Maze Runner trilogy by James Dashner (Group Read January 2013)

[Natalie]

I finished last night. I was mixed on it. I thought the plot was interesting and engaging, but I just did not like most of the characters by the end. In particular (view spoiler)[Thomas: one second he says he will be the sacrifice so they can escape, but a few chapters later they all say they have to protect Thomas and Teresa so that they can put in the password and he has no problem with that. (hide spoiler)]

[Gwennie]

Yes, it was totally the part when (view spoiler)[Chuck jumped in front of the knife to save Thomas. And while I liked Chuck (reminded me of my nephew), I really cried because of how Thomas felt and how he'd promised to get him home to his mom. I know it wasn't likely to happen, it was just the idea that it really would never happen (hide spoiler)].

I tend to like characters that sometimes act like jerks, lmao. Probably because, in my experience, that's what people do sometimes. They are crabby and sometimes they're just jerks. So if the written character is like that, it makes me feel like it's more realistic. Totally not saying that to be cynical. I've had my sister point out when I was being a jerk. Plus, when that went down (view spoiler)[Newt told him it was stupid and that nobody was going to sacrifice themselves. And then Alby did (hide spoiler)].

My problem with the book, and the reason it was a 4 star book and not higher, was that I didn't really see the point of Theresa. It's rare that I say this, but the book didn't need a love story. I would have been happy with all the boys, and I felt like Thomas's character could have been combined with Theresa and it would have been just as good. It was fluff, I thought. And it detracted from the story.

Whew! Now that I've chatted your ears off, lmao. I obviously liked the book because I have a lot to say.

[Zenaida]

Ugh! I just finished this book and I wanted to throw it across the room. All the damn unanswered questions. It was just an okay read for me. Maybe because the protagonist was male and all the dystopian books I've enjoyed have been female.Obviously I liked it enough to finish it. But I wasn't sure if I liked it enough to continue the series. But after the way it ended, I have no choice but to continue. I need to know what happens next. I want some answers.

[Katy]

Haha, honestly, you don't get many questions answered :P

[Meg]

I'm a quarter of the way through the book, having never read it before. I'm intrigued by the puzzles, particularly why Thomas feels so strongly about becoming a Runner. I'm hoping for the opportunity to read the remainder of the book in one sitting this weekend.

It's refreshing to me, even as a female reader, to have a book with all male main characters. While Thomas seems to have some emotions, he has more questions. It's nice to have a different perspective when reading Dystopian YA than that of a 16- or 17-year-old girl.

[Gwennie]

I really liked that too, actually. Normally I'm all about a romance, but in this book it was the interaction between the boys that I enjoyed reading the most, along with all the action and puzzles.

[Angie]

I finished earlier and really liked it!!!

Wendy, I agree about Teresa. She just seemed thrown in there, just to have a girl. I also didn't like (view spoiler)[the telepathy between her and Thomas. I don't think it made sense or added anything useful. (hide spoiler)]

[Gwennie]

Nope, I agree completely! I think that the whole (view spoiler)['triggering the end, and the information she brought, could have all been done right through Thomas. The story didn't know a love story. The relationship between the boys was awesome (hide spoiler)].

Totally had a little tiny crush on Minho.

[Jenny]

Minho is the BEST ONE.

[Gwennie]

I agree! I loved Minho!!

[Stacia (the 2010 club), groupaholic, YA-MA founder]

Minho was my favorite too.

[Katy]

Everyone has a crush on Minho! :P

[Jessica]

I Loved the book and the characters! I have already started reading the second one; the first book did leave me with unanswered questions which are resolved in the second book.This really is something you just kinda have to read if you want to know all the answers the author gives very few things to go on.

[R.A.]

Did anyone think "This is like the Cube?"

I liked the book overall, but I couldn't get the movie out of my head. It's really gory if you guys haven't seen it. It follows a similar plot line, except not with kids.

Spoiler is about the end of the book - not the movie.
(view spoiler)[I liked how it ended though - because the ending make me want to keep reading to figure out what the next trial for these kids will be. And wonder why they are going to such lengths to TEST them to begin with. Crazy scientists are crazy. The end of the book gives me hope that we will, eventually, find out more - you can let me know if I'm wrong ;) (hide spoiler)]

[Maree]

Yeah, it's exactly like the Cube for kids. Though did they have an explanation for that in the end? There was a Cube 2 as well, wasn't there?

[R.A.]

I think there was a Cube 2, but I didn't bother to watch it.

No, there was no explanation in the end of it.

[Gwennie]

I've never heard of The Cube... Interesting.

[Jessica]

Just went and found the cube on amazon, my hubby doesn't like to read really and I keep trying to explain the book to him it's just hard to without giving all the details. Hopefully since you guys say its similar that it will help him to understand I ordered the whole trilogy. Maybe it will be as good as The Maze Runner book. ;)

[Stacia (the 2010 club), groupaholic, YA-MA founder]

I have a similar situation with my own husband.

[R.A.]

The Cube's biggest difference was that the adults remembered who they were - they just don't remember how the got there. And you know... gore and violence and that kind of thing.

Jessica - you'll have to let me know if you like the first one. I adored the first movie, can't speak to the quality of the other ones.

Maze Runner has its own interesting elements. They are vastly different in characters and the way the stories end.

[Maree]

I have to say, I watched the Cube at a bad movie night - it was entertaining, but I don't think it's something I would watch again. But it would probably be a decent explanation for the basics of Maze Runner.

[Kdbrand]

I don't remember many details about this book. It was nominated for the 2011-2012 Truman Reader Awards, and I voted for it. :)

[R.A.]

Maree ♫ Light's Shadow ♪ wrote: "I have to say, I watched the Cube at a bad movie night - it was entertaining, but I don't think it's something I would watch again. But it would probably be a decent explanation for the basics of ..."

Heh, I watched it when I was like ... 15. So I was scared out of my mind during the whole movie. Wouldn't mind watching it again, if only to relive childhood terrors. ^_^

[Jim]

I read this series last year and thought the first book, Maze Runner, was rather good. The next two books didn't live up to the first one though. I currently have Kill Order from the library and it will be the next book I start reading. The only problem I had with the Maze Runner was visualizing the creatures in the maze. I don't think the descriptions given really gave a good idea of what they looked like.

[Stacia (the 2010 club), groupaholic, YA-MA founder]

I think you're right. I was going to try to fantasy cast for this book and kept drawing a blank. Maybe next month's book will be easier.

[Diana]

The Maze Runner & The Scorch Trials are good books.

For me, it took for me to read until the half way point in The Maze Runner to really get into it.

I plan on reading the Death Cure in the coming weeks.

[Prin]

I adored The Maze Runner and tore through the series last year (although I still have yet to read The Kill Order). I agree with what a lot of you said about Theresa being a pointless character in the first book. I thought the same thing, but she does get a bigger role in the second book, making this first book kind of like an introduction for her (think Gale's role in The Hunger Games series where he didn't become a major character really until the third book).

It hadn't occurred to me when I was reading the book about the similarities to the movie "The Cube" but now that it's been pointed out I can't stop thinking about how alike they are! I remember thinking the movie was okay but I really enjoyed this book. I guess I felt closer to the characters. Oh, the many benefits of reading books.

[Carla]

I loved this book! It took me a while to get into, because (just like everyone else already said) I was really turned off by the slang. After a few chapters though, I started getting used to it.

I couldn't really see this as a book you could read by itself There were too many vague moments and unanswered questions. It's not like, say, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone where, if you read just the one book, you'd still feel like you just got a complete story by the end. At the end of this one, I had even more questions than I did at the beginning, so I think you really have to plan to read the entire series, not just one of the books.

That's not a bad thing at all, though, I really like where the story's going so far! I've already got a hold of The Scorch Trials and I'm planning to get started on it asap.

[Bee]

Just finished the Maze Runner. Good that! I liked the slang personally. I know others had posted that it bothered them.
I'm not sure if dystopia is my thing. I haven't read much in that genre though. Just curious: Is dystopia synonymous with unhappy ending?

[Gwennie]

LOL, yeah... I don't think it's part of the 'technical definition', but in my experience the endings tend to be hopeful but a little dark.

I liked the slang too, lol. I thought it was a good touch.

[Maree]

I think with a lot of dystopians, especially in YA, they're a three book series (like with Maze Runner). So things have to get darker before the second and third books, otherwise there is no second and third book. If you fix the society right away, that's kind of it for a dystopian story.

[Katy]

I agree with Maree. Usually by the last book (if it is a trilogy or series) the ending is much lighter than the previous books. However, they usually are not "happily ever after." More like "we went through a lot to get where we are now." As in the final Hunger Games book (view spoiler)[ with the talk of Katniss's children playing on the field where the bodies were buried, or something to that extent. It's been a long time sice I read that book :P (hide spoiler)]

[Kathleen]

It was good, but not great. I thought the story was interesting but it did keep me reading. It was suspenseful, but it dragged a little for me. The second book is better and I am currently in the middle of book 3. Can't wait to see how it ends.

[Jessica]

Same here, in the middle of book three this one is a little bit tough for me to get into though probably only because I have been real busy..I usually can read YA books in 1 or 2 days. It has been a great series I dont know how I will feel when it ends though. I was sad when the hunger games ended but we can't exactly expect the authors to just have an infinity book now can we lol (I only wish)if it is really good

[Rachel]

Just finished this book and like Jessica, I was surprised how long it took me to get through it. I think I approached it kind of like how I approach going to the gym or visiting relatives... I don't look forward to doing it, I kinda put it off, but then once I'm doing it I find myself enjoying it. The Maze Runner was like that. I would put it down and avoid picking it up but once I started reading...

What was up with Gally? He seemed a pretty cut and dry "villian" but (view spoiler)[ at the end it seemed like he was being held captive? was he really a good guy? did he mean to throw the knife? was he in on it the whole time? (hide spoiler)]

I really wanted to see better character development in this book. But I imagine its hard to offer backstory when the characters themselves don't even know their own history.

[Gwennie]

With Gally, I think (view spoiler)[he really was a bad guy, kind of like that kid who tried to kill Thomas, and even Alby. He knew that Thomas was someone who they felt couldn't be trusted based off the things they saw when they got some memories back. I think he truly hated him, and he truly thought he was bad. And I think he really was just a mean bully kid. But all of that can still be true and he could still be victimized by the true 'bad guys'. I think he really was captive, and I think it was just like Alby trying to strangle himself. He was being controled (hide spoiler)].

[Prin]

Wendy F wrote: "With Gally, I think [spoilers removed]."

I completely agree with you.

[Kristina]

I love this story and the series. The maze runner is the best of the trilogy but the others to me were still awesome. So many things change throughout the series and I can't wait to read the prequel. Minho, Thomas, and Chuck are my favs.

[KawaiiSusu]

I've been reading this since yesterday (borrowed from the library). This book is a bit darker than I had thought. Well, it's genre is Dystropian, so it should be like this. But the cover of Thai version is too light-hearted for it's content.


I'm not sure how the original writing is, but I think the translation is quite confusing. However, It's gradually getting better. I like the mystery in this book. The concept of maze is very interesting. I have a strong feeling that Thomas's strong feeling about going into the maze must have something important to the story. I'll wait and see how this mystery would solved.

[Sharon]

I really liked the Maze Runner series. I think what I liked most was the way the kids realized they had to have structure, rules and consequences for rules broken. I liked how for the most part they worked together.

[Dawnie]

Wendy,
I cried too. And I think it was the part Jenny mentioned. The emotional turmoil was definitely a strength.

[Katie]

Katy wrote: "Haha, honestly, you don't get many questions answered :P"

I've read all of them through to the Death Cure and ended up frustrated because while the plot keeps you turning pages, little ever makes sense! Even after the whole trilogy! Am I missing something?

[Meg]

I finished Maze Runner a couple days ago. I know why people compare it to The Hunger Games, but it also feels like Ender's Game (and not just because almost all the characters are boys). I liked it quite a lot, in part, as I mentioned in an earlier comment, because it's so different from the dystopian books with female main characters.

I have this thing about tone and pace in the novels I've been reading lately. It took me longer to get into Maze Runner than most books, though that may have had as much to do with me (and the other book I was reading simulataneously) as the book. It does unfold more slowly, before picking up pace later. But the tone of the book is why I liked it so much. If it makes sense, the book felt intentionally metalic. Even though the Glade is a warm place, you know in the first couple chapters that it's fabricated.

I'm looking forward to The Scorch Trials, which I've got on hold at the library.

[Maree]

Haha Katie and Katy, that's exactly why I stopped reading. I think there's a prequel though that's supposed to explain more.

[Katie]

Maree ♫ Light's Shadow ♪ wrote: "Haha Katie and Katy, that's exactly why I stopped reading. I think there's a prequel though that's supposed to explain more."

so I AM missing something! :) But I don't think I will go searching for a prequel...

[Christie]

This book was up and down for me. I felt like it took a while to get started, then about halfway through, I got hooked. But at the end I was left in confusion. I really did not like how the book just sort of stopped! You really have no choice but to read the next book if you want to know what is going on in the first one. It left me very frustrated. I'm not sure I'm going to continue with the series.

[Adream]

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. Generally I choose YA romance. Although I've read plenty of dystopia as well. This one caught me and held me. I realize people are upset about not having things resolved, but that's a good a reason as any for me to go on to book 2, which I will be doing.

[Allison]

I agree with those who said this book was 'up and down' for them. At first I found the writing style to be off-putting and overly simplistic - "He said..., he felt..., he did...". After the first 100 or so pages, though, I started to almost appreciate that simple writing style because I got pretty interested in the story and was happy to be able to read it fast fast fast. I did have moments throughout the book where I found Thomas to be pretty unlikeable, but I'm trying really hard to remind myself that Thomas generally found himself unlikeable at those moments, too. Overall, I enjoyed my time reading the book and I will happily continue the series.

Someone also mentioned being reminded of Ender's Game while reading this - completely agree!

[Stacia (the 2010 club), groupaholic, YA-MA founder]

I think I'm used to book 1 of a series not explaining much (especially more with sci-fi lately), so that isn't usually a deterrent to me. Crewel and Under the Never Sky were both recent books which didn't fully get into the details of the how and why, but I figured that we'd get more information as the series unfolds.

That said, it's perfectly okay not to like the book either. It's impossible to have everyone on the same page all of the time!

It's been a while since I've read Ender's Game, so I can't recall, but I'll have to remember these comments when I do a re-read before the movie.

Adream wrote: "Generally I choose YA romance. Although I've read plenty of dystopia as well..."

This is the main reason why it gets me excited to see people participating in the group reads. YA has so many wonderful books to choose from, that it's nice to sample a little bit of everything. If it hadn't been for friends on GR, I wouldn't have discovered as many amazing books as I have by trying out genres I normally would have shied away from.

[Rachel]

Stacia (the hype killer) wrote: "I think I'm used to book 1 of a series not explaining much (especially more with sci-fi lately), so that isn't usually a deterrent to me. Crewel and Under the Never Sky were both recent books which..."

Stacia, I absolutely agree! I think this group is going to encourage me to read a lot of genres of YA I never would have picked up. Maze Runner is probably the first of many (I hope)