Rose took my nose, I suppose
After finishing The Maze Runner I was looking forward to reading the second book. Again I watched the movie first, which I now think was a big mistake. But I also don’t think I would have reacted differently to the comparison between the movie and the book.
Book Review: The Scorch Trails by James Dashner
Rating:
Title & Author: The Scorch Trails by James Dashner
Genre: Dystopia, Adventure
Release Date: October 12 2010
Series: The Maze Runner
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Synopsis
Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end.
Thomas was sure that escape from the Maze would mean freedom for him and the Gladers. But WICKED isn’t done yet. Phase Two has just begun. The Scorch.
There are no rules. There is no help. You either make it or you die.
The Gladers have two weeks to cross through the Scorch—the most burned-out section of the world. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.
Friendships will be tested. Loyalties will be broken. All bets are off.
There are others now. Their survival depends on the Gladers’ destruction—and they’re determined to survive.
Pretty soon after starting The Scorch Trails by James Dashner, I noticed it was a completely different story from the movie. But that is not what this part is about, so I will leave that for a later point.
The story had some points that are a bit weird. Since the story is based around this test The Creatures have designed (and later been added on by Thomas and Teresa), that involves The Scorch. My problem with it is that there are so many things one can not predict, how can people do a test in such an environment? Because they are going on and on about the variables, but then they go on and do something like that. I don’t know, it just rubbed me the wrong way.
Also the characters don’t really grow during this book. Thomas gets some of his memories back during this book, but does not let himself grow because of it. He just stays the same angry boy, torn by his liking for two girls. And his liking for these girls seems really shallow.
Teresa’s place in the story still not really clear and the Gladers find a sign on her supposed door that says she is the betrayer, but even that is not really done. I think the new boy Aris is more of a betrayer, if you want to give someone that name.
These are just some of the things I did not like about the story. Another big thing I did not like what the fact that this book, just as The Maze Runner killed of a lot of characters, all of them not even worth a tear for. But never anyone that had a bigger role, like Newt or Frypan, people close to Thomas. How are we supposed to feel sad about that, if Thomas sometimes doesn’t even know the name of the kid? It feels like the author was trying to imitated the gore of a certain book series, but could not make himself to do it to his main characters.
The Movie
To be honest, this movie might have the same name as the book but there were literally one a hand full of plot points that were the same.
The movie was so completely different from the book I was shocked. Of course I understand when certain points are being left out because of time reasons. But this movie felt like something that was more ‘inspired by’ then actually ‘based on’. Which is not my favorite.
The movie has okay quality and acting. But the story was almost just as weird as the one in the book. So I did not like both.
Let me know what you thought of this book and/or movie
If you have any requests for which book I should talk about next, please let me know in the comments down below.
For now, let books enrich your life!