The Maze Runner Week 2: Chapters 32 - 62

[Letitgo]

How's everyone doing so far? Who has it figured out? :)

[Letitgo]

(view spoiler)[So why is WICKED so secretive about what's going on? I mean it's close to the end of the world and they have this group of genius boys that may be able to reverse the inevitable. I mean why not just work with them, tell them what's going on. And why the Grievers, what's the point of killing/maiming/scaring your only hope? And that ending only made me mad :( (hide spoiler)]

Ooops! Sorry, spoilers are now hidden.
What did everyone else think?

[John]

Yikes, spoilers! Uh, some of us aren't finished. I'm getting there and still not getting any info. I'll reserve my angry face until the end. I'm holding out for a fab ending.

[Taryn]

I'm almost to end, and I'm learning some things but not enough. This one's really falling flat for me, surprisingly.

[Taryn]

But I love the discussion on this book and I'm also hoping for a smashing ending.

[Janelle]

Letitgo wrote: "[spoilers removed]

Ooops! Sorry, spoilers are now hidden.
What did everyone else think?"

I finished yesterday, so let me tag my post as well.

(view spoiler)[Because they need the BEST of the best. Get that chaff out of there. Ha, but no, you're right, it doesn't make much sense. But if they went the peaceable route, there wouldn't be a story.

What got me was the lack of other characters. Dashner initially builds up the Runners as this special-awesome group of just the toughest kids, doing the most dangerous yet the most important job (reminding me of the Survey Corps/Scouts in Attack on Titan). Yet we learn nothing about any of them beyond Minho. At the end, when Thomas is mourning Chuck, he says he would rather trade him for "anyone else in the room." Which, rather than feeling that loss, I laughed at because OF COURSE HE WOULD, Thomas couldn't even tell us the name of any other Glader, except for Newt and Minho. Dashner never even bothered to introduce any of the other 50 kids, so I felt no emotion at all the death.

Also, the big reveal? It was told, not shown, so it fell flat for me. An unremarkable two pages to describe Thomas' Changing, from which he wakes up and then just tells everyone what the Maze is about. And why was he able to talk so freely about what he remembered when Alby and Gally couldn't? Thomas was just too "special" for me to take seriously. (hide spoiler)]

Overall, the Maze Runner just fell flat (pun?) for me. I can compare it to other YA dystopias, and it just doesn't stand out. But at least I read it, so now I feel more up-to-date as a Teen librarian!

[John]

Janelle wrote: "Letitgo wrote: "[spoilers removed]

Ooops! Sorry, spoilers are now hidden.
What did everyone else think?"

I finished yesterday, so let me tag my post as well.

Because they need the BEST of the be..."

Love your analysis, Janelle. I was wondering why I felt nothing for Chuck. And I guess it all comes down to character development. There wasn't much beyond the boys you mentioned. Awesome insight here.

[John]

For me, the book definitely fell flat. I'll add a few things to Janelle's awesome analysis. It's a good Idea, but I didn't buy into the premise, lack of character development, too many contrived elements: keeping the reader in total darkness (for no reason), the girl/instalove, and finally the ending. Also, it was a great attempt at multiculturalism, but Alby's weak role as the supposed leader really irritated me. The writing was okay.

[Janelle]

John wrote: "For me, the book definitely fell flat. I'll add a few things to Janelle's awesome analysis. It's a good Idea, but I didn't buy into the premise, lack of character development, too many contrived el..."

Yeah, Teresa bothered me as well. Your description of "instalove" is the best way to sum her up--she's just there for Thomas to emote over. It seemed like the entire reason she was of interest was simply because she's a "she." She triggers the End (was it ever explained how she did that?) and then contributes nothing...Thomas just kinda talked at her and then would have a revelation.

And I do agree, Alby seemed to have been ripped off. He started as a leader, but then was steadily portrayed as 'unreasonably grumpy' and later on, crazy. (view spoiler)[I could've been sad at his death, since he had more page time, but I thought he just went Changing-Crazy again when he charged the Grievers. I didn't get that it was a sacrifice until Thomas said it was. (hide spoiler)]

[Taryn]

What a great discussion. It's safe to say we probably won't be digging into Scorch Trial, at least not as a group. I'd like to see how the movie version plays out, maybe this weekend.

[Eivette]

Just so, so, probably won't read the second book.