I don’t listen to books—I’ve only ever successfully listened to one audiobook. And no it’s not because I’m some elitist English major; I simply do not possess the neurological capability to focus on an audiobook. When I’m sitting by myself, usually in the car, I am constantly thinking about awkward interactions, future arguments, or garden planning.
Which is why I’m shocked to report that I’m over halfway through listening to Frank Herbert’s Dune. I had a long, solo road trip recently, and I thought I’d give an audiobook another chance and listen to something that’s been sitting on my shelf for close to four years. Plus, this will allow me to finally see the movies (no movies before books for this girl). A win-win. Anyway, here are my honest thoughts so far. I tried to limit spoilers, but a few allusions slipped through! Reader beware—or don’t. I barely even know what’s going on.
For context, I am a fantasy/sci-fi reader through and through. Some of my favorites include the Red Rising trilogy, The Poppy War trilogy, Broken Earth trilogy, A Song of Fire and Ice, and, of course, The Lord of the Rings trilogy. I think I’ll love Dune, but that didn’t stop me from having some thoughts.
1. Why the beep are some chapters narrated solely by Scott Brick and others voiced by an entire cast? I would really prefer they commit to one or the other. (Upon further research—on Reddit, lol—it’s because the full-cast version was first completed for the abridged book, so once the full book was recorded they had Brick just read the remaining chapters which is like fifty percent of the book. Which raises an even bigger question for me: why does Dune even HAVE an abridged version? You can apparently skip half of this book and still get the gist???)
2. We’ve got names, planets and people groups like: Atreides, Caladan, Arrakis, Harkonnen, Padishah Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV, Latos (this list could go on and on) yet the main characters’ names are…Paul and Jessica?
3. One major plus of listening to an audiobook is I actually know how to pronounce all terminology.
4. Gurney Halleck, Thufir Hawat, and Duncan Idaho all feel like the same vague man. At what point will I be able to definitively tell you who is who and why they matter?
5. Dr. Yueh, I know I should hate you but I actually find you deeply sympathetic.
6. When will Zendaya’s character enter stage right???
7. Eleven out of twenty-one hours in and I’m now understanding why there’s an abridged version. Would I ever read the abridged version? No. But I get why it exists.
8. Is the spice more like cinnamon or cocaine..? I’m getting the vibe it’s a mix of both.
9. I cannot wait to see the visual adaptation of Baron Harkonnen. I can only assume he was the inspiration for Jabba the Hutt.
10. I wish I was a Bene Gesserit witch.
Eleven hours in, you would think I’d have more to say. I’m going to be honest, the first half moves a little slow. But it has to! Herbert is building an entire political, religious, ecological, space-feud epic from scratch. I trust Herbert enough to assume all of this will emotionally devastate me later. Anyway, I’ll report back once Zendaya arrives.
Julia is a 2018 graduate and studied English literature and business marketing during her time at Calvin. A Chicagoland native, she now resides in Grand Rapids, MI and works as a brand and marketing officer. She spends her free time reading fantasy novels, sweating in her gym’s sauna, renovating her almost 100-year-old house, and crafting according to her current creative fixation.
