I read The Maze Runner (first book in a series) some years ago. I liked it – it was different in a really interesting way. This boy, Thomas, ends up in what is called “The Glade,” only he has no memory of how he got there or really anything else except his name. Everyone else—all boys—arrived there much as Thomas just did—via “the lift,” and with no memories of their lives before. The Glade is surrounded by this immense, seemingly endless, maze that keeps changing and the other boys in The Glade send their fastest runners into the maze daily to try to find a way through. Nobody has ever made it through. The maze isn’t exactly people friendly - there are these things called Grievers that come out when it gets dark (usually) and attack the runners - sometimes killing them. Thomas joins the other boys in the quest to find the way out, but then something unexpected happens: a girl arrives on the lift. Things are about to change… ( )

This book was okay, not great, just okay. I didn't particularly connect with any of the characters and while the story did keep me interested, I didn't care for how it ended. I don't think I'll be reading the prequel/sequels (unless I can pick them up as cheaply - $1.99 - as I did this one.) ( )

This is arguably the most important novel I've ever read in my life. This, along with one other book called "Paper Towns", is what kickstarted my reading career. It was assigned to me in English class in 9th grade (about five years ago), and I thought it was utterly fantastic. I loved the Glade, I loved the Maze, and, most importantly, I loved the suspenseful tone. I remember reading Thomas's first venture into the Maze to rescue Alby and Minho around midnight, and I would probably say that that was the moment I decided to become a reader. As soon as I finished this book, I tore through the rest of the series, then I read The Hunger Games series, then Divergent, then Harry Potter, etc. For that, this book will always have a special place in my heart. However, do I still like it as much 5 years later?

Sadly, no. This book isn't great by any means. This book's biggest problem, in my opinion, is its writing style. I'm really not a fan of Dashner's writing. I know it's a bit harsh, but I'm being honest here. The first 120 or so pages are incredibly boring. James Dashner just keeps repeating the same information over and over again. The amount of times he explains Thomas's memory loss drives me insane. Did this book have no editing phase? In addition, not much really happens until Thomas dashes into the Maze (which is an awesome moment, by the way). Sure, there is a lot to be explained about this new world and these new characters, but did it really need to be that slow? The pacing is absolutely atrocious, man.

I also think a lot of aspects of this story are extremely cringeworthy. The biggest offender is the dialogue. It is awful. The characters feel extremely shallow and unoriginal as a consequence. I also really dislike the Glade slang. I think it is extremely unnecessary and annoying. I know a lot of people like it, but I just can't stand it, especially since it's used in practically every other sentence.

Lastly, has Dashner ever heard of the rule, "Show, don't tell"? Instead of letting the reader infer these characters' personality traits through their actions and dialogue, he just tells them what they're like. That's not how you write a character, man. Leave some room for ambiguity. It will make your stories so much more interesting in the end.

With that being said, I still enjoy the suspenseful nature of this book even though I know what's going to happen. The tension is palpable anytime a Griever is around the corner. James Dashner may not be able to write good characters, but he can certainly write good action scenes with suspenseful tones and gruesome imagery.

I think the plot is alright. I know a ton of people despise the plot of this book because of how silly and unbelievable it is, but I've never really minded it. There are tons of twists and turns, and watching Thomas navigate his life in the Glade and slowly figure the Maze out is really intriguing. It's a decently structured story, honestly.

So, yeah. I have a TON of problems with this novel, but I'm still somewhat sentimental to it overall. A great wave of nostalgia washes over me every time I go through it, and it always ends up leaving a warm feeling in my heart. ( )

Excellent book for boys, and good for girls who like adventure and a little violence. Not really my thing, but I must say, I could not put it down. Leaves you hanging for the next one in the series. ( )

Once again, I am sucked in by a clever and intriguing ending to a book that I only kindof enjoyed.

This is another YA dystopic fiction book, this time centered more around a boy, and I think that's why I liked it a little bit less than others I've read. They use a lot of unfamiliar slang to talk to one another in the book that's barely disguised cursing and I'm sure it's a pretty realistic way for teenaged boys to talk to one another but I found it irritating.

The story is interesting, there are some really great scenes that beg to be made into a movie and there's an interesting cliffhanger. I'll read book two but from the library!

In a nutshell: combo of Enders Game and Hunger Games. ( )