2025 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss Dune, the first book in the Dune Series by Frank Herbert.

Pages: 604 pages

Length: 2 Months (July and August)

Participants: Elena, Books and peloton, Sinisa, Gabriella, Maeve, Grace, Nancy-Ann

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

Happy Buddy Reading!

Heard this book is a project! My husband likes it. I'm excited to get into it.

Ruthie wrote: "Heard this book is a project! My husband likes it. I'm excited to get into it."

I absolutely loved it! I read it on kindle though so I had to pull up a character list on my phone for reference. I would have enjoyed a hard copy for easier access to the appendix. I found the book so fascinating it felt like a quick read. Hope you enjoy it!

Looking forward to reading this book! My brother just has decided to reread it, and because I'm borrowing it from him, I'll have to wait a few days. At least it's a good sign for a book that it's worth reading again!

My sister claims this is one of the 3 books I absolutely must read. I am in!

Well i started and I am about 20% in. First impressions are I like it a lot and this is all action from the start, there is no slow pace introduction part here. I saw 1984 movie years ago and I was worried it will spoil book for me a bit but cant remember any important details so reading this is all new to me. Only thing is I cant help seeing Kyle MacLachlan face every time i read Pauls name :)

I started reading this book about a week ago and I'm about 75% done. I'm absolutely loving this book.

already read this, but wanted to say it's an amazing choice.

I finished and it was great. Loved it all, the plot, the characters and great world building. Besides Paul I liked Chani character a lot and wish there was a chapter or two more just about her.

(view spoiler)[
Also i loved diary entries at the beginnings of chapters and meaning of them, that was hilarious.

(hide spoiler)]

@Elena
I am set on reading sequel too so you say when and I will confirm it. My suggestion would be book 2 for September (It looks it is a lot shorter) and book 3 for Oct/Nov. I mean it can be 2 months each like this one, I am fine with that too

I also loved Chani!

(view spoiler)[ The chapter intros were my favorite, I think I highlighted every one. I was worried the plot would grow too complex for me, but every page pulled me in further to the story. I felt like it was written just yesterday with how relevant all the motifs still are. (hide spoiler)]

I rewatched the old movie and had to laugh at how bad all of the graphics were compared to current capabilities. I am excited to see what the do with the new one!

I loved the book. The plot and characters were perfectly balanced. I would have enjoyed a little more perspective from Chani as well!

(view spoiler)[
Do you guys think that by not revealing Duke Leto's death before it happened, the mystery aspect of the outcome of the betrayal would have added more reading effect?
(For me personally, the revelation added a sense of poignancy as I progressed)
(hide spoiler)]

Now I'm waiting for the 2020 Dune movie!!!

Well, I've finally started!
I was procrastinating for so long on starting this book - even though I've heard that it's excellent, I've read quite a few long books recently and I didn't really want to start a whole new novel! I definitely was being really stupid though, because so far, I'm loving it. I'm about 70 pages in (view spoiler)[ when the Atreides have just landed on Arrakis (hide spoiler)] and the characters are amazing, they're so complex and deep without the book being burdened by tedious descriptions. Also, the action and excitement start pretty soon. There isn't a lot of the new world described at first which I like - it seems like you have to find out about the geography, culture, history, politics, etc. of this fictional universe on your own as the story progresses.

Started today!!

Vivek wrote: "I loved the book. The plot and characters were perfectly balanced. I would have enjoyed a little more perspective from Chani as well!


(view spoiler)[ Do you guys think that by not revealing Duke Leto's death be..." (hide spoiler)]


Ooh interesting question

(view spoiler)[ I think I would have to agree with you. Revealing the death added a sense of urgency to paul and jessica's mission that might not have been otherwise understood. Revenge is such a dominant theme in this book that reveals different traits/motivations in each character and gives us a deeper understanding of their actions. If the death had not been revealed, I think I would have felt a disconnect between the characters and some of their actions, flawed or not.

I also really loved the book's critique of revenge and the cycle it perpetuates, often providing little closure. Starting with Yueh's betrayal and then eventually leading to the death of Chani and Paul's child in a way. Did anyone's quest for revenge not lead to the, arguably, unnecessary death of others? (hide spoiler)]

Grace wrote: "Vivek wrote: "I loved the book. The plot and characters were perfectly balanced. I would have enjoyed a little more perspective from Chani as well!


[spoilers removed]


Ooh interesting question..."

You are quite right. (view spoiler)[ If Leto's death was not imminent, we would have misjudged many of the actions taken by both sides and it would have been difficult to reconcile that after the reveal.
I think, apart from perpetuity of the revenge cycle, it was also a critique of the futility of it. I don't think anyone got a closure at the end of their revenge cycle. That's why it was good to see Paul taking the throne rather than killing the emperor for revenge.
(hide spoiler)]

Unfortunately, I have to disagree. I'm not liking this as much as I thought I would. I think it's overhyped for me. Also I've heard its really good sci fi but I feel it's more about politics and empires than true sci fi so I think I also had a misconception about what it would be like. I do like Jessica and Chani but I don't find Paul likable. Maybe I'll change my mind when I see the 2020 movie-if it still comes out this year.

Also, I have been disappointed that is hasn't hooked me. I can easily pause it and go to another book and the mark of a book I'm really enjoying is that I usually don't want to pause it or I keep thinking about it even when I do have to pause it.

I'm almost done with it, I only have 1hr and 18 min left

I've started it in the beginning of the month but was catching up with other readings for challenges, but I feel no urge to continue this. I might give it another go in August though, try to make it pick up my interest.

I finished Dune last night when I stayed up to 1am to read it! I definitely enjoyed the first half of this book but I felt like the second and third sections dragged for me. i agree completely with @Ruthie - Jessica and Chani (as well as Gurney and Hawat) were all really strong, relatable characters but I just didn't really like Paul. (view spoiler)[Also, I would've liked if Duke Leto's death wasn't revealed so early, because I felt like it took ages to get to that part in the story when I thought it would occur in a few chapters at most. Although I loved the entries at the start of each chapter, they kind of spoiled the end because we know that Princess Irulan has to survive and not hate Paul, so he likely didn't kill the Emperor. Maybe I feel like this because I read the book over a few days and because of that, it took a few days for Leto's death to actually occur! (hide spoiler)]

So I finished it and gave it 3 stars! I did like certain aspects but mostly agree with my other comment that it was just overhyped for me.

Here are some takeaways:

(view spoiler)[

I liked the part with the Duke and the "remember the tooth" guy-blanking on his name. Thought that was a really good scene.

I was surprised at the reveal that Jessica is the Barron's daughter

I thought the coolest part of the whole book is when Jessica is becoming the Reverand mother

I liked that they were riding worms in the end battle- I thought Finally! and Yes!


I continue to not like Paul. Especially since he didn't seem much phased by his sons death just telling Chani they will have more sons. I guess you could tell me he is controlling his emotions or has to look strong blah blah blah. I realize this could be true but it makes him even more unlikable for me.

Jessica was strong and still she grieved! (hide spoiler)]

For me, this book stood out due to its science-fiction structure and interlacing of strong geopolitical analysis that seems to have strengthened since it's original publish date. Not only is Herbert's world and story building remarkable, but he managed to capture the plight of ecological destruction decades before the social movement. @ruthie, so I think you would be correct, it is not necessarily "true sci-fi," but rather a warning of ecological disaster (not to be dramatic) in a sci fi format.

(view spoiler)[ I also agree that Paul was rather unlikable but part of me thinks that was intentional. Both Chani and Jessica were fierce and allowed their emotions to show without being perceived as weaker. Perhaps there is a double standard there. Regardless, team Jessica and Chani all the way. (hide spoiler)]

Grace wrote: "For me, this book stood out due to its science-fiction structure and interlacing of strong geopolitical analysis that seems to have strengthened since it's original publish date. Not only is Herber..."

For me, a true sci-fi book has to stand the test of time. Dune has retained its relevance even after more than 50 years of publishing, you don't feel the technology is out of date or absurd and at the same time totally immerse in the socio-politics of a future society. That is the beauty of Herbert's and Asimov's worlds.
The book came out during the peak of the cold war and while there may not be any cold-war background in Herbert's Dune, the world was staring at a race to global domination and destruction. Herbert's world not only captures the themes of the era but, as you said, the themes of ecological destruction and fight over global resources, that we are witnessing today, as well. That, for me, makes it a true sci-fi.
@Ruthie, May I recommend John Scalzi's Old Man's War or The Collapsing Empire series if you are looking for a more futuristic, technology oriented sci-fi book.
(view spoiler)[ I think Paul's indifference towards his son's death was, in some probability, due to his inability to distinguish between past, present, and future. At one point, he was simultaneously experiencing it all and was unable to differentiate future events from past/present events. Think about it, he was not merely suggesting/ hoping that they'll have more sons, probably he knew about it because he already experienced it along with the grief and moving on part!! (hide spoiler)]

@Vivek Singh great point, for the time it was written Dune is visionary work. I like how this is streight forward plot and Asimov is more twist in a twist version, it is like complementary to each other. Considering Paul for me he is so similar to character of Dr Manhattan from Watchmen, because he sees world in a different way he does look insensitive and unlikeable so we feel more drawn and connected to Chani and Jessica who both have more recognisable empathy and emotions.

I like reading your perspectives and I can see where you're coming from. Thanks for the recommendations as well!

Grace wrote: "For me, this book stood out due to its science-fiction structure and interlacing of strong geopolitical analysis that seems to have strengthened since it's original publish date. Not only is Herber..."

Thanks for your comment about Paul, Grace. I'm glad I'm not the only one! lol