As it's been said before, 2001: A Space Odyssey is truly in an epic tale. It is both a hard sci-fi, and a peak into our future.
The book was technologically specific, logical, and simply fascinating. Although the story is slow moving at first, it begins to slowly grip your interest, and addict you to each and every word that physicist Arthur C. Clarke has written.
This book will make you think and daydream of what the future may hold for humanity. Although, there was but one mistake in Dr. Arthur C. Clarke's novel. Instead of 2001, the year should have been 2100.
So if you ever get the chance to read this book, take it! Although, in my opinion, the movie was not very good, the book will throw you into a world of science and fiction that you won't want to ever leave.

film is boring as hell

Indeed. And the only way anyone knows what's going on is if they actually read the coinciding parts in the novel. A fickle thing, but a great book.