirit, even in the most uncertain of scenarios?
Then, you’re in luck, because that’s exactly what we’re going to be looking at today. I finished reading “The Martian” by Andy Weir yesterday, and whether you’ve read it or not, I wanted to share some of my thoughts about it with you all. Houston, we’re ready for launch.
Hello and Welcome to Sweeney’s Blogs!
If you haven’t heard of The Martian, don’t you worry, I’ve got you covered:
It’s a story about an astronaut, Mark Watney, who is accidentally stranded on Mars after his mission, Ares 3, is caught in a severe dust storm. Initially believed dead, he uses his knowledge and skills as a botanist and engineer to survive while making contact with Earth, hoping to arrange a rescue.
I never know what to expect when I first open a book; it’s one of the most enjoyable parts about reading. I’d heard a lot about Andy Weir’s writing, and after watching Project Hail Mary (another of his books) in the cinema a couple of weeks back, I thought it was well overdue that I actually sat down and saw for myself how he approaches writing a book.
Well, after this one, it’s safe to say I am a big fan.
To me, The Martian is a tale of the beauty of the human spirit. A tale about courage in the face of the unknown, of the miracles that happen when people work together, and about just how valuable one life can be.
Similar to what I mentioned in my review over on Goodreads, I think it was a fantastic reminder of something we all need to see more of – hope.
Nowadays, with everything going on, it can be easy to forget about what’s made possible when we come together. When we set out to achieve a common good, when we dare to believe, and then make that vision a reality. That’s what Weir does so well, reinforcing how we, as people, aren’t solo entities drifting through the chasm of life; we are capable of and can do brilliant things.
When was the last time we saw thousands of people from different countries, backgrounds and disciplines working together simply because saving one person mattered?
Of course, in this setting, it’s about space travel and using science to its limits; however, we can very easily apply that to other facets of life.
That’s another reason why I love reading so much – books challenge you to think. They dare you to dream. They enable you to enter different worlds, viewpoints and personalities all from the comfort of some pages. If that doesn’t excite you, then we’re living in very different spaces at the moment 😂
Anyways, I wasn’t exactly sure what would happen when I started typing today, but this has been a pleasure to write. What started as a summary of The Martian has turned into a mini exploration of hope and collaboration – who knows what we’ll end up talking about next!
I would deffo recommend giving the book a read! I haven’t watched the film yet, starring the iconic Matt Damon, but I’ll certainly be adding it to the list for sometime in the near future 👀
That’s all from me today. What do you think? What’s a book you loved reading recently? What’s a lesson that’ll always stick with you?
I’d love to hear what you think 😊
Thanks for reading, and I hope you have a lovely day!
James
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