SEPETEMBER ENJOYMENT READING:
The Maze Runner By James Dashner
The Maze Runner
by James Dashner
Young Adult, Science-Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic
376 pages
3 out of 4 stars recommendation ★★★☆
by James Dashner
Young Adult, Science-Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic
376 pages
3 out of 4 stars recommendation ★★★☆
The Maze Runner written by James Dashner in 2009, is a young adult science fiction novel, following the story of protagonist Thomas who has been taken from a world he can’t even remember and thrown into a dark lift. He is all alone, and doesn't have a clue who his captors are. All he is sure of is his first name. When the confusion begins to overwhelm him, the lift comes to a stop, where his arrival is welcomed by several teenage boys expecting his delivery. As Thomas climbs out to discover his new surroundings, he learns that the place he has been sent to is called the Glade, and each month for the past two years a new boy is delivered in the lift. But there is a problem, they are surrounded by a concrete maze that seems to show no sign of a way out. With walls that shift everyday and gates that open in the morning and shut close in the evening. Inside the maze crawl monstrous creatures called Grievers, whose sting kills, but if saved with the anecdote on time could retrieve back memories of one’s old life or drive you mentally insane. Runners explore the maze each day tracking wall movements and searching for exits. But no one has ever survived a night in the maze. Until Thomas shows up and everything begins to change. His arrival marks the beginning of the end. Thomas is too scared to admit he has been having premonitions and that this place seems familiar to him. If only Thomas can recover his memories, he might just have the key to escaping hidden in his head. Each Glader is searching for the same thing; the memories they have lost and to go back to the world they were once a part of before. But what if the Gladers’ old life and world are no better than where they are now?
I recommend The Maze Runner for those who enjoy dystopian literature and have the time to read in one sitting. It is an ideal novel for readers who have read young adult fiction like The Hunger Games or Divergent. The Maze Runner is frustratingly suspenseful and puts you on edge. It is definitely a page turner, packed with action that will get your adrenaline pumping. Although the book can become a little tedious with the mystery and prolonged questions it is worth reading until the end. The author keeps you reading with his interesting writing style and strategic story plot that left me pondering my thoughts way after finishing the last chapter.
The author’s strategic storyline allows the novel to capture the essence of what it means to be lost. The book is structured carefully that you really feel like you are experiencing an individual’s exploration of what it feels to not know and to long for something you can’t remember. Not only are you discovering what the protagonist’s perspective on things are and what his character is like, like most books, but you are also discovering the world along with him. As you try to formulate his identity, he also searches to find his identity. For example the author writes, “Emptiness ate away at his insides, quickly replaced by a sadness that hurt his heart. It was all too much—where was he? What was this place? Was it some kind of prison? If so, why had he been sent here, and for how long? The language was odd, and none of the boys seemed to care whether he lived or died.” (Dashner, pg. 11) I notice the author tends to slowly provide important information through the main character’s inquiries and leaves as little details that foreshadow as possible. The questions each character bring into the story drive the reader to continue and unravel all the mysteries.
Dashner also uses a specific writing style that allows you to view the mindset of teenage boys fighting for survival while trying to figure out their identity. The author uses slang to add flair and originality to the book when he says, “‘Shuck it,’ Alby said, rubbing his eyes. ‘Ain’t no way to start these conversations, you get me? We don’t kill shanks like you here, I promise. Just try and avoid being killed, survive, whatever.’” (Dashner, pg. 9) The author chooses to write in this style of poor grammar and slang, to make what these teen boys are going through more believable. At times the slang gets a little annoying, but it really adds to the experience that these boys have been away from proper civilization for months. It really changes the dynamics of how these boys interact and form friendships.
The concept of The Maze Runner is very interesting, however I think the author’s execution was very poor. The text allows you to become part of this world and experience what the boys are living through, but the descriptions aren’t always great. The author uses improper grammar and tends to falls towards telling not showing. (Breaking the number one writing rule!) For instance he says, “You get lazy, you get sad. Start givin' up. Plain and simple.” (pg. 77) Instead of using interactions, dialogue, and the environment to portray an emotion, he just tells you the emotion. Although I will admit I still believed the writer. When the main character felt frustrated, so did I. If a character felt remorse or despair, I really felt that. But what irritated me most about the book was the fact that the author would withhold information for as long as possible. In the beginning the protagonist would continue to ask questions and get no answers. But what kept me reading and intrigued is the suspense from the physical threats posed toward the characters and the lack of their memory. I carried on reading because I wanted to figure out how to get out of the maze, not just for the characters, but also for myself. When I read the book it felt like I too was trapped. I recommend this book for thrill-seekers and people that enjoy post-apocalyptic novels. Even though it is not a standardly written book, it is still effective in describing this compelling experience.
I recommend The Maze Runner for those who enjoy dystopian literature and have the time to read in one sitting. It is an ideal novel for readers who have read young adult fiction like The Hunger Games or Divergent. The Maze Runner is frustratingly suspenseful and puts you on edge. It is definitely a page turner, packed with action that will get your adrenaline pumping. Although the book can become a little tedious with the mystery and prolonged questions it is worth reading until the end. The author keeps you reading with his interesting writing style and strategic story plot that left me pondering my thoughts way after finishing the last chapter.
The author’s strategic storyline allows the novel to capture the essence of what it means to be lost. The book is structured carefully that you really feel like you are experiencing an individual’s exploration of what it feels to not know and to long for something you can’t remember. Not only are you discovering what the protagonist’s perspective on things are and what his character is like, like most books, but you are also discovering the world along with him. As you try to formulate his identity, he also searches to find his identity. For example the author writes, “Emptiness ate away at his insides, quickly replaced by a sadness that hurt his heart. It was all too much—where was he? What was this place? Was it some kind of prison? If so, why had he been sent here, and for how long? The language was odd, and none of the boys seemed to care whether he lived or died.” (Dashner, pg. 11) I notice the author tends to slowly provide important information through the main character’s inquiries and leaves as little details that foreshadow as possible. The questions each character bring into the story drive the reader to continue and unravel all the mysteries.
Dashner also uses a specific writing style that allows you to view the mindset of teenage boys fighting for survival while trying to figure out their identity. The author uses slang to add flair and originality to the book when he says, “‘Shuck it,’ Alby said, rubbing his eyes. ‘Ain’t no way to start these conversations, you get me? We don’t kill shanks like you here, I promise. Just try and avoid being killed, survive, whatever.’” (Dashner, pg. 9) The author chooses to write in this style of poor grammar and slang, to make what these teen boys are going through more believable. At times the slang gets a little annoying, but it really adds to the experience that these boys have been away from proper civilization for months. It really changes the dynamics of how these boys interact and form friendships.
The concept of The Maze Runner is very interesting, however I think the author’s execution was very poor. The text allows you to become part of this world and experience what the boys are living through, but the descriptions aren’t always great. The author uses improper grammar and tends to falls towards telling not showing. (Breaking the number one writing rule!) For instance he says, “You get lazy, you get sad. Start givin' up. Plain and simple.” (pg. 77) Instead of using interactions, dialogue, and the environment to portray an emotion, he just tells you the emotion. Although I will admit I still believed the writer. When the main character felt frustrated, so did I. If a character felt remorse or despair, I really felt that. But what irritated me most about the book was the fact that the author would withhold information for as long as possible. In the beginning the protagonist would continue to ask questions and get no answers. But what kept me reading and intrigued is the suspense from the physical threats posed toward the characters and the lack of their memory. I carried on reading because I wanted to figure out how to get out of the maze, not just for the characters, but also for myself. When I read the book it felt like I too was trapped. I recommend this book for thrill-seekers and people that enjoy post-apocalyptic novels. Even though it is not a standardly written book, it is still effective in describing this compelling experience.