The Maze Runners book review + Movie

Right as I got in the mood to read again I didn't have time to read until Saturday(Sept. 13th). I decided to read The Maze Runner first out of the other books on my To Be Read shelf since the movie comes out tomorrow. Now onto the review.


The Maze Runner (The Maze Runner book #1 of 4) by James Dashner

Paperback, 375 pages
Read: Sept. 13 - Sept. 18
Rating: 4.5/5
Genres: Young Adult, Dystopia, Action, Adventure
Summery: When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He's surrounded by strangers--boys whose memories are also gone.
Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It's the only way out--and no one's ever made it through alive.
Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.

Review: The book starts out with Thomas in the box(lift) to enter the glade, he has faint inklings to what things are, but no memories of people, faces or his age. I know there are people who did not like the book, or the series, but I really enjoyed this book and am excited to read the others. I liked all of the characters, even Gally. I liked the way Thomas as well as the others processed things. I think my favorite things about the book though were the way that the information was given in little spurts enough to keep me interested, and have my mind going to several different places, but not enough to overwhelm me. I also liked that the action/spots that were paced faster were placed through out the book not just the ending, I know some people don't enjoy that type of almost inconsistent pace, but I actually tend to like when action/adventure books are like that. Another thing I liked were the descriptions given, they were detailed enough for me to get a really good picture of what places, as well, as what the monsters looked like.

While reading comments for the movie I did run into some spoilers for the 2 sequels for the series, so I do know a little bit about what's going to happen/what did happen, I'm still excited to read the sequels, plus the prequel though. But if you're wanting to read the series and don't want to be spoiled I would suggest steering clear of things for the movie. Also once I see the movie either tomorrow or Monday, depending on who all is going with me, I will edit this post with a book-to-movie comparison.

Edited 9/23 12:22am
Book-to-Movie Rating: 4/5
Thoughts on the Book to Movie Adaptation: The movie was better than quite a few book to movie adaptations. My favorite things were the visuals the maze looked extremely similar to the cover of the book, I also liked that the cast was diverse (which is something you don't really get with regular movies, let alone YA book to movie adaptations). While the Grievers were not what I imagined/or what was described in the book they were scary/nasty looking things. There are a few things I wish they would have added, for the changes, now if you have read the book and are going to see the movie, obviously there are going to be differences, I think we all know that by now.  if you have not read the book, but have seen the movie you might be confused about some of these things, hopefully I don't spoil anything for you, but just in case here's the warning if you don't want to be spoiled you might not want to read this part.
For the things I wish they would have added more to.

I wish they would have added to Alby and Newt's relationship (while it was a small part of the book they were some of my favorite parts), I also wish they would have added to Thomas and Chuck's relationship, Because while the last part of the movie had an emotional pull I think it would have had more of one if they expanded on there relationship a little more.
So now onto the changes.
Gally never goes through the Changing, The Changing also happens a different way, the cure arrives a different way as well. Thomas gets some memories in a different way, as well as how he gets stung. The relationship between Thomas and Teresa (which I think makes Tom and Teresa's relationship work much better in the movie), how Teresa wakes up. How Thomas and Minho find the Hole, the Cliff is not there as well. The map clues, and the code. Alby revealing what he knows after the cure, how they exit through the hole, and where they end up right after. Newt also doesn't have a limp. The weather is different there as well (it rained for one part of the movie. How they kill the Griever (it's only one), the one boy each night.

That's most of what they changed (there are a few other small things). I tried my best to not spoil things, so hopefully I didn't, or if I did I hopefully didn't spoil much or anything important. While they did change quite a few things they changed it was still a really good book-to-movie adaptation, the cast worked very well, the changes didn't detract or take away from the movie for me, and at the last scene of the movie you get a look at what the Scorch Trials will look like which was exciting for me, so I hope they will film and release the sequel, which I am on Chapter 31/page 180 of.
Hope everybody had/has a great day : )