Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void
By Mary Roach
Where is the book on the narrative continuum? A mix (combines highly narrative moments with periods of fact-based prose)
What is the subject of the book? Space travel, specifically the affect that life in outer space has on human beings. Includes history of human space travel, current research into space travel, and what might happen in the future, especially on a manned mission to Mars.
What type of book is it? It is primarily a work of first-person reporting.
Articulate Appeal
What is the pacing of this book? It has a quick pace.
Describe the characters of the book? The author is a main character. She inserts herself into many different scenarios related to astronaut training. Other characters are astronauts, both the brave test pilots who became the first astronauts and the more scientific-minded modern astronauts, and the men and women who support astronauts and their missions.
How does the story feel? It is exciting and interesting. It's written in a very friendly, accessible style, and it feels conversational and funny.
What is the focus of the story? The story focuses on what will have to be considered on a manned mission to Mars, and how that mission will affect humans in a variety of different ways.
Does the language matter? While the book is written in a conversational and often humorous style, the language is not particularly notable.
Is the setting important and well described? The settings are important; Roach shows the various places and ways that astronauts train and scientists experiment to hypothesize what will happen to humans spending a long time in space. These settings are well described.
Are there details and, if so, of what? There are many details about the human body and mind, and the effect that space has on it, physically, mentally, and emotionally. The book includes many physiological and psychological details.
Are there sufficient charts and other graphic materials? Are they useful and clear? The book includes a few photographs, which are clear and complement the material well.
Does the book stress moments of learning, understanding, or experience? There are moments of all three in the book. "Packing for Mars" including facts about space travel, understanding of what it is like to be in space, and experiences of people who have experienced life in outer space.
Why would a reader enjoy this book (rank appeal)? 1. Tone 2. Learning and understanding 3. Characters 4. Details
Jenny's Take: I know that we don't have to write any kind of review, but I just want to highly recommend "Packing for Mars" to anybody who is interested in space travel, aerospace history, or weird facts (I know a lot about going to the bathroom in zero-g after reading this book). It's incredibly entertaining and there are so many interesting aspects to space travel that are covered in this book. It's one of the best books I've read in a long time.
