toropchin

(really 4 1/2) What Pasternak's "Dr. Zhivago" is to the bitterly cold, Herbert's "Dune" is to the torridly dry. I found myself wanting a drink of water with every reading. This genre wouldn't be a typical choice for me. I'm great with fantasy and I reluctantly admit that any Star Trek movie I have been coerced into seeing I have enjoyed... but my reading of Dune was more as a favor to my husband who made me watch the movie and continually raved during his third or fourth reading of it. I do see his point. The characters are full of depth and the world of Arrakis which Herbert created was completely real to me (though it did seem like - forgive me - a cross between Lawrence of Arabia and Star Wars). Mr. Herbert (whose name I wish were French... "Frahnk Erber") masterfully weaves pseudo political, social and cultural aspects that border on philosophical. I found myself really enjoying the vocabulary that was created for this world. I would read them out loud several times just to hear myself saying them. "Muad'Dib" is my personal favorite, but "Kwisatz Haderach" sounds like a misheard lyric from a Natalie Merchant song. The writing style isn't amazingly beautiful (and my edition had a multitude of glaring typos), but the evolution of Paul Atreides was fascinating. The descriptions of Jessica's and Paul's prescience experiences were compelling and felt accurate as if Herbert had experienced omniscience before.

2022-11-14 18:24