The Maze Runner (Maze Runner, #1)

Jan 23, 2012 Izzy rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: tween boys

Shelves: ya, wanted-to-like-it

This book was recommended for fans of the Hunger Games series, a series that has become one of my favorites. I began The Maze Runner excitedly, hoping for an equally enjoyable, dystopian adventure. I didn't find it.

The plot was intriguing and kept me reading; in fact, it was probably the only reason why I kept reading. Some writers are able to seamlessly integrate characterization and good writing with a fast-moving plot; James Dashner is not one of them. The pacing is strange, and Dashner's use...more

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Jun 14, 2011 Cara rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: people who don't mind their brain getting twisted

Shelves: e-book, male-protagonist, science-fiction, series, 2011

Reading this book + No sleep= brain shock . Oh more like my brain was blown into freaking little bits. I kept thinking about it after I was done. I finished it into the late hours of the night and I kept circling in my head what was going to happen next. The point is mute but I am definitely going to read the sequel The Scorch Trials.

From the start as the reader we have NO idea what is happening. All Thomas can remember is his name. Not where he came from or any specific details of his life. Nei...more Reading this book + No sleep= brain shock . Oh more like my brain was blown into freaking little bits. I kept thinking about it after I was done. I finished it into the late hours of the night and I kept circling in my head what was going to happen next. The point is mute but I am definitely going to read the sequel The Scorch Trials.

From the start as the reader we have NO idea what is happening. All Thomas can remember is his name. Not where he came from or any specific details of his life. Neither do any of the other Gladers who he meets in the beginning of the book. The place is filled with boys whose sole purpose is to try to get out of this place by solving the maze. They haven't had any luck in two years, but that may all change with Thomas's arrival. Strange things start to happen, and people are pointing fingers at Thomas. Will he be the one to get them out, or the boy who will bring them down?

At first I was having a hard time getting into this book. Nobody wants to answer Thomas's questions, and I got just as frustrated as he did. I actually still don't completely understand why they didn't want to answer all his questions right away. The plot does pick up speed though and you get to meet Newt, Chuck, Minho, and Alby (all important characters in their own right). The world building is good because I got the creeps just thinking about the grievers, and I can feel the desperation but at the same time the camaraderie the guys have with each other. There is also a unique language setup that was a tad-bit confusing at first but you pick it up as Thomas does. The ending certainly is gonna give the series a big shakeup. I really want to see what Dashner has up his sleeve this time.

I read this because of the good reception it was getting, but also because of a display at Barnes & Nobles. They had all these books that were hugely popular within the young adult realm and I had read all of them except, you guessed it, this one. I couldn't have any of that!

Added later: Great news guys, there are making this into a movie! Here is a link to the little info that is out about the movie. Basically nothing but hopefully in the coming months that will change!(less)

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Jan 09, 2013 Wendy Darling marked it as dnf · review of another edition

Shelves: skimmed-or-unfinished, dystopian-post-apocalyptic-utopian, young-adult, read-2011, male-ya-author, male-pov

A premise full of promise, but after 150 pages, how can there still be no answers? Deliberately withholding information becomes frustrating not only for the protagonist, but for the reader as well. The fact that Thomas does not demand more answers from his fellow captives makes it difficult to sympathize with or care what happens to him. The spoilers for the book make it sound intriguing, but I can't wade through another 200 pages before it gets to the point.

Aside from a few physical difference...more

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Feb 22, 2010 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010, dystopian, ya, ala-s-best-books

At first I was a bit put out with this book. I don’t know what it is about male authors, but they can be down right infuriating. Men truly do think on a different wave length and speak another language than women. I was becoming rather frustrated with the lack of information being given, and I wasn’t sure I would be able to endure that sort of aggravation for 300 plus pages. Luckily around page 60 or so, Dashner hit his stride and I became enthralled with this story.

It’s so difficult to write a...more At first I was a bit put out with this book. I don’t know what it is about male authors, but they can be down right infuriating. Men truly do think on a different wave length and speak another language than women. I was becoming rather frustrated with the lack of information being given, and I wasn’t sure I would be able to endure that sort of aggravation for 300 plus pages. Luckily around page 60 or so, Dashner hit his stride and I became enthralled with this story.

It’s so difficult to write a review that divulges information about the plot without simultaneously giving the plot away. Dashner mastered the art of dolling out need to know information in spades while maintaining an air of mystery that keeps you immersed in the story, craving for more.

The Maze Runner begins with Thomas finding himself memory-less, surrounded by teenage boys of varying ages, in a strange place called the Glade. Thomas immediately begins asking questions, attempting to get his bearings, though answers aren’t forth coming, and the Gladers are none to helpful. Nonetheless, life doesn’t seem too shabby in the Glade. There is a homestead, crops, barns filled with livestock, the sun always shines, and various supplies appear in “the box” each week upon request. There even appears to be order within the Glade, though it is filled with nothing but testosterone fueled teenage boys. There appears to be only a handful of rules, 1. Never threaten your fellow Gladers, 2. Everyone must pull their weight, 3. No one is allowed in the Maze aside from runners, 4. No one is allowed in the Maze after dark. Though the rules are rather self-explanatory, their necessity becomes all to clear once Thomas is allowed to know what lurks behind the stone walls protecting the Glade. While no one knows how they came to arrive in the Glade, why they were sent, or who sent them, they all strive towards a common goal, solving the Maze and leaving the Glade. But once the first ever girl arrives into the Glade, a trigger is pulled, and the stakes for survival are raised.

Despite the fact that I didn’t have an emotional reaction (crying when it was clear that I was meant to), I couldn’t set this book down. I wasn’t scared for any of the characters, my heart didn’t race, but I desperately wanted to solve the freakin mystery. Luckily, there is a conclusion of sorts; however, this is clearly a series as you gain new information that tickles your intrigue before coming to a major halt. Grr. So like all the other suckers, I’m sure I’ll be reading the sequel.
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Scarlett Bacchus o'callaghan think men can't write romance or emotionally? Read any book by John Green and try to say that :P but I'm at page 94 and can see where y'all coming fro...more
Apr 23, 2013 11:04pm

Amy Whilst this review isn't sexist per se, it is rather presumptuous to say that men lack a certain quality that you like in writing, even if you are not...more
May 06, 2013 07:30am

Nov 21, 2012 Forrest rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Preamble: I apologize up front about the spoilers in this review. They are hidden, but if you don't want to know some of the spoilers, don't click on them! Fair warning!

Review: I read this at the encouragement of one of my kids, who dearly loves this book. So let me state right up front, buddy, I'm glad you loved this book. Now I'm going to express my opinion. Please remember that we're all allowed to have our opinions, even if mine is wrong.

Now, I didn't hate The Maze Runner by any means. But...more

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Jun 25, 2010 Annalisa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, speculative, sci-fi, dystopia, apocalypse, mystery-thriller

If Dashner got anything right, he delivered with the suspense. The writing can be a little dry and non-descript (maybe it's a guy thing), but once I became involved with the story, I didn't want to put it down. My problem with the book is that Dashner sometimes sacrificed the story for the suspense. It didn't always feel organic, the character choices and the plot direction, and it made me pull out of the story a little. Also, because he built up the suspense so much, the story didn't always del...more If Dashner got anything right, he delivered with the suspense. The writing can be a little dry and non-descript (maybe it's a guy thing), but once I became involved with the story, I didn't want to put it down. My problem with the book is that Dashner sometimes sacrificed the story for the suspense. It didn't always feel organic, the character choices and the plot direction, and it made me pull out of the story a little. Also, because he built up the suspense so much, the story didn't always deliver.

(view spoiler)

Dashner explains why Thomas has an easy time in the maze, but still. I would have liked more discovery from him instead of him just knowing stuff from his erased memory and that goes for the whole glade and all the people, not just the maze. It's tough to balance a plot-driven story with the slow pace of character development, and I think this story needed to be faster paced, but I would have liked a little more development, a little more showing of the other characters instead of Thomas telling us what they were like. More depth to the stereotypes and even with Thomas, a few fatal character flaws, a few catastrophic mistakes (other than going into the maze), that made me have to figure out if I liked and trusted him and fear for his life a little more. Also, the fake swears didn't ring true. Normally I love made-up words in a dystopia, but these didn't feel like made-up words so much as replacements for real swear words Dashner didn't want to use. There were a few times that it was too obvious what words they were supposed to be and that they were a straight-across replacement.

I think the story could have used a few more drafts before publication, but overall it's a solid, suspenseful story. I really liked the idea of the grievers and the maze test and WICKED: intense, unique, creative. When all my nitpicking fades, I'll remember that I liked the story.

If I'm in a good mood 3.5 stars.(less)

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Apr 12, 2011 Becky rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Readers of Awesome.

Shelves: 2011, dystopias, highly-recommended, mystery-and-thrillers, owned, reviewed, young-adult, apocalyptic-types, science-fiction, blog_osga, challenge-1010

I love mazes (and labyrinths, although they are technically something entirely different), but for some reason, when this book came out I wrote it off, thinking that it would be a sort of juvenile adventure story, and not really my thing. I didn't know anything about it, but the title just didn't call to me.

So when I finally did get around to reading it, even after many, many people have told me how great it is, I was still impressed by how awesome it is.

Oh awesomeness, let me count the ways:...more I love mazes (and labyrinths, although they are technically something entirely different), but for some reason, when this book came out I wrote it off, thinking that it would be a sort of juvenile adventure story, and not really my thing. I didn't know anything about it, but the title just didn't call to me.

So when I finally did get around to reading it, even after many, many people have told me how great it is, I was still impressed by how awesome it is.

Oh awesomeness, let me count the ways:

1) Story: Thomas, his memory wiped of any identifying clues, finds himself in a micro-community in the middle of a giant maze. The boys living in "the Glade", as they call it, aren't friendly or helpful. They are just as confused and scared and pissed off at being trapped as Thomas himself is.
They do their best to look for a way out, to survive and to keep order, but the dangers keep mounting and mounting and things are coming to a head.

I loved the feeling of helplessness and confusion and chaos in the story. From the very first page, I was drawn in, wondering what was going on, what was going to happen, whether they will find something to help them get out, whether they will live or die, how they got there and why, what new terror was around the bend... literally. This was almost non-stop to start with - learning a new life all over again, and then throw in the maze running and danger and I had to set it down just for a little break now and then.

2) Characters: I loved all of the characters in this story, even when I despised what they were doing. I believed their terror and confusion and their lack of control over the situation and themselves within it. I felt their frustration because of all of this, and the tension. I was proud of them for continuing to try.
The only character that I had a little trouble immediately connecting with was Teresa, and I think only that because she appeared so late in the book.

3) Suspense: I mentioned it above, but I have to give it its own section here, because this book was Suspense City. From the very beginning, we're on edge simply because, like our main character, we are thrust into this new situation blind. No frame of reference, no prior warning, no preparation -- but lots of hot-headed and closed-mouthed boys. And then there are the Grievers. And the Changing. And the Cliff. These things were so incredibly creepy that I was mentally kicking myself for not having read this awesomeness sooner.

4) Writing: I loved the way that this story was written, which means that I barely noticed it at all. Aside from the boys' slang words, like 'klunk' and 'shank' etc, the writing went pretty much unnoticed.
I will say also that James Dashner sure the hell knows how to make a little go a looooooong way, because even though I felt frustrated by not knowing anything about anything for, let's face it, almost the entire book, I felt that way along with the characters, not as a reader, which is a huge and vital distinction. And even now, after finishing it, I still have more questions than answers.

Luckily, the library called and The Scorch Trials is waiting for me. Then I just have to wait for October for The Death Cure. *sigh*

I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings... ;)(less)

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Mar 24, 2012 Joe rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: borrowed-library, dystopia, young-adult

You know how sometimes you're running really fast from a horrible creature and, in a moment of panic, you turn around to see how close it is only to run straight into a brick wall?

No?

I don't know what that's like either.

But that inattention to detail would probably totally screw you over because a.) now you're knocked unconscious and b.) the creature is going to devour you. Good job.

I guess this is kind of like Lot's wife looking back on Sodom only to be turned into a pillar of salt.

And it is...more

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Jun 25, 2012 Ellie (a.k.a. QE3) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

3.5

Well. There was....well, first of all, I have to get a cup of water because I have a major headache.

*Goes to get cup of water*
*Returns*

Aah. Much better.

Okay, ~~first~~ second of all, my friend recommended this book. So I requested it, and (foolish me) left it lying on the table where I do my homework, in plain sight of my parents. Oops. So THEN my dad says, at dinner:
"Oh, Ellie, by the way--I borrowed that book of yours, Runner? Or something?"
*gulps nervously* "The Maze Runner?"
"Yeah, that's it....more

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Jan 18, 2011 Jackie "the Librarian" rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sciencefiction, youngadult, thriller, dystopian

This is one of those dystopian thriller stories, where something very, very bad has happened to the world, but you don't know what. With teenagers.

Thomas regains consciousness in an elevator that deposits him in this enormous clearing being lived in by a group of teen boys. He maybe was there before, but he's not saying. (I didn't like how coy Thomas was, even with himself. In fact, I didn't much like Thomas.) Surrounding this clearing are these crazy maze walls that move around at night, and in...more

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Apr 04, 2012 Lissa & Alexa The Novel Lasses rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: young adults

Recommended to Lissa & Alexa by: Book 4 Review Club

Goodreads Synopsis

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And ev...more Goodreads Synopsis

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.

Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.

Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.

Lissa Reviews

When I was young my mother taught me, if you don’t have anything nice to say; don’t say anything at all. It still is great advice for making friends, which is why I passed it on to my daughters; however not so great when writing a review. Now there is a difference between being down right mean and constructive criticism. To be honest I’m a little unsure how this is going to come across.

James Dashner Maze Runner Series made it my way through B4R’s first three Monthly Series read. I will admit it! After I started reading half way through the first book I just had to go searching, trying to find a reason t keep reading. I was shocked to find that I couldn’t find a reason to keep it going. I was almost turned off completely when I came across the author tooting his own horn about how great his own book is. Gish! That sounded bad; don’t get me wrong every author should be proud of their work. Enough, let’s move on with the review.

I truly have no idea what to say. Had the book not been a group read I wouldn’t have finished it much less continued the series. I will admit that JD writing of the surroundings was vivid however he fell off a cliff with character development. Maze Runner read like a 379 page idea for a great story pitch.

That said I gave the book 2 stars because it was interesting! However I am hoping book 2 gets better because the ending of Maze Runner seemed promising.
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Jul 26, 2010 Morgan F rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2000s, sci-fi, young-adult, dystopian-apocalyptic, goodreads-author, own, read-2010, its-a-boy, adrenaline, series, medium-sized, amnesia, labyrinths, cooperation

Thomas wakes up in a lift with no other memory besides his first name. The lift deposits him in the Glade, a large courtyard surrounded by impossibly high stone walls. The Glade is populated by teenage boys in the same situation as him, they also have no memory. But they have made a life for themselves in this place, their only hope is trying to solve the maze that surrounds the walls. The Maze is a dangerous place, filled with terrifying half-machine/half-slug monsters that exist solely to stin...more

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Oct 20, 2011 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

“…sometimes you don’t look very hard for things you don’t believe will or can happen”

When your path in life appears to have more questions and confusion than answers, how do you keep going? How do you keep dreaming, hoping and searching when everything is so unclear, dark and hopeless? Well…welcome to life in the Glade!

The Glade is a place of unknowns. A world, with no sense of time or place in the universe, populated with teenage boys all trying to solve and get out of a maze that seems to surr...more “…sometimes you don’t look very hard for things you don’t believe will or can happen”

When your path in life appears to have more questions and confusion than answers, how do you keep going? How do you keep dreaming, hoping and searching when everything is so unclear, dark and hopeless? Well…welcome to life in the Glade!

The Glade is a place of unknowns. A world, with no sense of time or place in the universe, populated with teenage boys all trying to solve and get out of a maze that seems to surround them. To add to the fun, no one appears to have any memory of their old lives or details about themselves—just their names. Then throw in a danger-around-every-corner vibe with half slug/half machine beasts set to hunt and rip you to shreds in the mix! It’s one hell of a world!

The Maze Runner is a brilliant blend of adventure, mystery, and inspiration. A brilliantly designed story that makes the readers feel just as trapped and confined in the maze as the characters. The first half of the book really provides no answers for the readers—more twists and turns than you can possibly handle! Just like the boys in the maze! Even with no answers, the boys keep going, searching for a way out, working together and surviving. They hold on to hope. So as a reader, you really have to do the same thing. Keep reading and searching. You will not regret it. James Dashner has crafted one powerful puzzle to run through your head!

The boys were the beating heart of the story for me. Thomas, Alby, Newt, Minho, Chuck, and all the Gladers formed this tight-knit society with order and warmth all to survive the everyday fear of not knowing why they are there or how to get out. They even created their own swear words, which I appreciated and loved actually. I mean come on—a bunch of teenage boys together are going to swear. Just a bit. ;) Hell I can swear like a truck driver! I just love the fact Dashner found a way for it to happen without actually swearing. It made the story feel very real to me. The camaraderie and eventual trust and caring the boys built was fun to watch develop and be a part of. I look forward to further adventures with this bunch! They made me smile.

With the smiles came hope! Hope is what I truly took to heart from this tale. The story is infused with it. Every page just urges the boys and the readers to keep hoping. Hold on to it. Keep fighting. Keep looking. Keep dreaming.

“Can’t take a chance that one day, in one spot, somewhere, an exit might appear. We can’t give up. Ever.”

I can’t wait for the next book!

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Mar 24, 2012 Sparrow rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of the ending of LOST

Shelves: punching-tour, slaves, utopia-dystopia, young-adult, reviewed, audio, monsters

Q: if you could edit this book, what would you take out?
A: the words.

. . .

Have you ever had an eight-year-old kid try to describe to you winning a level of a video game? Have you ever had a middle-aged man try to describe to you completing the games section of the New York Times? Did those experiences involve multiple conversations like this:

“What is the maze?”
“Stop asking so many questions!”

I have to say that this book was more boring than having someone tell you in painful detail about winnin...more

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Jul 01, 2012 Mike (the Paladin) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, ya-fantasy

This is another book where I think the only thing I can do is go with a 3 star rating. There are good things about this book but there are also some huge drawbacks. At times I thought this was going to be a four star read. At other times I considered setting it aside.

The book opens with Thomas arriving in "the Glade" riding in what the other boys in the Glade (the Gladers) call "the Box". From the description it sounds like some kind of elevator, possibly a freight elevator. Thomas has no memory...more

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Mar 09, 2012 Monica! rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: buckets-of-snark, but-wait-theres-more, goodreads-made-me-do-it, hark-a-questing-beast, i-love-you-for-your-cover, it-was-earth-all-along, meh, manly-man-man-man, read-in-2012, robots-and-rockets-and-scifi-oh-my, ust-ftw, romtopian

I’m sorry, Maze Runner, because I know you have a fairly rabid fan base, but I… did not like you.

::: ducks flying objects thrown by vengeful Maze Runner addicts :::

Seriously? This was one of the flattest, most blah books I have read in a long while, and although in its defense I might have had my expectations set too high based on word of mouth, overall I was unmoved, unchallenged, and unimpressed.

Partly, while I thought the descriptions of the maze and the Grievers were awesome, the plot lacked...more

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May 09, 2013 Inge rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: im-from-da-futuuure, dystopian, young-adult, want-to-marry-this-book, suspense, main-character-is-cool, all-time-favourites

EDIT 09/05/2013

Holy crap, that looks perfect.

--

I am way better at writing reviews for books I hated, but I’m gonna give it a go anyway.

--

Okay. Breathe, Inge, breathe.

Oh, this is gooooood.

The Maze Runner was like a breath of fresh air to me. I needed a nice, clean cut from the typical YA books filled with whiny protagonists, insta-love and love triangles, and I got exactly what I asked for. This book is like a giant puzzle that you solve along with the characters. It is filled with unexpected t...more

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Mar 18, 2010 Tatiana rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: those who look for a mediocre sci-fi/dystopia kind of read

Recommended to Tatiana by: Heather

Shelves: 2010, why-the-hype, ya, dystopias-post-apocalyptic, series-dropped-lost-steam, ala-ya-2011

This book would have been great IF:

1) the characters had some personality

2) the main character - Thomas - weren't such a Gary Stu and showed some character development and growth instead of conveniently "remembering" important information to advance the plot

3) the book weren't filled with atrocious made-up slang - "shuck-face," really, is this supposed to be cool?

4) the villains - Grievers - were actually scary or dangerous

5) the maze had some kind of mystery about it and not limited to moving w...more

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Jun 06, 2011 Kyle Monda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I enjoyed most of this book. Seriously, I did. The concept is smart, the writing style is pleasant to read and the characters are fairly detailed. But, there were quite a few issues that were sometimes hard to look past.

Firstly, the beginning was TERRIBLE. I was SO close to giving up on it, because at first it seemed like a clone of Lord of the Flies, and I hated all the characters. But, it managed to pick itself up around 18% through and started to become enjoyable.

I think what made the beginn...more I enjoyed most of this book. Seriously, I did. The concept is smart, the writing style is pleasant to read and the characters are fairly detailed. But, there were quite a few issues that were sometimes hard to look past.

Firstly, the beginning was TERRIBLE. I was SO close to giving up on it, because at first it seemed like a clone of Lord of the Flies, and I hated all the characters. But, it managed to pick itself up around 18% through and started to become enjoyable.

I think what made the beginning so painful was the slang. Since authors aren't allowed to publish swear words, (that is another rant which would probably make this review too long to post), the author had to use slang, like klunk, greenie, shuck, and all sorts of other words which made the begging as hard to read as trying to chop down a tree with a spoon. Once you get used to the slang, it’s fine, but the author used it WAY more in the first few chapters then the rest of the book, which seems backwards. Seriously, some of the sentences were, “You’re the klunk, shuck-face.” and, “He's a klunk, so he’ll be a Slopper,”. From what I can tell, klunk is used interchangeably as sh*t , fu*k, and cr*p, while shuck seems to mean idiot. While slang is understandable, especially in a closed community such as the glade, it would be nice if the author didn’t seem to lean on them so heavily in the first few chapters. Also, how is “greenie” related to being the newest person? And what is a shuck? If you’re going to invent slang, it should be justified, like klunk was (Which, in case you’re wondering, is the sound poop makes when it hits the pot).

Now, on to the middle. The middle section of the book was intriguing. Out of everything this book has, the plot is the best thing it has going for it. It manages to keep you interested. Once I was around half way, I finished the book in half the time it took me to read the first half.

However, there were quite a few things that drove me CRAZY. The characters are all very, very stereotypical. Thomas, the main character, is your stock nice guy. Newt is your basic “reluctant guy who’s in charge”. Gally is your classic evil villain who is completely despicable in every way and is trying to fire up a mutiny. Alby never really does much. And Chuck, oh, Chuck. Chuck is Piggy from Lord of the Flies, except not universally hated. There is nothing remotely original about the character of Chuck, chances are you’ve read (or watched) about him many, many times in your life. He’s the classic irritating but likeable fat kid that is desperate and clingy to be “cool”. For this reason, I never remotely liked Chuck, I saw him as something you had to read through to get to the good parts of the book. Another thing that really irritated me is that all the characters have perfect bodies. All the guys (except Chuck) are tall, muscular (we are always told exactly which muscles are bulging [This author really has a thing for the word bulge]), have amazing stamina, and everything else wonderful. For some reason, this author also likes to mention veins quite frequently (13 times to be exact), and always seems to describe when veins are bulging or when arms are veiny, or basically anything else. I was half expecting him to throw in, “As Minho lifted the bread to his mouth, the veins pulsed in his hands.” We are also constantly reminded of how oh so breathtakingly beautiful the girl, Teresa, is, with her amazing blue eyes and her amazing perfect lips and her absolutely amazing complexion and how everything is just so so amazing about every little inch of her body.

It seems that for every fantastic plot twist this book offered, it had to throw in one, completely cliché piece. Seriously, it’s like the author went on TV Tropes and decided to cram in as many tropes as possible. After all the intrigue of the maze and the code words, was the best he could come up with is A FREAKING COMPUTER TO TYPE THEM INTO? Seriously, there were so many places you could go with that, but no, let’s just stick with the oh, so magical computer. But that was ok; I managed to make it past that failure with minimal pain, to the final scene where they were standing in the room by the wall of the creators. Ok, cool, a little nonsensical, but cool. (Why would the creators all stand behind a glass wall just watching them? Why not just have cameras?) But then, Gally (who we just had to hate a little more, because he just wasn’t quite evil enough) was hypnotized into throwing a knife at Thomas. To make this scene worse, the author described it in SLOW MOTION. I’m not joking. It was actually written in slow motion. Chuck, diving through the air, knife spinning, hitting Chuck who then fell to the floor. It was so cliché I actually let out a small yell of rage. You knew Chuck was going to die, it’s part of his character, so it wasn’t really a surprise. But, to make an already cliché death worse, he had to save Thomas from a slow motion knife. That completely ruined the ending for me, leaving what can only be described as a sour after taste for the rest of the book. Then, a bunch of random rebels popped in, shot the place up, hauled the Gladers into a bus and took them to dorms where they ate pizza and then slept. Then, in the ending that tried desperately hard to be shocking (it was even written in evil internal memo style), the rebels turned out to all part of the experiment. This ending wasn’t shocking for many reasons. You knew the rebels weren’t what they seemed from the start, for a few very obvious reasons.

1. These WICKED people seem pretty loaded with cash. Wouldn’t they have some sort of security system? Or at least bullet proof glass.
2. As the rebels were driving away, the drove over and killed an old woman. No nice people would do that.
3. They didn’t really get much of an explanation, other then, “Oh, we just want to get to the Alps (or some mountain range, at that point in the book I didn’t really care) because we want to save children.” When really, what the WICKED people were doing is trying to solve the uber plague, which I’m pretty sure benefits everyone.

There are plenty of other reasons, but I’ll leave it up to you to think about it.

I know, that review seems scathing, but I found the book very enjoyable if you manage to look past it’s occasional painful clichés and tough beginning. I’ll probably read the second book, and hope that it doesn’t mention veins quite so often.
(less)

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Oct 17, 2012 Nessa rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: review, fiction

Hello, dear readers of mine. Today I'm going to talk about a book I didn't really like: The Maze Runner by James Dashner.

It sounded so good from the blurb as well. Well, once you peel your eyes away from the obligatory 'If you loved The Hunger Games you'll love this!' sticker that publishers and booksellers seem to love slapping all over the covers of YA novels with a vaguely dystopian setting, that is.

The premise is that a young boy named Thomas finds himself deposited into a giant maze. It isn...more Hello, dear readers of mine. Today I'm going to talk about a book I didn't really like: The Maze Runner by James Dashner.

It sounded so good from the blurb as well. Well, once you peel your eyes away from the obligatory 'If you loved The Hunger Games you'll love this!' sticker that publishers and booksellers seem to love slapping all over the covers of YA novels with a vaguely dystopian setting, that is.

The premise is that a young boy named Thomas finds himself deposited into a giant maze. It isn't just any old maze, though. There's a 'safe zone' in the centre, and he's not alone, finding himself in the company of several other boys who've been put into this little rat-run. They've cleverly organised themselves into a microcosm of a normal society, but every day, these four walls pull away from them, and into a different pattern. To investigate this phenomenon, and maybe find a way of getting out, the boys nominate the fastest runners to draw maps and analyse the patterns day by day. The only catch? They have to make it back to the central safe zone by evening. If they lose their way at any time, they're trapped in a labyrinth with their very own proverbial minotaurs: giant mechanical slugs known as Grievers.

'Oh come on,' you say. 'Theseus had a violent half-man half-bull to contend with. What harm could a giant mechanical slug do to strapping young lads trapped in a maze?'

My answer? A heck of a lot. The Grievers may not seem like much of a threat, but they move almost unbelievably fast, can manoeuvre through the trickier corners of the maze, and even climb up walls. They also seem to be nocturnal, so ending up outside of the safe zone after dark equals a guaranteed death.

Yet oddly enough, Thomas feels in his heart that he is destined to be a Runner. And the next mystery comes in the form of a girl. Yup, a girl's been deposited into this arena for the first time in ever, and... she basically does nothing for most of the book. She lays in the hospital bed whilst Thomas occasionally remembers something important to the plot, risks his life, or tries to convince the other boys that this memory he conveniently just remembered is vital to helping them escape.

...Yeah, that's the main problem with this book. Thomas is supposed to be special, but he's just so boring, he's almost jumping up and down to clamour for the reader's attention. I much preferred the other male characters, Minho, Alby, Chuck, etcetera.

Oh well. Almost all YA characters have a main character who appears to be unassuming but ends up being special, right? So, okay, Thomas wants to be a Runner. To accomplish this, he runs into the maze before the four walls around the Glade shut for the night, and ends up successfully rescuing one of his comrades. He also discovers that the Grievers actually inject poison into their victims which causes them to go into an extremely painful coma while they get a load of their memories back. So everyone adulates Thomas, then Teresa wakes up and says something, then falls back into a stupor again. Then Thomas comes up with another hare-brained idea (getting forcibly injected with the Grievers' serum), and then everyone doubts him, then Teresa says something cryptic again, then Thomas works out the final plan...

The ending kind of saves this book, but while I'm interested in checking out the sequels, I really don't want to be as bored as I was reading this book. The story is boring and dully-written, I couldn't sympathise with the main character, and the narrative trundles along with all these awfully-convenient twists and turns. Admittedly it is cool that the boys make their own society, are forced to grow up really fast, and Dashner occasionally captures the right sense of peril whenever the boys are faced with Grievers. It's a shame this pulse-pounding writing style just wasn't used to full effect with the rest of the book. 2.5/5.

(This review is also available on my blog: http://book-wyrm.blogspot.co.uk/2012/...)(less)

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Mar 17, 2012 Deidre rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: didn-t-live-up-to-hype

I didn't hate this book.

That being said, I didn't love it either.

Main complaint: The characterization. Or total lack thereof, I should say. Dashner's characters are all flat, two-dimensional people that are impossible to empathize with. Thomas' character is supposed to be this bold, smart, and honorable individual, willing to selflessly make sacrifices for people he doesn't know, which should make him pretty likeable. I honestly didn't like him much. Well, to be more fair, I didn't feel much of...more I didn't hate this book.

That being said, I didn't love it either.

Main complaint: The characterization. Or total lack thereof, I should say. Dashner's characters are all flat, two-dimensional people that are impossible to empathize with. Thomas' character is supposed to be this bold, smart, and honorable individual, willing to selflessly make sacrifices for people he doesn't know, which should make him pretty likeable. I honestly didn't like him much. Well, to be more fair, I didn't feel much of anything for him, or any of the other characters. Alby and Newt were two that I mixed up a lot, and they didn't have any defining characteristics that set them apart and let them stand on their own. Minho was Asian, with big biceps.

Actually, most of the boys there had big biceps, so that wasn't a singularly defining characteristic of any character, now that I think about it. But basic body features seemed to be the extent of character development that happened throughout the book, and it was SERIOUSLY disappointing. Maybe I'm picky, but I like to care when characters die, and I like them to have some sort of intrinsic value. I wouldn't have cared if any of the main characters in "The Maze Runner" had died. Hell, I didn't even care when some actually DID die, to be honest.

Also, Dashner did not do a great job of writing in the direct threat to the Gladers, i.e., the Grievers. I couldn't get an accurate picture in my head of what exactly they looked like, and as a result, they weren't that menacing or dread-inducing to me. The descriptions of Thomas running from them in the maze weren't that scary. Even the descriptions later in the book of the battles between the Grievers and the Gladers, which were supposed to be big, epic, stomach-churning events, didn't elicit much excitement. (I actually skimmed through a lot of that, to be honest, just to get to the end faster.) I didn't feel any sort of scary connection with that "villain" at all, and was rather disappointed, because it left a lot to be desired in terms of the tension surrounding the fears about the Maze.

I also really disliked the random word usage that Dashner decided to invent. Seriously, Mr. Dashner, you are not writing "A Clockwork Orange"; you do not need to invent random, awkward slang terms for the Gladers to throw around like cuss words, because it either makes you look like you're trying to be TOO inventive, or you're just putting in words other than four-letter ones to try and keep the book appropriate to the age group for which you're writing. Whichever reason, I don't like starting a book and feeling like I have to think around the awkward slang terms and the unknowns presented. It just makes reading harder, and much more obnoxious. Totally unnecessary.

Now, what the author IS good at writing in is suspense based on surroundings. The entire premise of the Maze being a concoction of some unknown "Creators" who are just toying with the teenagers is a different, and very intriguing one. The Maze itself as written is a forbidding place in its own right, simply based on the idea of an inescapable, stone structure that is controlled by outside forces, and leaves those inside powerless. It lends to a very tangible sense of urgency, and the entire book follows that sense of urgency, using the surroundings and events (like the sky, the Box, the "Griever's Hole", etc.) to keep up a very good pace.

While the characters being much more developed would have made all of that AWESOMELY amazing (I really wish this idea had been thought up by someone who was much more skilled at developing character depth), the idea is a great one, and can stand alone on sheer entertainment value. The ONLY reason I'm moving on to the next book is to see what happens with the plot, actually, which says a lot, because I normally detest stories with weak characters, and won't continue reading a book without good characterization. I suppose there's an exception for everything in life at least once, though. (less)

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Feb 05, 2011 Emily May rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-na, dystopia-utopia, sci-fi, 2011

Well, let's just say I will be checking Amazon every day waiting for part 2 to be released. This is one of those books that leaves you desperate for more, gives you just enough so you're never bored but always manages to maintain mystery and tension. I found myself deeply attached to the wonderful array of characters and wanted more than anything that they would all make it out of the maze alive. I was pleasantly surprised by the development of Chuck's character; at first I imagined he would sim...more

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Feb 21, 2011 Milly rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, dystopia

(Audible Review)

My two cents:

I was not impressed upon reading this book. Perhaps it was a different experience altogether having to hear the audible version rather than reading the book itself. Perhaps the flaws of the book stood out more when heard rather than when read. That or the narrator of the book was simply a poor reader and just didn't do a good job narrating. Though, I'm quite sure it's the former rather than the latter that I found this book's prose juvenile and unsophisticated. I fou...more

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Mar 10, 2012 Erin rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: action-packed, dystopia, little-romance

2.5 stars.

So let's be honest here... it took me ages upon ages to read the first 70 or so pages. And the entire time, I was feeling pretty sure that I would be giving this sucker one lonely star.

What changed? Well, the action picked up. Minho (bless him) was introduced. Thomas stopped being such a whiny baby all the time. The writing itself wasn't that great, but it wasn't bad. I placed it right between "it was okay" and "I liked it" because, while it was an easy read with some fun characters,...more

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Mar 05, 2013 Marla rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopia, mystery, young-adult, award-winner, adventure, series, boys, 2013-team-challenge-wild-blue-d, 2013, middle-school, challenged, horror, overrated, back-to-back

3.5 stars. Reading a book with so many questions and so few answers was frustrating at times. It was also very slow and confusing in the beginning and I didn't feel like I got to know most of the boys (except for Chuck) and Teresa well enough to care about them. But it has promise, so I will have to read the sequel and see if I like it better.

This book should have made me cry, but didn't, so I rated it 3 stars instead of 4 stars.

Likes:
* Thomas being the Greenie was confusing but intriguing
* Chuc...more

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Nov 01, 2012 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

To compare this story to a roller coaster ride would be inaccurate, since that implies a hill that must be climbed to reach the fast-paced parts. No, instead I would probably compare The Maze Runner to one of those fancy sports cars. You know the ones. 0 to 60 miles an hour in a matter of seconds? Strap yourself in my friends, this is a wild ride!

Anyone who has been reading my reviews for a decent amount of time knows that I want to love the characters I read about. If I'm to be invested in a st...more To compare this story to a roller coaster ride would be inaccurate, since that implies a hill that must be climbed to reach the fast-paced parts. No, instead I would probably compare The Maze Runner to one of those fancy sports cars. You know the ones. 0 to 60 miles an hour in a matter of seconds? Strap yourself in my friends, this is a wild ride!

Anyone who has been reading my reviews for a decent amount of time knows that I want to love the characters I read about. If I'm to be invested in a story, those characters have to speak to me and make me a part of their struggle. It seems to me that James Dashner knew this when he was writing. Thomas and the other Gladers were written so well, that they literally became a part of my life in a matter of pages. I loved how different they all were! From the opinionated and gruff Alby, all the way down to sweet and innocent Chuck. They made me feel like I was a part of their world, and I had no problem getting into the story.

The Maze actually becomes its own entity in this story, and it is almost as though the walls are breathing. Since the reader is unable to see those who are actually behind the boys being trapped, it is the Maze itself that becomes the enemy. There were portions of this story that had me cringing! What crawls and writhes within the walls is literally terrifying, and I was on the edge of my seat as I read.

To those out there who might know picky readers, The Maze Runner is sure to be a hit. The writing is beautiful and descriptive, the characters are easy to connect to, and the story line is fast-paced. I will admit that there is a bit of violence. I think that is to be expected in a dystopian novel such as this. However I don't think that it is anything most older readers would take issue with. It simply shows the lengths that the boys must go to in order to survive.

If you haven't yet read this, run to your library and pick it up! The Scorch Trials, the second book in the series, is nearing release and you won't want to fall behind.(less)

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Jan 01, 2011 Hannah rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010-reads, ya

Let me first confess that I don't read alot of dystopian YA fiction (more like almost nil), so my rating and my review of this book is certainly not anchored in any real appreciation or understanding for this genre. The only other series I can compare The Maze Runner with is The Hunger Games, and this is definitely no Hunger Games IMO. I think I was very lucky to be recommended The Hunger Games, as that series seems to set a high standard in the dystopian genre, and one that even neophyte reader...more Let me first confess that I don't read alot of dystopian YA fiction (more like almost nil), so my rating and my review of this book is certainly not anchored in any real appreciation or understanding for this genre. The only other series I can compare The Maze Runner with is The Hunger Games, and this is definitely no Hunger Games IMO. I think I was very lucky to be recommended The Hunger Games, as that series seems to set a high standard in the dystopian genre, and one that even neophyte readers like myself can enjoy.

Anyway, The Maze Runner starts off pretty interesting, and kept me off balance and eager to understand the plight of Thomas and all the other Gladers. I thought Dashner pulled off the feeling of being disoriented and memory deprived very well, and I liked that I felt the same sort of feelings that Thomas experienced coming out of the box. In addition, the concept of the maze was freaky and well executed, IMO. I enjoyed learning about the Runners and how they were attempting to solve the riddle of the maze, and the addition of the creepy Grievers provided a chilling touch.

However, by 3/4 of the way into the book, I fast became disinterested in the story, and no longer cared what happened to Thomas or the riddle of the maze. Thomas never became a fully realized character to me. He was too damn conveniently placed in the story as the ultimate solver of all the maze's mysteries. Come on, the guy is only in the Glade for a week or so, and he figures out virtually EVERYTHING that is mysterious, unsolvable or complex in the story. Yes, yes, I know Dashner attempted to explain why Thomas could do that, but I'm just not a fan of the Mary Sue/Gary Stu race, of which Thomas is a proud descendant. Personally, I enjoy my heros with plenty of flaws who manage to succeed by struggle and perserverence, not because they are gifted by the author with all the tools they will need to complete the task virtually risk free.

The ending was, frankly, lame and lackluster and didn't seem to "fit" with the thread of the plotline that came before it.

Dashner has 2 other books in the trilogy, but I won't be reading them. I just don't care enough to find out what happens to Thomas the super hero...(less)

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Nov 20, 2009 Camille rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Good night, this was so...
It was amazing. So intense, I was gripping the book, excited to find out how it ended. I read this in one day, not even that. I started it around 4:00 pm, and finished around 7:00 pm. Oh man! It was great! This book had everything, there was mystery, suspense, horror, a little humor. I felt this book was far too short, I wanted more, and I'm very happy this is a series, cause I want more. That is a first, well second, my wanting a book to be a series.
Well written, I lo...more Good night, this was so...
It was amazing. So intense, I was gripping the book, excited to find out how it ended. I read this in one day, not even that. I started it around 4:00 pm, and finished around 7:00 pm. Oh man! It was great! This book had everything, there was mystery, suspense, horror, a little humor. I felt this book was far too short, I wanted more, and I'm very happy this is a series, cause I want more. That is a first, well second, my wanting a book to be a series.
Well written, I loved the puzzles, but I figured out some of them, but not enough to make me bored. I love books that do that!!!! It kept me very entertain, all three hours.
The maze, i would just not live there, wow I know they didn't have a choice, but i would not stay, i don't blame them for trying to get out. But the maze is just, I can't believe that it was created, it's cruel.
I loved the part when he gets locked out for the night. AH!!!! I was gripping the book! And the monsters, and the walls, with the writing. Ehh!! I still shudder as I think about it. I'm just as shocked as the characters that he survived the night, with someone that was hurt!!!!

Alright, I am going to read this book again when it comes out, cause it was like really good!

Ok, now I'm going to add my problems with this book, apart from it being too short.
I thought that he should have put more monsters. I don't like that sort of thing, but I was hoping there were more than just that one type. I was a little disappointed when there weren't other monsters. Also, what the crap were the monsters? They were like freaky! I mean don't get me wrong, they were amazing and crazy and just freaked me out like none other, and made my skin crawl. Also it was difficult to get a picture of the Grievers. he gives a very detailed description, don't get me wrong, but I just can't get a firm picture on them.
I was a little confused about why there were Maze Runners, maybe that just because I read it so fast.
I'm a little worried about his relationship with the girl. I'm worried that Dashner will make them relatives or something like that. Then it would be very odd, but whatever the Author can do what he wants.

This would also make a very good movie.

There is a theory that my dear mother came up with, everyone read this book so we can run it past you!(less)

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May 27, 2012 Karla rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, science-fiction, ya, 2010

What a dizzying, creepy, trippy maze! Once I accepted the lingo of the Gladers I really enjoyed this intense fury of a journey. It really bought back memories for me of Lord of the Flies (The whole pecking order of authority). This story really grabbed me after Thomas met up with his first griver then at each turn of this riddling maze I just had this icy hesitation. Each chapter grew into a crescendo that made it the ultimate page turner. It really kept me guessing and made me very anxious to r...more

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Nov 08, 2012 Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

I finally knocked my rating down on this book from a 4 to a 3. The Maze Runner will always hold a special place in my heart for being one of the first dystopia books I read and enjoyed, but I've read other, similar books in this genre since then that I've liked better.

Once I got past all of the hokey slang words this ended up being a fun adventure. There's something about mazes which has always intrigued me, so I knew I was going to have to read this book the first time I saw it.

Still haven't r...more

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