The Maze Runner 1 | 
bailedEntering a book slump after reading The Hunger Games prompted me to try another YA dystopian universe. Unfortunately, I was sorely disappointed (the book slump continues). Dashner's series lacks any real substance. There are no existential questions to ponder. No political meat. No political statement. No quest for morality. Which left the novel two-dimensional. The slang made the dialogue feel stilted and immature. (1/3).
TheIntrovertedDodoBird The characters were irksome and soulless. The randomly gifted protagonist felt cliched. Dashner's writing is a prime example of telling the reader instead of showing, which made the prose insipid. The description of the "strong female lead" was better suited to a Disney film, with her Snow White features. The quote - a pretty, feminine voice that sounded as if it came from a fairy goddess trapped in his skull - made me DNF. (2/3) 5mo
TheIntrovertedDodoBird The queer-baiting aspect of the series irked me, as well, with Dashner announcing some of the characters were LGBTQ+ after the series ended. Then, there are the patriarchal undertones in the book that cemented the misogynistic portrayal of the female lead, in my opinion. It's frustrating since I made the mistake of purchasing the box set. (3/3). 5mo
Bookwormjillk Oh bummer on the box set. Have you read Divergent or Ready Player One? It‘s been a few years but I remember liking those after Hunger Games. 5mo
TheIntrovertedDodoBird @Bookwormjillk I'll never make the box set mistake again, that's for sure. I read Divergent as a teenager. I remember enjoying the first novel, but DNF'd the second. I haven't read Ready Player One, though. It's read on my TBR pile forever, so I might dig it out and give it a try now that you've recommended it. Thank you! 5mo
dabbe #hailthebail! 🤩🤩🤩 5mo
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