YA/Genre Group Read (Mar 2014) - The Maze Runner by James Dashner

[Holly, That Geeky One]

As the YA and Genre Group Reads are combined this month, we'll be doing 2 books. The second is The Maze Runner by James Dashner. This the thread to discuss it!

I know a few people have been interested in this. I can't wait to see some of the discussions!

[Roseanne]

currently I am #15 on the hold list there are 12 copies. I am so excited about this one! Hoping to have it by the end of the first week of March

[Amber]

I am going to try and read it before march 2nd. if not, I'll renew it because it is a library book.

[Holly, That Geeky One]

Hoping to read this too. Might get round to it before March, but I'm not sure.

[Kassandra]

I'm not sure if I will have time for this but I will keep up with the discussions and if there are more positive reviews them I will try and fit it in.

[[deleted user]]

Ahh I've read this one. I keep meaning to read the sequels! I've bought the next two but just haven't got around to reading them! They've been gathering dust on the shelf forever!

[Holly, That Geeky One]

Feel free to join in the conversation, Rose :)

[Tara]

I started this a few months ago but didn't finish it before it was due back and it was on a holds list so I got stuck at the bottom of the list again. Maybe I'll just buy it, then I won't have to worry about due dates.

[Roseanne]

I just checked and I am #4 on the hold list. so excited!

[Jackie]

Just got this book from the library the other day. I'm going to start today :).

[Roseanne]

Just got mine from the library yesterday. :)

[Roseanne]

I am 15% done so far. Very interesting but I have no idea where the story is going.

[Holly, That Geeky One]

Are you enjoying it, Roseanne?

[Roseanne]

yes I am.

[Irene]

This is available on Kindle Daily Deals at .99p today just in case anyone else, like me, is at the end of a long list of people waiting for it to be available at a library.

[[deleted user]]

Irene, as you have posted in English currency presuming you may live in England.
I got my copy of this an the sequels from the Works book and stationary chain. On the 3 for £5 deal. I also got my hunger games and several other series on the same deal. They do a points card too.
It's well worth a look if you're on a tight book buying budget as I am!

Thanks Holly, I shall join a little bit. I did enjoy this book and Roseanne and the same place in as you I was thinking where is this going?
It's quite different to some of the other reads of the genre. Some aspects seem a little lord of the flies too.

[Roseanne]

I am 25% done now and I am still asking myself where is this going. I am enjoying it but I don't love it. I need to know what is going to happen.

[Irene]

Thanks Rose.... Will definitely have a look.

[Holly, That Geeky One]

I'm planning on starting this after I finish Great Expectations!

[Renee, Mistress of the Mini-Challenge]

I'm with you, Roseanne. About 20% done and wondering where this all is going. There's so much that is unexplained and intriguing!

[Roseanne]

This is the strangest book I have read in a long time. I am 65% done at this point. I don't like the story. I can't stop reading it. I actually fell asleep with my kindle last night.

[Renee, Mistress of the Mini-Challenge]

Finished! Didn't love it. Gonna try Scorch Trials to see if Maze Runner seems better in the perspective of the series as a whole.

[Roseanne]

Finished this morning. Didn't love it either but I think I am going to read the next one too. I just want to know what will happen next.

[Renee, Mistress of the Mini-Challenge]

Scorch Trials is pretty violent, but really fast paced and much more plot driven. I haven't been able to put it down.

[Roseanne]

That was how I felt about this one. Even though there were parts that upset me a lot I couldn't put it down. I don't think I can read it now. I need to read something else in between. Maybe next month I will read it.

[Tracey]

I read this one awhile ago, but I honestly didn't love it either. I thought there was too much left unexplained that I couldn't see being explained in future books.

I will probably see the movie though just because of the description of the grievers. I thought they were terrifying.

[Sam]

I'm about half way through and although it's an easy, entertaining read, I'm the same, I don't love it. I'm also sick of everyone 'rolling their eyes'. Why is everyone an eye roller in this book!

[John]

This book is a typical YA novel but written by a male author. Therefore not driven by a love story. It's fast paced and full of mystery which keeps the pages turning. I didn't love it but I couldn't seem to put it down. I just started the scorch trials and I feel the same about it so far.

[Renee, Mistress of the Mini-Challenge]

I'm up to Death Cure. Still don't know what's really going on, but there has been more plot and character development in the other books.

[Susan]

Just finished 'The Maze Runner'. I think my 8 year old son would love the concepts in this book, if only I could could convince him that reading is actually quite fun, and prise him off the X Box. There are lots of: boys, fighting, human/machine hybrid monsters, running around a maze, coupled with no real contenders for a substantial female lead. I actually quite enjoyed it! For me it was a solid 3 stars and I am definitely interested enough to read the next in the series.

[Roseanne]

Susan wrote: "Just finished 'The Maze Runner'. I think my 8 year old son would love the concepts in this book, if only I could could convince him that reading is actually quite fun, and prise him off the X Box. ..."

I thought the exact same thing about my 11 year old. lol

[Karen]

I need to start my YA read for the genre challenge. The group suggestion The Maze Runner seems interesting enough. However, having just been put through a dystopian wringer by the excellent but disturbing 1984, I could also do with a light, easily enjoyable read maybe with a little romance thrown in. Any thoughts? Go with Maze Runner or something else?

[Renee, Mistress of the Mini-Challenge]

Lol. If you're tired of dystopian scifi lit after 1984, then DON'T read The Maze Runner next. Try Eleanor and Park or Perks of Being a Wallflower for a coming of age romance. Or try Wonder for a sweet story with moving characters. Or Mrs. Mike for a well-written historical memoir.

[Karen]

Thanks Renee. I have read Eleanor & Park, which I loved. I have been hearing good things about Wonder. I am not familiar with Mrs. Mike so I will check it out.
I have some more dystopian on my TBR list including Red Rising, so I'm not trying to avoid it completely. However the last part of 1984 was unbelievable. I think I need a happy place for a little bit, lol

[Lucy]

I really, really enjoyed this book. I totally understand what everyone means though - it definitely wasn't a book to 'love', but it was 100% impossible to put down. I nearly missed my stop on the Tube!

I'm really looking forward to the next book, however, there was one thing that really did annoy me and I hope hasn't been repeated in Scorch Trials. Why does everything have to be capitalised?! The Maze, the Runners, even the Cooks! The Kitchen! I understand one or two in order to attach importance (like the Maze, for example), but to do it to *everything* seemed silly.

[Karen]

Renee wrote: "Lol. If you're tired of dystopian scifi lit after 1984, then DON'T read The Maze Runner next. Try Eleanor and Park or Perks of Being a Wallflower for a coming of age romance. Or try Wonder for a sw..."

I read Mrs. Mike - a quick enjoyable read, although there were quite a few times I wanted to give Kathy a good shake. Thanks for the recommendation.

[Renee, Mistress of the Mini-Challenge]

So glad you enjoyed Mrs. Mike. A good palate cleanser before you head back into the dark, dystopian, fictional future. :)

[Melissa]

Renee and Karen, Mrs. Mike was given to me by my grandmother when I was in my teens, it was one of my all-time favorites and still sits in my special bookcase to remind me of grandma. :)

[Renee, Mistress of the Mini-Challenge]

Aww. That's a great story. Thanks for sharing it. :)

[Kassandra]

I finally got around to reading this one and enjoyed it. However, I found the writing style a little out of my norm...mainly the invention of new words that sound just like the existing curse words that we have. For me, I would have preferred if the writer had stuck with existing words, not used curse words at all, or invented something totally new in sound. A very small personal and picky preference, I know!

Has anyone continued on reading the rest of the series? Is it worth the read?

[Roseanne]

I have not continued reading this series. I am still on the fence about continuing.

[Renee, Mistress of the Mini-Challenge]

I read the series earlier this year, and liked it very much. Plot holes abound, but still decent. The first book was missing emotional impact in many ways, but it set up the trajectory if the storyline for the series. Also, I did go around thinking "shuck it!" For awhile, thought, so be forewarned.