Bri's Reviews > The Maze Runner

The Maze Runner by James Dashner
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I listened to this on audio.

I found the reader very entertaining and talented. He worked with a pretty limited script, giving major characters really excellent voices, conveying emotions with just his tone. The writing is okay, but pretty repetitive and sometimes childish. Perhaps that makes sense since it is about teenage boys, but I think I would have been bored without the reader.

I had seen the movie, so I had a vague sense of the plot, but as is often the case, the book was more interesting, although it felt very slow sometimes. You get a play by play of Tom's rather unrevelatory emotions constantly, which gets to be annoying.

The plot until the ending was engaging, especially if you have not seen the movie, I think. Dystopia is not often my thing, and this dystopian world sounds pretty boring so far. The premise of world-ending/making is unconvincing and outlandish. The maze is so all-consuming that when you get a glimpse at the context, it seems rather flat.

All in all, entertaining while driving, but nothing really great. This whole "children sent through the dystopian ringer" is a trope I'd be happy to see less of.
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Reading Progress

February 10, 2016 – Started Reading
February 10, 2016 – Shelved
February 22, 2016 – Finished Reading

Comments Showing 1-5 of 5 (5 new)

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message 1: by Hillary (new) - added it

Hillary I keep not reading this. It's been on my list for a while.


Laura In fairness, I feel like this one was towards the beginning of that trend


message 3: by Bri (new) - rated it 3 stars

Bri Hillary wrote: "I keep not reading this. It's been on my list for a while."

I would go to it when you want something quick and plot-driven, not if you have other good books on your list.


message 4: by Bri (new) - rated it 3 stars

Bri Laura wrote: "In fairness, I feel like this one was towards the beginning of that trend"

Yes, I suppose that's true..


Laura I would add, that Maze Runner works as a single novel, but as a series it devolves quickly and I just wouldn't bother reading past the first book. It's not the best dystopia story but the maze did give it something unique. The rest of the series is just about as generic as you can get.


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