Dystopian fiction
Three and half stars
Dashner's book begins with the main character, Thomas, waking up in a dark lift with no memory of anything other than his name. When it's opened he is helped by a group of young boys living in the Glade, a section of land surrounded by large stone walls. Every morning the walls slide open, leading to a seemingly impossible maze that the boys have been trying to solve for years. And every night they close, sealing anyone outside from getting back in - and no one's returned alive. Thomas' arrival is no surprise as a boy is sent to the Glade once a month, but when a girl shows up the next day bringing a message, everything changes. As the group rushes to solve the maze and the way out, Thomas must search for answers of his own, starting with the ones locked beneath the surface of his memory.
So Dashner isn't one of the most poetic writers, but he definitely knows how to keep a reader interested. The book is very action-motivated, very straightforward in its delivery. There is a mood of suspense throughout it, which is frustrating at first because the reader is given little information, but becomes more exciting as the plot moves along and discoveries are made. Also, the writing style can create a lack of connection with the characters at times, an impression of flatness. But you do experience the sense of community between the group of boys, you understand their fear and desire for escape. It was fairly realistic in terms of their interactions and the way they organize themselves. There are moments of humour, pain, anger, anticipation. It's hard to put down because of the fast-paced plot, and I was legitimately terrified at a few places. Dashner's novel is adventurous, a little gruesome, but ultimately a story of survival.
“Just follow me and run like your life depends on it. Because it does.”
Finish the series: The Scorch Trials and The Death Cure by James Dashner
No comments:
Post a Comment