Book Review | The Maze Runner by James Dashner

The Maze Runner is a YA dystopian novel by James Dashner. It is also the first book in the Maze Runner series.

If you ain’t scared, you ain’t human.

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.

Nice to meet ya, shank. Welcome to the Glade.

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.

Everything is going to change.

Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.

Remember. Survive. Run.

Take this review with a grain of salt.

I tried to read The Maze Runner back in January with no luck. I couldn't get into it at all, and I decided it wasn't for me.

This past month, however, my hubs wanted to watch the movie. I have strict rules against watching a movie before I read the book, but since I had no intentions of reading the book, I thought what the hey. It's not often hubs is requesting one of "my" movies so I went with it.

Here's the kicker - I really liked the movie. So much so that I wanted to read the book.

The book was much easier for me to get into this time around because it was more like a reread. I was also listening to it on audio with a good narrator so it was altogether a nice read for me.

I can't say what my original rating would have been if I had forced my way through it, but I do know my interest in this series is high right now. I just need to decide if I'm going to read The Scorch Trials now or stick with watching the movies.

6/10: Good Read

Have you read The Maze Runner? What about the movie - have you seen it? I'm really looking forward to The Scorch Trials. I'm leaning more toward doing the movie again, though.

My Favorite Movie Adaptations

Today's Top Ten Tuesday topic over at The Broke and the Bookish is Top Ten Best/Worst Movie Adaptations. I was afraid at first that I wouldn't have enough favorites, but I wound up with way too many. I did my best to narrow it down.

MY FAVORITE ADAPTATIONS

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy



This speaks for itself. If you haven't read the books, they are as beautiful as the movies. Usually the film makers have to add witty dialogue and perfect the timing for the screen. The best lines from the movies are taken straight from Tolkien. This is suddenly turning into a book promo.. you need to read LOTR.

Jurassic Park



I watched Jurassic Park before I read the book. I can guarantee you that made a huge difference in my love of the adaptation. My husband did the right thing and read the book first, but now too many things grate on his nerves about the movie. I simply don't have that problem.

The Firm



I loved reading The Firm, and I was psyched when it came to the theater. Tom Cruise was cast as Mitchell McDeere which was fantastic. The ending to the movie was entirely different than the book, but it really worked. The only change I wasn't happy with was his car. Two other Tom Cruise movies almost made this list, too: The Interview with the Vampire and The War of the Worlds. I know I'm flawed, but you'll learn to love me.

Stephen King



If I were to count all of my favorite Stephen King adaptations, it would take up the rest of this post. Instead, I'm just going to count "Stephen King" as one and post some of my favorite Stephen King movie adaptations. I'm certain I missed some.



The Hunger Games



Right? I imagine I will see this on a million lists today. I hope Lions Gate will do as much justice to the upcoming release of Divergent as they did to The Hunger Games.

Phantoms



If you haven't read Phantoms by Dean Koontz, do it. It's one of my favorite books. The movie was a little goofy, but I loved it anyways. It stars Mr. Ben Affleck and Rose McGowan.

Harry Potter



This list is in no particular order.

Where the Red Fern Grows



This movie is as equally tear jerking as the book. I ugly cry for days. This movie was my grandfather's favorite movie of all time. It has a solid spot on my list.

The Last Man on Earth



Out of all of the I Am Legend adaptations, The Last Man on Earth starring Vincent Price is my favorite. I do enjoy the latest adaptation starring Will Smith, but the ending to the book I Am Legend is one of my favorite endings and The Last Man on Earth captures it the best.

THE WORST ADAPTATIONS

I had a list of worst movies, too, because I wasn't sure which direction I was going to take my post. Here are my top three worst movie adaptations:

Relic



Relic by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child is a fantastic book. I cannot say the same about the movie. Like Jurassic Park, I saw the movie before I read the book. I'm a huge fan of Adventures in Babysitting. Do you remember Brenda? The girl who ran away from home instead of spiking her mother's Tab with Drano? Penelope Ann Miller. She stared in Relic so it was a must see for me back in the day. Wow, that movie sucked.

I Am Number Four



I loooove the Lorien Legacies series. I wish beyond comprehension that Hollywood had waited before doing an I Am Number Four movie. The movie sucked so hard core, and now they will never make another one.

Left Behind



The Left Behind books should have made for awesome movies. Instead we got a couple of movies that are barely fit for TV.

ALL TIME FAVORITE MOVIE ADAPTATIONSS THAT I'VE NEVER READ

I can't stop myself. Some of my very all time favorite movies were based on books, but I've never read them!

The Princess Bride



Holy hell is this movie quotable. If you put two Princess Bride fans in the same room together, the quotes could go on for hours. Trust me.

The Neverending Story



I love The Neverending Story so hard core. I am waaaiting for the day my kids are old enough to watch it. I've debated for a long time whether I should read the book or not. I'm still undecided. (Have you read it?) For one thing, I don't want to find out what on earth Bastian is shouting out the window. If you know the princess's name, don't tell me. It's probably my most favorite mystery.

Do you have any favorite film adaptations? Do you agree with mine or did you hate some of my favorites?  Do you have any favorite movies you still haven't read?

Movie News: The Hunger Games

Have you been wondering the latest on The Hunger Games movie?  Of course you have!  Well, I've been enjoying all of the updates Jenni Elyse has been posting on her wonderful blog.  Click here to see all of her Hunger Games updates.

I'm really excited about this cast which includes some surprises like Lenny Kravitz and Woody Harrelson.

Go check out some of the news.

Are you excited about the movie and the cast?  Did you check out Jennifer Lawrence on the cover of Entertainment Weekly?  I was so happy to pull that issue out of my mailbox.  I had no doubt they could Katniss-ize her.

P.S. I stole this picture of Lenny Kravitz from Jenni Elyse's blog.  I hope she doesn't mind, but it makes my blog more attractive like that.  You're welcome.

Movie Adaptation of Stephen King's The Stand

The Stand is finally coming to the big screen!

Warner Bros. and CBS Films are teaming up to develop and produce the film.  No writer or director has been selected yet.

For full details visit Hollywood Reporter.

On a related note, Hollywood Reporter states "with Universal mounting an ambitious take on The Dark Tower, and now The Stand, King may be getting ready to return to the throne as the novelist the town loves the most."  My deepest desire is that Hollywood will follow up The Stand with an awesome adaptation of Robert McCammon's Swan Song. 

Are you a fan of The Stand?  Are you excited about another adaptation?

Movie News: The Hunger Games

Great news Hunger Games fans!  Entertainment Weekly has reported a release date for the highly anticipated film adaptation of The Hunger Games.

The movie release date is set for March 23, 2012.

Are you excited to see this book (series) brought to film?  I am.  Not only am I excited about seeing the story,  I'm excited the production company is Lionsgate.  When I first heard about the adaptation, I got really nervous about all the things Hollywood would do to it.  Would it they turn it into a dystopian love story?  All of my fears were put to rest the moment I heard: Lionsgate.  The Hunger Games will be brought to you by the same folks who made The Descent, House of 1000 Corpses, The Devil's Rejects...  This is the type of studio you would expect to find a plot like this:

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlaying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one girl and one boy between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. But Katniss has also resolved to outwit the creators of the games. To do that she will have to be the last person standing at the end of the deadly ordeal, and that will take every ounce of strength and cunning she has. 

Now we just have to wait about 14 more months...