By James Dashner
Genre YA post apocalyptic
Pages 374
Recommended by Me
First sentence He began his new life standing up, surrounded by cold darkness and stale, dusty air.
Synopsis
Thomas arrives in the Glade with no memory of how he got there or anything about his life before. Joining the other Gladers, Thomas begins to discover more about the Glade and the Maze that surrounds it.
What it has going for it
Well, with ridiculously high expectations I put off reading this one forever. But in honor of Utah Book Month I decided to give it a go. See, those high expectations quickly became low, really low and I went into this one thinking I was going to despise it. That always bodes well for a book. ;) It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. The mystery held my attention and I wanted to know what would happen next. I like Thomas and Teresa and am interested to see where that goes. The world Dashner created was disturbing and exciting all in one and I found my self really wanting to see this Maze...in the day of course. I'd heard complaints about the ending but it didn't bother me. I thought it wrapped up well enough and then threw a nice little "surprise" at us. I also like (and hated) that Dashner wasn't afraid to kill of some main characters. It was sad but realistic.
What's lacking
Well, who am I to complain about a New York Times bestselling author but I was shocked and disappointed in the writing. The way he created mystery by having the other Gladers tell Thomas to just wait for more info was really annoying and amateur in my opinion. Plus we kept getting hit over the head that Thomas didn't remember anything. Argh! After the millionth time I was gritting my teeth. Oh, and the Grievers...Did not sound scary at all!!! I think I'd just laugh at them while they killed me. I hate when I'm reading a book thinking of how I'd handle the situation the characters were in if it were me and it takes the characters far too long to come to the same conclusion. Just annoying!
Favorite moment
When Thomas realized Teresa could talk to him in his mind. Just because it was cool.
Yea or Nay?
Well, if you haven't read this one yet...is there anyone left who hasn't?...sure, give it a go. It's exciting at least, if a little confusing.
I read this one a long time ago and I do totally want to know what happens, but I haven't gotten around to the rest of the series.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm not sure how soon I'll get to the others either.
DeleteI still haven't read all of this one. The first page didn't really capture me so I put it down and haven't really bothered to pick it up again. I kind do and kinda don't after readin your review! I'm all for characters who are willing to kill. Def more realistic. On the other hand, I the writing isn't that great, I'd end up getting hung up on that fact alone :( maybe this is one I'll try when I have a lot of free time.
ReplyDeleteYeah, bad writing really ruins books for me.
DeleteLol I have to completely agree with you about how Dashner created the mystery. I wanted to beat up Newt and Minho when they wouldn't tell Thomas what in the world was going on. Ugh, how hard would it have been to just tell him? I also have to agree that the Grievers didn't sound scary the way he described them, so in my head I just turned them into Daleks. Much scarier. ;)
ReplyDeleteMe too! It was so annoying!
DeleteI haven't read this one, yet, but I'm trying to borrow it on my Kindle right now. Looks like I'll be waiting til I'm old and gray for it that way. Guess it'll be the local library, after all.
ReplyDeleteI'm not wanting to buy it for fear I won't like it enough, but I still have every intention of reading it. At least I know what to expect. Thanks for the review!
Yeah, I've bought the whole series. I hope they're good!
DeleteI liked the fact that he did kill off same main characters, even if I didn't like the who. I thought the Grievers were scary... till they were described. The idea was much more creepy than the actual, which I thought was just weird.
ReplyDeleteIt irritated me that there were no answers, only more questions.
Yeah, the Grievers were just laughable. Yeah, I hope the last book at least has answers.
DeletePrepare yourself for further wacky and crazy elements mixed with confusion if you continue the series. I read and enjoyed them, but they do have some terribly annoying issues.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I own them so they'll get read...eventually. I do want to know what happens.
DeleteYou finished it! I had troubles with the writing and the plotting and the lack of answers, but I ended up finishing the series. Same issues all the way through.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, I'm a little worried now. I don't want to have no answers by the end of the series.
DeleteI keep meaning to read this series, it sounds so good. Thanks for the great review! Shame that you didn't like the writing, and that the Grievers aren't scary, I'm sorry :( I'm inrigued by the 'talking in minds' part ;)
ReplyDeleteNew follower, love your blog! x
The mind thing was cool. I want to know more.
DeleteI haven't read this one either! It IS hard when something has a lot of hype. You're expected to love it but it doesn't always happen. Though I do like post-apoc stuff, this one doesn't sound terribly interesting to me.
ReplyDeleteYeah, high expectations can ruin so much. I got mine real low before reading this one and it helped.
DeleteI am one of the few that has this on my shelf but still not read it. Like you I have been putting it off because so many people have told me how awesome it is... And now I'm afraid to read it. I may have to try it now that I have read your review.
ReplyDeleteYeah, make sure you really lower your expectations. ;)
DeleteWhile I did like this one I also found it confusing (and still do). I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one.
ReplyDeleteYeah, and I'm hearing the rest don't really make sense either. Sigh!
DeleteI'm one of those people who was super disappointed by this one. I think I had it hyped up way to much for me going in. I did enjoy the ending though...actually that was probably the one thing I liked about the entire book! It almost made me want to read the rest of the series lol! Glad to hear that you enjoyed it more than I did!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I had to lower my expectations before I read it. The ending wasn't as bad as I thought either. I was expecting way worse.
Delete+JMJ+
ReplyDeleteHmmmm. What you wrote about the other characters telling Thomas to wait for more information and Thomas not being able to remember anything reminds me of . . . Fallen by Lauren Kate, one of the worst YA novels I've read since I started blogging. =P It is amateurish when a character (reasonably?) demands to know more and the author's way of dealing with that is to get other characters to stall for him. Better not to raise the issue, I say. (Then again, how many novels have I published? LOL!)
LOL! Yeah, well apparently it doesn't take good writing to publish a book anymore. ;)
DeleteTotally agree with you on this one (I know, right?). The story was interesting enough to keep me reading, but the writing is just ... yeah. I do want to finish this series eventually, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. Someday.
ReplyDeleteWe are so on a roll lately! ;) I'll finish this one...maybe sooner rather than later so I don't completely forget this one.
DeleteI love what you said about the grievers. I imagine them as jelly cows with saws. So, not exactly scary. I hate to join with everyone else, but there aren't a lot of answers in the series. The other two are pretty similar to the first.
ReplyDeleteYeah, this no answer thing has me worried but people warned me I'd hate this one and it wasn't that bad so we'll see.
DeleteSo...I loved this book. Maybe I just have low standards?? LOL. I thought the grievers sounded scary, but then again Land Before Time gives me nightmares. Recurring nightmares. The whole series goes with the theme of insanity. There's different forms of it throughout. The last book has a padded white room and a mad scientist. I'm a fan of this series, but there are a lot of unanswered questions by the end of the series. I love your snarky and honest reviews. Maybe I should be more snarky.... :)
ReplyDeleteJessica @ Books: A true story
Don't feel bad. The Dark Crystal and The Secret of Nymh still give me nightmares!
DeleteHaha, I really liked this one, but I know what you mean about the Grievers! They weren't all that frightening, were they :P. Great review, and glad this book wasn't as bad as you thought it'd be :).
ReplyDeleteNo, they really weren't. Oh well. It wasn't bad at all.
DeleteHello:
ReplyDeleteNew Follower. Nice Blog.
Found you on a comment on The Story Girl's Blog.
I wanted to let you know that I LOVED The House of Serenades. :)
Here is my review. Hope you can stop by to read it.
http://silversolara.blogspot.com/2012/05/house-of-serenades-by-lina-simoni.html
Elizabeth
Silver's Reviews
Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteThis book was awesome!! Got my heart racing. My favorite characters are definitely Minho and Newt.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to read the third book tomorrow. The LAST one.