I am 62 years old. I read Dune in the 1970s. I was not impressed. The best thing Herbert ever wrote was the White Plague in 1982. Though honestly it was not original either. This man's works pale in comparison to any thinking man's reading, especially LOTR. This for the most part is "pop reading" for the leisure reader to take their mind off of things, not meant to inspire any deep reflection or understanding of the nature of man. It's popular for the movies much like all the comic books make fun movies. Nothing to think about here.
I'm glad someone agrees! I've been grasping at straws looking for discussion topics in this book, and even when something promising popped up (in the dinner party scene) it seems like that subject has already been completely dropped.
Although I wouldn't go so far as to say that there's nothing there, it's certainly not cohesive—the fact that the book is praised for its political and social commentary is baffling.
What you said about the book being good for the movies makes sense. That's probably where all the hype comes from.
Mar 28·edited Mar 28Liked by Melissa Petrie, John Mistretta
What I meant is there is nothing new, by saying there is nothing here. He was an echo of the society at the time, and everyone loves a good vs. bad story. It lacks originality and depth. In my own personal reflection of the book, which I reread a few years ago when I heard they were coming out with another movie, it is a man's soap opera. Always open ended and often not well put together with action and violence. I sensed he was on a time table to produce a story and reached out to other stories to find story angles. Then he forced them to fit together.
Oh, one more comment. It is the old story of the emperor's cloths. Most people just go along and don't bother to make their own possibly valid analysis. They don't want to stand out. It is why so often the masses are easily misled. Thinking is something you have to do. Many fear it because they need to consider death and the reality of our so short time on this planet.
I definitely see this as being one big soap opera, and as you can tell don’t love the story either. Really appreciate your feedback. Melissa and I are discussing “The Name of the Rose” by Umberto Eco as our next book club deep dive. Hopefully it gets the mind going a bit more. We would love for you to read along and join the discussions once we start in a few weeks!
I am 62 years old. I read Dune in the 1970s. I was not impressed. The best thing Herbert ever wrote was the White Plague in 1982. Though honestly it was not original either. This man's works pale in comparison to any thinking man's reading, especially LOTR. This for the most part is "pop reading" for the leisure reader to take their mind off of things, not meant to inspire any deep reflection or understanding of the nature of man. It's popular for the movies much like all the comic books make fun movies. Nothing to think about here.
I'm glad someone agrees! I've been grasping at straws looking for discussion topics in this book, and even when something promising popped up (in the dinner party scene) it seems like that subject has already been completely dropped.
Although I wouldn't go so far as to say that there's nothing there, it's certainly not cohesive—the fact that the book is praised for its political and social commentary is baffling.
What you said about the book being good for the movies makes sense. That's probably where all the hype comes from.
What I meant is there is nothing new, by saying there is nothing here. He was an echo of the society at the time, and everyone loves a good vs. bad story. It lacks originality and depth. In my own personal reflection of the book, which I reread a few years ago when I heard they were coming out with another movie, it is a man's soap opera. Always open ended and often not well put together with action and violence. I sensed he was on a time table to produce a story and reached out to other stories to find story angles. Then he forced them to fit together.
Oh, one more comment. It is the old story of the emperor's cloths. Most people just go along and don't bother to make their own possibly valid analysis. They don't want to stand out. It is why so often the masses are easily misled. Thinking is something you have to do. Many fear it because they need to consider death and the reality of our so short time on this planet.
Beautifully put in your last line.
I definitely see this as being one big soap opera, and as you can tell don’t love the story either. Really appreciate your feedback. Melissa and I are discussing “The Name of the Rose” by Umberto Eco as our next book club deep dive. Hopefully it gets the mind going a bit more. We would love for you to read along and join the discussions once we start in a few weeks!
It is right up my alley, as they say....