I’ve decided to set myself a challenge... Tired of complaining about how “I wish I could find the time to read”, I’ve simply, well, made time. Carved it out of the daily grind. Whether in cutting down meal-prep, reading whilst commuting, quiet nights in, turning away unnecessary projects... It’s actually that easy. Requires ten minutes a day at the very least. Ofttimes I’m kept up till the early morning hours, but… alas, this is a sacrifice I am willing to make. I have too many bloody books. No, really.
My aim: read ten books this year, providing short reviews for each. I’ll record them in the chart below, which I'll add to with every read.
| Date complete | Title | Author | Rating (1-10) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03.04.24 | Dune | Frank Herbert | 8.5 |
Started strong with “Dune” by Frank Herbert. Only science fiction can machinate Machiavellian intrigue with elements of cultural and historical development, mythology, religion, politics, imperialism, environmentalism, military, economics, power, and suffering. The text raises the question of whether humans should exercise their power to manipulate the environment, as well as the moral question of manipulating nature – such as with the issue of the gene pool. And Dune’s undercurrent is a cautionary tale about ambition and the corrupting influence of power.
The text differs greatly from the film – especially in the case of Chani. The key change being the elimination of her first pregnancy, and the child’s ultimate death at the hands of the Sardaukar. The second greatest change is the passage of time – Paul’s integration into the Fremen and entrance into “adulthood” takes a few months in the film but curtails two years in the book. And the birth of Alia, Paul’s sister… leads to a significant plot-twist in the Baron’s demise. She is a powerful character in the book’s overall narrative. But I’m not here to compare the film to the book – I’m reviewing the latter.
The book has difficult passages, confusing in its unexplained hints and allusions. References to sci-fi barely feature, except in small side-comments about space navigation and weaponry. Having said that, interestingly the weaponry did turn against its people in the end… Hm. The progression of core characters is very minor – Stilgar, I believe, transforms the most… from friend to worshipper, as Paul gravely notes in the book’s last pages. A large part of the text is written in thought-form, which intrigued me. So, the passages became very tangled in that characters were unaware each other’s motives, acting often in unwitting conjunction with one another - but occasionally in juxtaposition. The reader has full access to all thoughts as well as actions. Paul Atreides’ inner dialogue, for example, gets subtly darker and less hopeful as the tale draws on, and his God-presence triumphs over his own abilities to subdue it, surmising that in essence people are uncontrollable en-masse but standing firm and not succumbing to ego at the bequest of the populus is true strength… but the strength of Paul’s self-awareness is evident in the first chapter. And he subtly abuses that power in the end - by not registering humans as individuals, but pawns.
Even with the critique, “Dune” is a tale that I couldn’t put down - hence the 8.5/10 rating. Grateful for my recent travels up north, which had me taking back-to-back train journeys with little to do but read. Even with the lack of character development and undisputed God-complex, it was the worldbuilding that had me hooked. The ecology of Arrakis, the history of the benegesserit, the biology of Shai-Hulud, the OC bible. All very deep, visceral, more sci-phi(losophical) than anything, and such modern concepts for Herbert’s time…
Happy reading, Hivers. 📚
One down, nine to go.
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Blogger: @actaylor
Photographs: unless otherwise noted, all images were taken by me with an iPhone 8
Hey I'm just reading this one, I'm about half way through and I'm really liking it, despite how intense it can be at times. I haven't seen the movies but I think it's a great opportunity to get a better understanding of the story. Interesting details about the difference between
"Intense" is a good word for it, haha! I suggest you finish the text first - unfortunately I didn't have the patience 😅 And "Dune" is the perfect film to see on the big screen. I'm envious - films can squash the imagination somewhat. Seeing the latest films first influenced my take on the characters. But then, having said that, reading the text before watching the film can raise your expectations... Good luck! Halfway through... keep at it! It's worth it!
That's a nicer cover than the version that I have. Also, Starting with dune is definitely not an easy one. I remember reading them and found there were parts when it took me a while to read.
Oh, aee !! It began as a tricky read, but I persevered and found that by the end I’d [somewhat] settled into it. What would you recommend starting with, @macchiata? 🧚♀️
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This one has been sitting on my bookshelves for very many years. Think that like you, I am just going to have to squeeze other things in order to up my reading time so I can get through more tasty reads.
Ahh! Hopefully this post hasn't given away too many spoilers... 😬 Or - have you read "Dune" already? If not, it's well worth the read @benwesterham. And there's always a way to make time. It's become a bit of a game, actually - allocating slots in the day for satisfying tasks, like reading. Feel free to join the Hive Book Club and add your own suggestions. As an Indie fiction writer, you must have a few noteworthy reads to recommend?
I haven't read it yet, but having seen both the recent films and those made years back I'm not expecting any major surprises, despite the license I'm sure the film makers have taken with their interpretation of the story.
They've done really well with the recent films, given the scope of the text - I haven't had a chance to watch the earlier ones but they're on my list!