"The audiobook didn't work for me. Everything else is dystopian greatness!" — Miss Remmers
Release Date: October 2009 Publisher: Random House Challenges: Dystopia Challenge, Audiobook Challenge, Top YA Challenge, 100+ Reading Challenge
"Imagine waking up one day in total darkness, unsure of where you are and unable to remember anything about yourself except your first name. You're in a bizarre place devoid of adults called the Glade. The Glade is an enclosed structure with a jail, a graveyard, a slaughterhouse, living quarters, and gardens. And no way out. Outside the Glade is the Maze, and every day some of the kids — the Runners — venture into the labyrinth, trying to map the ever-changing pattern of walls in an attempt to find an exit from this hellish place. So far, no one has figured it out. And not all of the Runners return from their daily exertions, victims of the maniacal Grievers, part animal, part mechanical killing machines. Thomas is the newest arrival to the Glade in this Truman -meets-Lord of the Flies tale. A motley crew of half a dozen kids is all he has to guide him in this strange world. As soon as he arrives, unusual things begin to happen, and the others grow suspicious of him. Though the Maze seems somehow familiar to Thomas, he's unable to make sense of the place, despite his extraordinary abilities as a Runner. What is this place, and does Thomas hold the key to finding a way out?"
Subsequent Books: "The Scorch Trials" — October 2010 "The Death Cure" — October 11, 2011
I began "The Maze Runner" completely confused — I mean, calling my mom and saying, "Did I miss something?" I listened to this book while walking the dog and as I complete more and more audiobooks I realize that sometimes beginnings are so ambiguous that I need to call or text someone who I know has read the book to make sure that I'm on the right "disc" (although the best word is track as I upload it to my iPhone). "The Maze Runner" was like that — I was just sure I had accidentally pressed "shuffle."
Once I realized that "No, this is really how it starts," I let go of my confusion and attempted to acclimate to the story. It didn't really work for me. It's a longer audiobook and with three walks a day (about an hour a day) it still took me weeks to finish. This may be the first instance of my audiobook adventure that the audiobook didn't work in the books favor. I just didn't connect with the plot, the characters, or the setting.
I know, you're thinking right now that you've heard TONS of great things about this book and that you are so disappointed. I am too. But I'm not blaming the book at all and I'm not disagreeing with all of those fantastic reviews. I'm just saying that the audiobook (for me) didn't work. Everything else is dystopian greatness!
Two things that I can think of that hindered me were that the narrator was sounded like a thirty or forty year old and the boys were teenagers at best and that I had a hard time visualizing the setting. Again, this may not be the books fault but my own. My mind wanders when I listen and walk (and pick up Pip's business all at the same time). This, with the longer audiobook, could be a catalyst in my inability to connect. I'm not sure.
With all the series out today, I'm not sure if I'll continue this journey with Thomas in "The Scorch Trials." If I decide to, I'll definitely be reading and not listening. Have you read the second novel? Do you recommend it? Why?
Did I make a reference to my dog's feces in this post? That's a first!
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To the FTC, with love: Audiobook from Library