The Maze Runner (The Maze Runner, #1) in Buddy Read Zone

May 12, 2011 Duchess Nicole rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2012, library, z-audiobooks, e-pcs, genre-ya-dystopian

I love this genre! I don't know why, and I feel a bit sick, but I love the idea behind the tragedy of these post-apocalyptic crazies throwing their kids into impossible situations. There is an honesty to children that is refreshing. The older they get, of course, the more jaded they become and the more prevalent mental mind games are. But because the teens are still children, there is this feeling of realism to The Maze Runner. Their fear and heartache just grips my head and my heart and shreds I love this genre! I don't know why, and I feel a bit sick, but I love the idea behind the tragedy of these post-apocalyptic crazies throwing their kids into impossible situations. There is an honesty to children that is refreshing. The older they get, of course, the more jaded they become and the more prevalent mental mind games are. But because the teens are still children, there is this feeling of realism to The Maze Runner. Their fear and heartache just grips my head and my heart and shreds me. But how I root for these characters, like none other!!!

I'm not going to reiterate the plot...read the blurb. What I want to say is how amazingly this author makes me visualize his world. The little community that these boys have put together, and the maze....oooooh, the MAZE! How freaky that place is!! Check out the cover....it matches my own images perfectly. I went so far as to Google pictures from the book, from fans and artists who have put their own images down to share with fangirls like me. Now, I don't normally put pictures in my reviews, but I do want to share some of the astounding depictions of the maze. Some is fan art, some not.

I may be living in a hole, but I didn't even realize that they would make a movie out of this until I started getting so excited about loving it so much, and now I'm so very stoked!

I love how the book ended...yes, it's a cliffhanger. But the story of the Maze Runner ENDED. This portion of Thomas' story is over. So while there is an allusion to more things to come for those who survived the maze, it's not at all a rip your hair out kind of ending.

One thing that did bother me about this book was how no one would answer any of Thomas' questions. Even simple questions, they would gloss over, or condescend to tell him how he needed to stop being so inquisitive. What?! The guy just got dropped off in the middle of some lone community of boys, had his entire memory swiped clean, and left to fend for himself in a world gone crazy, but he's not supposed to have questions? And why would you NOT tell him the answers to the ones that you know? There was just no reason for it. It just seemed like a ploy to keep the reader interested, when I was already crazy gung-ho to continue.

Overall, I was very much surprised at how much I loved this. Nearly all of the characters are boys. Some of the things they do to each other are brutal in a Lord of the Flies kind of way. I'm anxious to get to the rest of the series as well, but for now I'm content with the ending. Thomas is such a great character...compassionate and helpful and strong. He's a boy on the cusp of manhood, and having his morals and truths tested. Well, he passed all of my tests! While he has no memories, he still retains his innate goodness, a sense of right and wrong. He gains some friends that everyone should have...those willing to give their life for yours. The bonds made in this horrible situation are amazing...and that makes the betrayals even worse.

This is a book to garner strong emotions, and I'm sure that getting to know the characters even better in upcoming books will only solidify that feeling for me. I highly recommend this!

...more

21 likes · Like · see review

Aug 22, 2012 Ms. Nikki rated it liked it

Shelves: a-dark-read, fantasy, teen-ya, own-it-pb-or-hc, freebies-on-sale-great-deal

50% Off @ BN
What a "klunking" ending. One of the better ones out there. I love (being sarcastic) how the author incorporated slang words that are actually cuss-words into the book. (Parents. Pay attention to what your children read) Yeah. there are worse thing on television, but it's still not cool. Especially when they are saying them on every page.
Anyhoo, the main character, Thomas, was sent to this place/compound called The Glade, with no memory of who he is, where children (they can't remem ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Jan 12, 2014 ✟Roxanne✟(Death by Book Avalanche) ☠ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 5-star-rating, own, ng-paperback, ng-novel, thriller-suspense, 2014-reading-challenge

This book was fantastic! So many twists and turns and its amazing fast pace had me gripped from the very first page.

4 likes · Like · see review

Jul 31, 2019 Megan rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: behind-enemy-lines, new-to-me-authors-2019, read-in-2019, july-2019

The was confusing at the start, what with all the alternate curse words and not understanding where they really were or why. I didn't particularly care that much for Thomas, he was a bit annoying and pushing to do things his way so quickly. The fact that a lot of the time that worked out better was disappointing, though it did show how you sometimes need a new perspective to solve things. (view spoiler) ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Apr 12, 2011 Dana ****Reads Alot**** rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-read-in-2011

The book itself was very entertaining, to a degree.I found Thomas repeating himself through out the book and in some ways it was very annoying.I would of gladly chucked him over the cliff a few times myself. The book was a page turner and a fascinating and towards the end it all just comes together and you completely understand it all. Would be very interesting to be a movie.

2 likes · Like · see review

Jun 19, 2011 Amber M rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: amber-s-epub-list, series-trilogy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Like · see review

Jul 17, 2013 Dan rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2016

Boring. Poor character development.

Started out okay, albeit a bit dull, but it died for me after getting halfway and still not getting answers. Frustrating.

Silly slang.

'You're the shuckiest shuck-faced shuck there ever was.'

And protagonist is just so annoying.

Don't think I'll continue reading the sequels. ...more

Like · see review

May 10, 2014 Laura rated it really liked it

Really enjoyed this one despite taking me forever to read!!

Like · see review

Sep 22, 2012 BookCupid rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, dystopia

Whoa, I haven't been addicted to a book like that in a while. Thomas was brave, smart and inspiring. Definitely made to break through the maze. Can't wait to read the next book. ...more

Like · see review