Emily (Books with Emily Fox on Youtube)'s Reviews > Dune

I didn't get very far in this book at all.

I find people either hate this book or think of it as their bible.

I have tried numerous times to read this, and have DNF'd it around the 50 page mark every single time. This may be one instance where I'll first need to watch the movie before I attempt it again.

I’ve tried to read it twice had the same problem.

The cover looks boring as well

21 hours. Wow.

One of my favorite sci-fi and fantasy fusions, cast in the light of a future Biblical epoch. The usage of language and narrative feel more like cryptic Old Testament fables... which is what you need to be in the mood for to really vibe on it.

I got about 100 pages in and couldn't do it anymore. It's the first one this year for the challenge that I DNF'ed.

I pushed through it but didn't enjoy it either and had rated it 2 stars also. I just couldn't wait for it to be over! I just don't get the hype.

Aw man 21 hours! I skipped this month I knew it wouldn’t be for me.

Yeah, I won't ever be reading this. I feel your pain, girl.

Like @Mellissa I've tried to read it twice, because it's a classic, and DNF'd both times. Couldn't watch the movie either.

I read it years ago. While not my favorite I still didn't think it was bad. An interesting and intriguing universe. I haven't seen either movie but most of the Dune Fans do not like either one.

Is it weird that I’m happy that you didn’t like it. I tried it twice and dnf both times. I was afraid you were going to rave about and then I’d have to try reading it yet again.

DNF’ed at 100 pages. It was too boring to read. Didn’t peak my interest whatsoever. First challenge I wanted to do with you...

I loved this series. It's all deep and meaningful. All of Frank Herbert's ones. I haven't read the later books by his son and Kevin J Anderson. Each to their Owen I guess.

I can't stress this enough. Audio is not the way to go with this one.

Thats a shame I love Dune, easily in my top 10 books. But I can appreciate that the writing might be quite dry if you can't immerse yourself into the world.

It also has my all time favourite book quote:

"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”

Omg I felt the same! So happy I’m not alone in not really getting this book XD

I alwas rate books based on my own enjoyment as well, so don't feel bad about that. And your feelings are similar to Merphy Napier's if I remember correctly.

It took me the whole month to read, but I really enjoyed it. I have to agree with you on the names though. Everyone has these unusual, exotic names and then you have Jessica and Paul. And I still can't wrap my mind around the Missionaria Protectiva.

I am sad you didn't like because it is one of my all time favourite series. But I appreciate that you tried it. Also, I agree with your opinion about the name.

Looks like I'm skipping this read

I'm always interested to see a reviewer pick this one up because it seems like it's such a polarizing read. Everyone either absolutely loves it or thinks it's the most boring thing ever. I'm in the former category, but I can see how people on the other side feel that way. It is very dense and a couple of things are only mentioned in passing or are referred to as some long distant historical fact, but become integral to the story, so I get how people might be turned off from that. I also think there's almost a switch you have to flip when you pick up something like Herbert or Asimov or any of those kind of early sci-fi epics. It is a very different kind of writing and it's not for everyone, for sure.

Alexis wrote: "I'm always interested to see a reviewer pick this one up because it seems like it's such a polarizing read. Everyone either absolutely loves it or thinks it's the most boring thing ever. I'm in the..."

I cannot agree more...

I'm rather surprised I liked this so much, it's exactly the kind of book I expected to hate. So I totally get where you're coming from. I agree about the names, Paul and Jessica stand out quite badly. But, as I understood the idea behind the world better, the better I liked it. It's a future that blends a lot of human languages, cultures and religions. To my great surprise, I immediately wanted to start on book 2.

I hated this book so much. It is nothing but descriptions and yet I could never picture anything. Like how does an ornithopter actually work? No idea, he never actually told me.

My sentiments exactly. I was told this was such a sci-fi/ fantasy classic so I tried it but I just ended up bored and annoyed with the book.

You reading this has gotten me to reread it. Still love it. It's funny because when I first read it, I thought it was so different from and better than the other classics (even though I enjoyed several of the others). I think it's the bridge from the Big Three scifi classics writers to the more contemporary writers. But instead of just an interesting concept, Herbet actually does so much more world building. And nope, I never recommend Dune because it's a "classics." I recommend it because of how much I enjoyed it. Always interesting to see what bores the hell out of people and what people find fascinating. World building comes in many ways I guess.

I grew up loving the original film so I already had amazing imagery in my head when I finally read/listened to the book earlier this year- that helped a lot.

I found the first 100 pages tough, and after seeing visualizations and getting accustomed to the world, I began to enjoy it more - that being said, a book shouldn’t need that to be enjoyable

I guess I’ll skip this one too! I’m curious about your thoughts on the Ender’s Game series? I am working my way through them now!

One thing about Dune is that it needs your undivided focus, and people are just not used to that anymore. Listening to it as an audiobook won't work because you need to most likely reread passages to truly understand the philosophy behind them, the characters intentions, etc. It doesn't need "visualisations" beforehand, it needs you to pay attention.

Well it's not for mm everybody... like most literature. Maybe you'll like it later in your life. I didn't get Dune when I was younger, now I love it.

I enjoyed it even less than you did.

I have read it many times and I can see what you say. I think with each read I feel that I like it a bit less. It's still a classic and part of what got me to want to read more science fi.

Some of y’all are better than me. I dnf this at page 8. I read the first pages and said, “nope not for me.” And I returned it to the library.

Victoria wrote: "Some of y’all are better than me. I dnf this at page 8. I read the first pages and said, “nope not for me.” And I returned it to the library."

Haha I wouldn't have finished it without the audiobook and even then I struggled!

Leanne wrote: "Try the movie...it’s great"

Oh I thought I had heard the movie wasn't good?! I'll check it out!

Amber wrote: "I guess I’ll skip this one too! I’m curious about your thoughts on the Ender’s Game series? I am working my way through them now!"

I read the first one and didn't care for it. The whole 4yo geniuses premise doesn't work for me... then I heard about the author and just decided to skip his other books!

I would wait for Denis Villeneuve's Dune in 2020. The cast is amazing and the director has proven himself to be reliable.

You are my hero. I really really feel bad everytime I drop something unfinished, so I'm really amazed you managed to finish this book. I also listen to the Audio book but I have to focus so hard, I feel like I am listening to a book for my curriculum. Thx for being honest about your feelings about this book, now I can DNF it without feeling guilty or weak for the first time.

I loved Dune but I can see how it's not for everyone! I also had a giggle at the names, especially Paul as the name of the protagonist.

Took me a second read-through to love it. It was actually an Imaginary World's episode on Dune that got me excited to try again. Highly recommended listen: https://www.imaginaryworldspodcast.or...

can't wait to hear your thoughts on this youtube!

I was also hella bored while reading this, I don't know how I made it through the next 2 books in the series but I think this is my limit.

Had to “read” it for my American Lit class. I read the first 5 pages and then dnf’d it was weird. I just pretended i knew stuff during class and then guessed on every dune question on the exam 😂 it’s supposed to be what inspired Star Wars so I was excited about it...boy was it a let down.

Just to be clear... you call your profile books with Emily Fox... and all you can muster are five sentences about Dune. Yet, you were compelled (by likes, I suppose) to throw in with all of the robust and detailed reviews of people who either like and understand the series and its universe to say that there were "so many descriptions", and that you for some reason laughed when you heard the name Jessica. Also... lest we forget... your rating is based on whether you enjoyed the book. Thanks for that new concept and for this compelling take on Dune. I will be following your future reviews with enthusiasm.

"And let's not even mention how many times I laughed at the main female character being called Jessica."

I don't get it.

I couldn't finish it even listening to the audiobook. Definitely not my type of book.