WW 20s groupies discussion

THE MAZE RUNNER:

If you ain’t scared, you ain’t human.

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone.

Nice to meet ya, shank. Welcome to the Glade.

Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out—and no one’s ever made it through alive.

Everything is going to change.

Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.

Remember. Survive. Run.

I read this book after I watched the movie, and after thoroughly enjoying the movie I have to say I didn't love the book.

SPOILER ALERT

SPOILER ALERT

I thought the way they escaped, and the way Thomas could speak telepathically was unexplained magic. The whole world is set up around this scientific experiment, so how do you explain a magic, invisible escape hole? If you're James Dashner, you don't explain it. I don't know how he expects readers to read through the whole series to get any answers whatsoever.

However, I did like Newt. And some of the other characters. Galley wasn't as straight-up annoying in the book as he was in the movie. The book was thrilling and I really like the world of this book. I just wanted more answers and more motivations explained, rather than fake magic and faceless villains. Overall, 3.5/5 stars.

I saw this book after watching the movie, as well. I like both for different reasons, and in different ways.



Spoilers if you haven't finished yet.



One of my big problems with the whole series (if you haven't read the rest yet, this shouldn't spoil anything) is that a lot of things never get explained adequately, if at all. The way they escaped in the book is a good example. The closest we get to an explanation for a lot of things is "because technology." It feels like the lazy way out, since James Dashner doesn't give a significant back story to the civilization, either. Even in the prequel, very little information is provided on what society was like before and after the solar flares.

The biggest upside to the book over the movie, like any book, is that the characters are much better developed. Galley is a jerk in the book, but not just for the sake of being a jerk. Alby's choices and actions were better explained. On the whole, the characters were more complex and likable in the books. In the movie, Minho was easily my favorite character, even over Thomas. In the book, I grew to actually care about the characters.

One of my other issues with the book was the made up slang. I saw a quote from the author saying he added the "glader language" in one of his edits of the book after it had been rejected for publication. All I can say is WHY? I found it unnecessary at best and completely distracting at worst - when I first started reading, the slang used made it hard to really get into the story.

I gave the book 3/5 stars, but I would probably go lower if not for the fact that once I got into the book, I had to read the rest of the series. Unfortunately, I am left with the feeling that Dashner just didn't plan his world as well as he needed to.

I read this book probably 2 years ago (and couldn't bear to read it again) so bear with me.

Like Courtney, the made up language was so DISTRACTING. I hated it so much.

I found the world so confusing and there were so many holes in it all - I had to push myself to finish it.

I normally love YA books - but not this one.

Tracey - I read it a few weeks ago, and it's shocking how little I retained of the finer points of the story. Which says a lot about how good it really was.

I read this book after the movie...I didn't care for the book however I did like the movie. So I would rate it 2/5 stars. I personally think Thomas was so boring too.

So I started reading this and then I got bored after about 75 pages. Then I read a different book and came back to this. Got bored after another several pages. Overall, honestly really disappointed! Sorry I nominated it! I mean, at this point I am almost done and yeah, its decent, but not something like "The Hunger Games" or "Harry Potter" that I will read over and over again.