Book Review: The Maze Runner by James Dashner.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner.
Book Summary: When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.
Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.
Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. 
Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.

Liana's Summary: When Thomas wakes up in the Glade, he immediately asks questions. Strange enough, no one answers them. It seems like they refuse to. And more than that, ever since Thomas came, things have been changing. A girl has come to the Glade. No girls ever come to the Glade- except, until now. A Griever has died. A dead Griever? Impossible. The boys all suspect that Thomas is behind everything. But he really doesn't know why everything is unfolding this way.

Rate(1-10): 9.5

So, at first, my friend recommended this book to me. She was fangirling over it so hard (not like it's anything abnormal for her in anything she loves, LOL.) over it. And she's like my fangirl buddy. I love talking books with her. Yeah Dalena. I'm talking about you. Everyone go visit her at kwalebooks.wordpress.com. Her reviews are KILLERRR.

And I didn't really want to read it at first because the way she described it made me assume that there was a bunch of wandering around. I mean, what else can you do in a place with a building and a huge maze? Also she described that the boys have to run around and hide from the huge human-killing monsters that live in the maze and the boys are forced to participate but that was my own assumption. And yeah. I was scared. But then as I read more and more action-packed stories that wrench at my heart and make it beat like crazy (Patrick Ness ahem ahem) I became reckless. So I downloaded the ebook of this book thinking, "YEAH MAN. I'M READY FOR SOME ACTION!"

And I ended up really liking it! The only thing that keeps it from being a 10 was the slow beginning. I think I almost fell asleep. But thank goodness it didn't last too long.

The title of this book speaks for itself! Thomas, the main character, is a Maze Runner. Boom. He's THE Maze Runner.. but I guess that's kind of spoiling the story, hm. I didn't really pay attention to it though as I read it, LOL. So I was really shocked when--

Ahem. No spoilers. Okay.

So, the character of Thomas. At first he seems like an annoying spoiled brat that throws tantrums and demands to have all his questions answered; immediately. When he first cried (He cries like 3 freaking times are you serious) I thought he was just throwing a tantrum but then the other 2 times later in the story signified that he was really frustrated after all he did and I could understand. He asks too much questions though. Ergh. And what annoyed me the most was that no one in the whole book bothered to answer his questions. They were all clandestine for some INEXPLICABLE reason. So for those who have read William Goldman's The Princess Bride, just so you know: Thomas uses inexplicable just like Vizzini uses inconceivable. "I have this urge to do this but I don't know why because it's inexplicable" "I can't move I don't know why because it's inexplicable" "I don't know what to do it's inexplicable". This is the most times I have ever seen inexplicable in one book. (I wonder if that can be a tongue twister. INEXPLICABLEINEXPLICABLEINEXPLICABLE)

What I really liked about this book was that the plot was totally unpredictable. Like, you can't even THINK of what's going to happen. No foreshadowing at all. I like that. Sometimes when authors foreshadow they give the climax all away. And maybe they did save us from a heart attack at the climax but, I'd prefer it if a bunch of emotions came rushing through me instead of a "I KNEW IT!"

What annoyed me was that, not only did all the other characters ignore Thomas's questions, they also suspected him of everything abnormal. If you read my summary, then you probably know that weird stuff started happening after Tom arrived.

I love J. Dashner's writing okay. It got really action-y and suspenseful after the beginning.

So, the character of Teresa. She's THE GIRL. Of the story. She's great. But I would have been happier if she participated more. I mean, most of the book she was in a coma. I heard there is romance in the rest of the series. But not reading the rest of the series JUST YET.

What's really cool is that Tom and Teresa can communicate by thinking. So cool right. I've always wanted to communicate by thinking.

This book totally reminds me of The Hunger Games in a way. Also Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. That last part in the maze where Cedric--

Ahem.

Everyone from the Glade in this book talks with this awks slang. They sure do say 'shank' a lot. WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN

So, I think the author has a really good imagination with the Grievers and everything. I had no trouble imagining them. He even added sound affects. Whirrrrrrrr click click click. Pretty cool right?! I LOVE INTERJECTIONS!

This book is amazingly action packed in the latter half.

The amount of character development? I don't think Tom changed all that much. I think he just became less timid as he got to know the rest of the Gladers better, as he became one of them. He just kind of changed because he wanted to 'redeem' himself.

And then there's this character of Minho. Some people hate him and some people love him. I think he's freaking amazing because his aggressiveness is just awesome. "I'm gonna break your faces!" Tom doesn't even know if he likes Minho or not. LOL.

When I got to this specific part in this book I just screeched out loud, "WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE THIS WAY?!!!!"

Sometimes dystopian life is so unfair. Silly me. It's always unfair.

Anyways. Quotes!

"Oh, and ugly as a fried liver on a stick."

That is so nice.

"It's a girl,"

"And then it started to climb the wall.."

"I nominate this shank to replace me as Keeper of the Runners."

"Eleven."

Dang. He's got some big feet.

"Gally's eyes raged with lunacy;.."

Again.

"Yeah.."

"I'm going through the Hole.."

THAT DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT

"Push.."


DO IT QUICK

"The Creators.."



"I'm gonna break your faces.."

"With a sickening, wet thunk.."

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And yeah. That's it! This book is fantastic. Can't believe I didn't read it sooner.
What did you think of this review? (;