A review by mala_and_the_spirits
Dune, by Frank Herbert
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.5
Please let me explain before you roast me, thanks a lot.
<b> First, I want to make clear that my star rating shows how much I personally enjoyed the book/ vibed with the book. It todally does not mean I do not respect the fact this book is a classic and the influence that it had and how challenging it was to create it. I know Dune fans like to roast readers who did not like Dune but please let me state my opinion here. I know how it is to be a huge fan of something and how critical voices annoy you, so let's respect each other. </b>
Btw, I am about to start studies in literature, so I am kind of training to write reviews that is why this is going to be a long one.
<b> How I got into Dune: </b>
I listened to the German audiobook, which is avaliable here for free:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3k4RuHL7uT8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7TTHdb2ExE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvOZKc4f_N4
I know we should support authors by actually buying their work but in this case, since the author is dead and can not benefit from our purchases anymore, I personally do not mind.
I also kind of got into this because of the new movie and the fact that I am a former Star Wars fan and I kinda hoped to find something like Star Wars in the Dune universe. And even when Star Wars was partially inspired (or copied) by Dune, I now know this was a stupid belief but it appeard due to lack of knowledge.
<b> What I liked and appreciated: </b>
2. The plot and actions by the characters made sense. Even if it is fiction, it feels like it could theoretically happen like that (sadly this is not common).
3. There were lots of deep/ philosophical thoughts/ quotes throughout the whole book.
4. It showed me new ideas and perspectives, especially the power of religion.
Nevertheless, I have a few problems with the novel. I tend to overlook the fact: This is a fictional story. But every piece of art is a reflection of our society and our world and just because it is relevant and respected art it does not mean we can just ignore the issues that may occure. And yes, back then when this was written outdated values ruled the US but this makes it even more important to talk about the things that bordered me.
<b> What bordered me: </b>
2. All important women who appear in the novel are powerful, but are breeders at the same time. There is lots of sexism in general. This is probably caused by the society and belief system in the Dune universe but to me it is unsetteling to imagine a future humanity that is able to travel space, etc. but still has sexism in their believe system. It is fiction after all but as I already said, we should talk about these issues especially due to this fact.
3. The writing forces you almost brutally to hate the villan. Sure, because he is the villan, right? But there is not even a backstory given, why he is the way he is. He is just really bad and cruel and bad and cruel. He is soooooooooooo bad! Hate him reader, hate him!, says the writing. You are suppost to hate him! Go on and hate him! Hate him! Hate him! Hate him! And it is getting worse: What makes a person bad?:
-A Russian forename (the <b> only </b> Russian name I noticed in the book, remember Frank Herbert is US-American and yes it was cold war, but the protagonist has a western name, of course...)
-He is fat (the only fat character and his enormous body is described over and over)
-He is gay (the only queer character. He is also a pedophile and by the time the novel was written the homophobia was very very common in the US. One 'argument' against the LGBTQ+ community back then was: Gay people are (more often) pedophiles. And I do not say that there are no gay pedophiles but this lie was used suppress the queer movement. And this belief is still used by homophobic people up until today! The hungarian government used it recently when they enacted a new homophobic and transphobic law (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-16/hungary-tells-eu-its-law-protects-children-doesn-t-target-lgbtq). Sadly, Dune was part of spreading this belief.)
4. Look how childlike Paul (15 yo) and Chani (14 yo) are, aren't they cute (in the German version they were even called Kind-Mann (kid man) and Kind-Frau (kid women))? The writing discribes them as childlike. Alright now let's make a baby! Oh no, the baby died. Well, we will just make more sons! If you feel like child marriage is necessary Herbert, alright it is your novel. But why discribe them as childlike, so detailed before then?
Just want to mention, I do not agree Dune is a white savior story, this explains well why: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWQIvegIYEQ
<b> My conclusion: </b>
All in all, I am glad I read it, I really am, even if it does not seem like it. I just believe we have to pay attention to both pros and cons. If you search for something like Star Wars, Dune will disappoint you. It is worth the effort of getting through all 600 pages and it does deserve the hype, it just is not my personal peference. I would recomment it to others but not for enjoyment or relaxation, rather for the well built world and the other things I appreciated. It is a classic, that is undeniable. I could imagine to read more books of the series now that I know what to expect but not any time soon. I have not seen the new movie yet and I am intrested how they treated the things I see crtitically.
Let's be friends, Dune lovers and Dune haters, to me you are both correct.
(And lol, it took me basically 1 1/2 hours to write this review. Anyway I was listening to this Dune ambience while writing, it is really good: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9vHol20e0Q)
<b> First, I want to make clear that my star rating shows how much I personally enjoyed the book/ vibed with the book. It todally does not mean I do not respect the fact this book is a classic and the influence that it had and how challenging it was to create it. I know Dune fans like to roast readers who did not like Dune but please let me state my opinion here. I know how it is to be a huge fan of something and how critical voices annoy you, so let's respect each other. </b>
Btw, I am about to start studies in literature, so I am kind of training to write reviews that is why this is going to be a long one.
<b> How I got into Dune: </b>
I listened to the German audiobook, which is avaliable here for free:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3k4RuHL7uT8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7TTHdb2ExE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvOZKc4f_N4
I know we should support authors by actually buying their work but in this case, since the author is dead and can not benefit from our purchases anymore, I personally do not mind.
I also kind of got into this because of the new movie and the fact that I am a former Star Wars fan and I kinda hoped to find something like Star Wars in the Dune universe. And even when Star Wars was partially inspired (or copied) by Dune, I now know this was a stupid belief but it appeard due to lack of knowledge.
<b> What I liked and appreciated: </b>
Spoiler
1. The concept/ structure of the world is so complex, balanced and logic as I never experienced it before in a novel.2. The plot and actions by the characters made sense. Even if it is fiction, it feels like it could theoretically happen like that (sadly this is not common).
3. There were lots of deep/ philosophical thoughts/ quotes throughout the whole book.
4. It showed me new ideas and perspectives, especially the power of religion.
Nevertheless, I have a few problems with the novel. I tend to overlook the fact: This is a fictional story. But every piece of art is a reflection of our society and our world and just because it is relevant and respected art it does not mean we can just ignore the issues that may occure. And yes, back then when this was written outdated values ruled the US but this makes it even more important to talk about the things that bordered me.
<b> What bordered me: </b>
Spoiler
1. The writing style was not 'bad' and I know I am not supposed to identify with the characters but I personally did not enjoy the writing at all. I absolutely did not like or care for the characters too. It was intresting to listen but felt more like an non-fictional text or an essay to me.2. All important women who appear in the novel are powerful, but are breeders at the same time. There is lots of sexism in general. This is probably caused by the society and belief system in the Dune universe but to me it is unsetteling to imagine a future humanity that is able to travel space, etc. but still has sexism in their believe system. It is fiction after all but as I already said, we should talk about these issues especially due to this fact.
3. The writing forces you almost brutally to hate the villan. Sure, because he is the villan, right? But there is not even a backstory given, why he is the way he is. He is just really bad and cruel and bad and cruel. He is soooooooooooo bad! Hate him reader, hate him!, says the writing. You are suppost to hate him! Go on and hate him! Hate him! Hate him! Hate him! And it is getting worse: What makes a person bad?:
-A Russian forename (the <b> only </b> Russian name I noticed in the book, remember Frank Herbert is US-American and yes it was cold war, but the protagonist has a western name, of course...)
-He is fat (the only fat character and his enormous body is described over and over)
-He is gay (the only queer character. He is also a pedophile and by the time the novel was written the homophobia was very very common in the US. One 'argument' against the LGBTQ+ community back then was: Gay people are (more often) pedophiles. And I do not say that there are no gay pedophiles but this lie was used suppress the queer movement. And this belief is still used by homophobic people up until today! The hungarian government used it recently when they enacted a new homophobic and transphobic law (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-16/hungary-tells-eu-its-law-protects-children-doesn-t-target-lgbtq). Sadly, Dune was part of spreading this belief.)
4. Look how childlike Paul (15 yo) and Chani (14 yo) are, aren't they cute (in the German version they were even called Kind-Mann (kid man) and Kind-Frau (kid women))? The writing discribes them as childlike. Alright now let's make a baby! Oh no, the baby died. Well, we will just make more sons! If you feel like child marriage is necessary Herbert, alright it is your novel. But why discribe them as childlike, so detailed before then?
Just want to mention, I do not agree Dune is a white savior story, this explains well why: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWQIvegIYEQ
<b> My conclusion: </b>
All in all, I am glad I read it, I really am, even if it does not seem like it. I just believe we have to pay attention to both pros and cons. If you search for something like Star Wars, Dune will disappoint you. It is worth the effort of getting through all 600 pages and it does deserve the hype, it just is not my personal peference. I would recomment it to others but not for enjoyment or relaxation, rather for the well built world and the other things I appreciated. It is a classic, that is undeniable. I could imagine to read more books of the series now that I know what to expect but not any time soon. I have not seen the new movie yet and I am intrested how they treated the things I see crtitically.
Let's be friends, Dune lovers and Dune haters, to me you are both correct.
(And lol, it took me basically 1 1/2 hours to write this review. Anyway I was listening to this Dune ambience while writing, it is really good: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9vHol20e0Q)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Death of parent, Death, Drug use, Fatphobia, Grief, Sexual assault, Violence, War, and Blood
Moderate: Homophobia, Slavery, and Pregnancy
Minor: Pedophilia