Humor and Botany for survival

8. How is Mark's sense of humor as much a survival skill as his knowledge of botany? Do you have a favorite funny line of his?

           Mark’s sense of humor definitely got me interested in the book, because I have never laughed while reading a book before and I have never finished an English book in 3 days. His sense of sarcastic humor sounded funny in the movie, but even funnier in the book. Now, I understand why Anna recommended me to finish the book!

            “Disco. God damn it, Lewis” He constantly complains about Commander Lewis’s disco music and the crappy 70s TV shows. The book made it sound like he is turning the music on and the TV on just to have some feeling of a companion while he is alone, because it would feel worse if he had to stay in a hab where there is no noise except the sound of oxygenator and water reclaimer.  

           “Over the past few days, I’ve been happily making water. It’s been going swimmingly.” He emphasizes the word “swimmingly” and how he used it to describe his water creation (pun intended). Mark was trying to create water by burning hydrazine to water his potato plants. However, he has created an atmosphere where there was 64% hydrogen in the air. He then quickly hid in his Rover 2 describing the hab as a Hydrogenville and he would have experienced his own version of Hindenburg. I thought this was funny because even in a life-threatening situation, he managed to describe the situation in a sarcastic, humorous manner.

          “My asshole is doing as much to keep me alive as my brain.” When I read this sentence, I literally laughed so hard. This sentence was describing the situation when he had to use the crew’s feces, soil he brought from earth, the Martian soil, and his feces as he produces daily. It was impressive that he even brought earth soil to his expedition on Mars. He got to use it unexpectedly in a survival situation that will make him last until the crew picks him up.

          I will end the post with a funny but inappropriate line where he and JPL staff was communicating. [11:49] JPL: What we can see of your planned cut looks good. We’re assuming the other side is identical. You’re cleared to start drilling. [12:07] Watney: That’s what she said. [12:25] JPL: Seriously, Mark? Seriously? I feel guilty that I will be 20 years old in a month but still find this funny.