2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion

Our January group read will be The Martian by: Andy Weir

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 kills him and forces his crew to evacuate the planet while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded on Mars' surface, completely alone, with no way to signal Earth that he’s alive — and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone years before a rescue could arrive.

Chances are, though, he won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment or plain-old "human error" are much more likely to kill him first. But Mark's not ready to quit. Armed with nothing but his ingenuity and his engineering skills — and a gallows sense of humor that proves to be his greatest source of strength – he embarks on a dogged quest to stay alive, using his botany expertise to grow food and even hatching a mad plan to contact NASA back on Earth.

As he overcomes one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next, Mark begins to let himself believe he might make it off the planet alive – but Mars has plenty of surprises in store for him yet.

Grounded in real, present-day science from the first page to the last, yet propelled by a brilliantly ingenious plot that surprises the reader again and again, The Martian is a truly remarkable thriller: an impossible-to-put-down suspense novel that manages to read like a real-life survival tale.

Our discussion leader will be ReGina! Thank you, ReGina!

I loved this one! I don't think I'll reread it, but I will definitely discuss it with all of you.

I am so excited for this group read! I have wanted to read this book for what feels like forever now! I have been looking at it to buy, not buy, buy, not buy because I have so many books I have to read and I am not supposed to buy anymore. My Secret Santa, Jenn, gave it to me for my Christmas book. I am for sure going to read this one with everyone.

For those who like audiobooks, I heard this makes a great one!

I am too Jodi! I have bought it and am ready to go! I am so in sci fi/dystopian mood now a days, so I'm very happy this is the first group read!!

Nice , I will join this group read, now I have a good excuse to buy it :)

Heidi wrote: "Nice , I will join this group read, now I have a good excuse to buy it :)"

Great! That's what I thought too Heidi ;)

It's been on my TBR-list the last6 months, but I went to see the movie in the fall, so I wasn't sure if I would read the book or not. I prefer reading the books, before watching the movie.
But since it's the January group read and I just found out I can borrow it as an e-book, I think I'll give it a go. After all I did like the movie :-)

I've had it on my TBR list for a while as well, so I will join in on this one.

We saw the movie last month, and liked it very much. In the past, I've always preferred books to movies, so I have some pretty high expectations for this!

I haven't seen the movie yet because I wanted to read the book. My friend gets so mad at me because she always asks if I want to go and see a movie and I say....Oh I can't I haven't read the book yet. I can't watch the movie first.

I'm going to join this group read! Haven't seen the movie because I want to read the book first.

I'm with you on that, can't watch first. My sister can though, I have just never understood it
^^

I've gotta say, I'm pretty excited for this! I'd been paying attention to all the, er, attention this book got over the past year or so so I decided to keep it in mind, then it showed up on Kindle for fairly cheap at the summer so I got it then. Haven't actually read it yet, everything else just sort of get it in the way. It's definitely going to happen next month though! Even if I don't believe I'll actually be able to say much about it, or that any of it will even make sense, I'll still be sure to drop in here and see if I can't riff off anyone else from time to time. :)

(I haven't seen the film yet either. But that's less because I prefer to read the book first [though I more or less do] and more because I don't really get to see films as it is anymore. I'm still happy I managed to let it pass me by, mind.)

The book is pretty book! I read it before the movie came out and I really like it! They explain the science in a very simple way and you can't help but keep reading. The best comparison for those of us that watched TV in the 80's is McGyver in space

I'm really excited about this one!

Looks like I'm doing this group read after the book accidentally found its way into my shopping today!

Yay do many readers, will be fun! I'm happy I'm reading this one as a group read :)

I've picked it up in the past but I got into a reading slump because of it. I don't know why but I guess sci fi books just aren't my type of book. Maybe I'll give it another try though, I'd love to discuss it with all of you

I really really liked this book! Definitely a good one!

OMG! this was one of my favorite books in 2015, and one of my favorite books ever. This will be such a good excuse to read it again! I originally borrowed it as an e-book, but then asked for a hard copy for Christmas, so i can have it forever... :) Looking forward to the discussion!

I've already read this book earlier in the year but look forward to getting involved in the discussions i would recommend the audiobook version if you dont have as much time to sit and read it the narrator is incredible i kept flicking back from audio to paperback but the majority i listened to because the narrator kept drawing me back in.

This has been on my "to read" list forever! I have held out on seeing the movie and was planning to read it first thing next year so sign me up for this group read :)

This is a great book! I read it earlier this year, but I look forward to discussing it with you.

Starting to read this today(only because it came in before the December Group Read!)
Really looking forward to this!!

Went out and bought this one today, so I'm ready for January!

Going to join for this group read. Happy New Year when it comes!

I'm so excited about reading this book and I do love having group discussions when it comes to reading books in general.

I just started it, couldn't wait. I can't wait to see what you all think.

I'm listening to the audio version. I just started but so far, I'm really enjoying it.

I'm so confused by all the science in this book haha :)

So, I am breaking one of my great commandments in life. After the tragedy that was Flowers in the Attic (the movie), I don't read the book and see the film. However, I did see this movie last year and I'm excited to read the book. I think the differences will be interesting. I'm about four chapters in now, and here's my question: Mark is doing a lot to prepare for his physical needs (which is obviously important), but not much to prepare for his emotional or social needs of living in isolation for four years. Like his plan for potatoes and water, what would that kind of "plan" look like?

ReGina wrote: "So, I am breaking one of my great commandments in life. After the tragedy that was Flowers in the Attic (the movie), I don't read the book and see the film. However, I did see this movie last year ..."

ReGina - such an interesting question! I can totally see how that would be important. I thought that in some ways, his log entries are a big part of that - talking out loud to himself, etc. There is a scene (later in the movie) that also addresses part of that, i think, although I thought the book leaves a lot more to the reader on this topic. I don't want to put in any spoilers, so hopefully this discussion comes up more later!

I would think that in addition to the log entries, he could always take the "talking to inanimate objects" route, and make establishing communications a key priority. But i'm not sure whether he could plan on the former (without doubting his own sanity) and if he puts all his hopes on success for the latter, he might be too disappointed. What are your thoughts?

I'd really enjoyed this book. I made it my first read of the year and I haven't regretted it.

I've read this and frequently referred to it in my year 5 class when we were doing our topic of 'It's a Mash Up' which was all about potatoes. Bit of a slow burn for me tbh, but interesting enough.

I wasn't going to read it, but having seen all the good comments i'll try it!

I read this book in one sitting yesterday. I just couldn't put it down. I saw the movie about a week ago and afterwards couldn't wait to read the book. I've discovered that if I see the movie first and then read the book I'm more likely to enjoy both, but if I read a book first then all I do is get mad at the movie. I think in this case I would have enjoyed both either way.

Mark Watney is a fun voice to read. He's obviously very smart, but also quite funny. There is a lot of math and science stuff, which I had mixed feelings about. On one hand I liked that the author didn't just gloss over all of it, but on the other hand there was some stuff that went right over my head (though I'm sure if I read slower it would have been fine, but I had to know what happened next!)

Anyway, hope you all enjoy!

I want to read this but am still 200 of 248 holds at the library so I will have to watch the thread and read later!

Now I have an excuse to read my Kindle version (of course, the $1.99 price tag + Amazon Gift Card helped immensely....)

Renee wrote: "ReGina wrote: "So, I am breaking one of my great commandments in life. After the tragedy that was Flowers in the Attic (the movie), I don't read the book and see the film. However, I did see this m..."

I'm not exactly sure. Certainly the logs and the TV shows help (though Three's Company might drive me to insanity....). I would also think touch would be a big part of that as well, though I guess all you can do it rub your own arms and maybe a foot massage here and there. I just found it a little odd that he doesn't even address it when it clearly a part of Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

Ceira wrote: "I'm so confused by all the science in this book haha :)" Me too (disappointing my father and brother, the scientists, I'm sure). But I also feel like I'm learning a lot and it's not so ridiculously complex that I can't understand the basics of what he's talking about.

Great, I have this book on my list forever so finally have a reason to read it! :)

I have this in my stack, and on my list for reading. Will participate!

I read the book a few months ago so I'm joining this list. I'll wait a little bit longer before I make my comments. This was a GOOD book. I haven't seen the movie yet.

I saw the previews for this movie and was debating on whether or not to see it. (I didn't want to watch another Armageddon type movie.) I didn't know that it was based on a book. This challenge is a great excuse for me to put aside my worries and read the book. Then I will hopefully feel ok with watching them movie.
I just looked for it on my library website and found that there is a lot of holds for all versions if this book. Really sad that I will have to wait to start reading it ... or maybe I will just have to buy the book.

I just saw the movie over Christmas, and really liked it. I just started the book today, and I think it is great so far.

I just got really lucky. I didn't think I was going to be able to read it this month since the waiting list for the book is really long at the library. However, I happened to find it on the shelf so they checked it out to me.

I've been meaning to read this for some time now, and am glad it's the first Group Read choice. Just purchased tonight and delved right in!

I really loved this book I read It just before the movie came out. Dont think I have the energy to read it again

@Chickadee I haven't seen the movie either But I downloaded it today. I heard the author had a lot of imput into the making of the movie. Hopefully that means its really good.

Will pick it up and start reading.
I'm looking forward to the group discussion.