What's the Name of That Book??? discussion
This topic is about
House of Stairs
SOLVED: Children's/YA
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SOLVED. Survival story somewhat similar to Hunger Games [s]
LauraW wrote: "The Maze Runner???
"I've been going through the lists of dystopia/utopia/survival books and none of them are standing out, including The Maze Runner (also on my to-read list now).
Like I said, the stark whiteness of the rooms is the most prominent feature of this setting.
It's a 90s book and I don't think it was particularly popular; I just happened to have stumbled upon it.
Oh well. Thanks anyway.
Simi wrote: "Oh well. Thanks anyway. "Oh, give it time. Definitely keep checking back. Most books are not found immediately. Some books take months or even years to find, but it's always exciting when they are.
Lisa wrote: "Oh, give it time. Definitely keep checking back. Most books are not found immediately. Some books take months or even years to find, but it's always exciting..."Thanks! :) I'm antsy, but I can wait. I've got a whole slew of fantastic books to read in the meantime. I do look forward to the "aha!" moment :)
Cube 2: Hypercube [...]. The industrial-style rooms of the first film are replaced with high-tech, brightly-lit chambers;
Natalie wrote: "The Running Man by Stephen King?"Alas, no. But my "to-read" list is growing rapidly courtesy this hunt :)
Thanks!
Roberto wrote: "Cube 2: Hypercube [...]. The industrial-style rooms of the first film are replaced with high-tech, brightly-lit chambers;"It's not Cube/Cube2 but pics of Cube2 reminded me of The Crystal Maze (ancient Brit game show :D)
Cube2 sounds like my kinda movie.
Hmm doesn't meet your whiteness challenge but L.J.Smith's The Forbidden Game involves challenges in a series of rooms to escape a house.
Kirsty wrote: "Hmm doesn't meet your whiteness challenge but L.J.Smith's The Forbidden Game involves challenges in a series of rooms to escape a house."Haven't read that either, but the plot sounds fantastic.
I know... it's highly specific. I hope I'm not blowing the white aspect out of proportion in my head.
Natalie wrote: "The Long Walk?"Sadly no. But thanks for the suggestion. Looks like I'll be adding another book to my "to read" list :)
Was this book written for children/teens? Did it seem to be more sci-fi or horror? It's definitely just children being dropped into the maze?I would agree that the whiteness reminds me of the Cube movies...
Kate wrote: "Was this book written for children/teens? Did it seem to be more sci-fi or horror? It's definitely just children being dropped into the maze?I would agree that the whiteness reminds me of the C..."
Definitely a young-adult book. It doesn't really fit under either of those categories per my understanding. It was more alternative reality/dystopia.
It's not a maze per se. More a maze of rooms that they are being dropped into.
Could it possibly be The Mysterious Benedict Society? I remember the four kids had to figure out ways to get through a maze, and there may have been white rooms. The rooms had arrows that pointed them to the correct door, but some of the other kids figured it out differently, like one girl went through the vents instead. It's newer than the 1990s though.
Kate wrote: "Could it possibly be The Mysterious Benedict Society? I remember the four kids had to figure out ways to get through a maze, and there may have been white rooms. The rooms had arrows..."That also wasn't a dystopian or survival, though.
Kate wrote: "Could it possibly be The Mysterious Benedict Society? I remember the four kids had to figure out ways to get through a maze, and there may have been white rooms. The rooms had arrows..."Not that either, but it sounds like a fantastic read. I appreciate the help!
Is there a way to follow the topic without contributing? This sounds like a book I'd like to read but I don't have any suggestions.
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You said you read this in the 90's after reading Hunger Games. But Hunger Games didn't come out until 2008. Did this book come out after 2008?
OP said she was REMINDED of this book after reading Hunger Games. :-)
This reminds me of a book I read years ago. In it, there were a couple kids in one room or maybe adjacent rooms, and they had to learn correct responses to stimuli to get food, etc. For instance, when a light turns green they are supposed to dance. Does that sound like an aspect in your book?Edit: Never mind, House of Stairs was the one I was thinking of and you've already checked it. I will never forget the end where the traffic light turns green and they start to dance.
Battle Royale? Japaneses book, kind of old. 42 school kids have to fight to the death, if they don't they get blown up with these collars around there neck.
Mod
Kidnapped from an Australian train station, Joella, Peter, and Liane are taken on a rocket to the Galax-Arena, where children stolen from Earth perform death-defying stunts for the amusement of the inhabitants of the planet Vexak.
Cover art looks like a white room:
Mod
The cage by Roy Brown is similar to House of Stairs, but since I haven't read it I don't know if it has white rooms.
Another similar book but not as good as Sleator's according to the Kirkus Review.Notes on the Hauter experiment: A journey through the inner world of Evelyn B. Chestnut, by Bernice Grohskopf.
Was it science fiction? I remember something like this (the title is lost to me) where there was groups of children and some working alone, and boxes that they moved around and hid behind. I'm sure it involved aliens. Could this be the same book? If it doesn't sound the same, I'll make a thread for mine now that I'm reminded of it.
Make a separate thread while you're thinking of it, and remember to include the year you read it! :)
I'm sorry you haven't located your book, but I've added nearly every one mentioned above to my wish list, so thanks for asking the question, anyway! =)
Notes on the Hauter Experiment: A Journey Through the Inner World of Evelyn B. Chestnut for bookel's click. I was going to suggest House of Stairs as a 100% match but I see you've ruled that out already, hm. Hope this one gets solved, I want to read it too now.
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Ann aka Iftcan wrote: "I just finished Invitation to the Game. While there are no rooms, if you like that kind of book, you might enjoy reading this while waiting us to find "your" book. (And I too am look..."Thanks for responding - no clue why I wasn't getting notifications, so apologies for the delayed response.
I'll certainly add your suggestion to my mountain for TBRs as I'm finally back to leisure reading. Thanks! :)
Elizabeth wrote: "The one I always see listed as Hunger Games like is Battle Royale"That sounds like a wicked good book (reminds me a bit of Lord of the Flies). Thanks!
Bobbi wrote: "This reminds me of a book I read years ago. In it, there were a couple kids in one room or maybe adjacent rooms, and they had to learn correct responses to stimuli to get food, etc. For instance,..."The more I hear about House of Stairs, the more I want to read it. Bumping it up on my TBR list. :)
Gabs wrote: "Corridor sounds like the book you are describing, but it came out after the 90s."A reader's review is making it sound highly like the book I'm after. I am going to get my hands on this book right away and will update everyone on whether it's the right book. Thank you!
Andria wrote: "Galax-Arena?Kidnapped from an Australian train station, Joella, Peter, and Liane are taken on a rocket to the Galax-Arena, where children stolen from Earth perform death-defying s..."
Sounds like a fun read. Not the book I'm looking for, but certainly a genre I'm interested in. Thanks! :)
Ficie wrote: "Could it be The House of Doors?"Terrifyingly intriguing! This isn't the book, but my list of TBRs richer for the suggestion :)
Lobstergirl wrote: "Simi, are you still looking for this? Was it anything mentioned in 2013?"Corridor may just be the book I was looking for. I'm grabbing a copy asap and will let everyone know as soon as I get into it.
This has proven to be a great compilation of books I want to read, and I hope others have also found inspiration here.
bookel wrote: "The cage by Roy Brown is similar to House of Stairs, but since I haven't read it I don't know if it has white rooms."
This sounds like a really interesting read. I don't think the cover art does the synopsis justice (don't judge a book by its cover, right?). I look forward to reading this. Thanks for the suggestion.
What's the Name of That Book???
Books mentioned in this topic
Notes on the Hauter experiment: A journey through the inner world of Evelyn B. Chestnut (other topics)House of Stairs (other topics)
The House of Doors (other topics)
Galax-Arena (other topics)
Corridor (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Stephen King (other topics)Stephen King (other topics)
Don't remember much about the book except: involved children (varying ages) being dropped into a white labyrinth/maze of rooms (seamless, some had stairs) randomly and it's a survival story. Some work together, some independently. They have to overcome various challenges (this helps them move on/escape current room).
There is some sort of controlling force that drops in the kids and changes things in the maze if it's getting too easy (I think...).
Edit: The stark, bright whiteness is very prominent in my memory.
Edit2: This book was a stand alone, not part of a series. And it wasn't a popular, reading list kind of book; I happened to have stumbled upon it.
Sorry. I know this isn't much to go off of.