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kebreads's review against another edition
4.0
It took me a few chapters to get into this book, but once I did I really liked it.
mellhay's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really quick and easy read for me. I enjoyed following the beginning to Jimmy Fincher's tale. The author caught my attention in the first paragraph when Jimmy mentions he cannot be destroyed. I was curious to see how this all would play out. It was a nice adventure to get to the end of this book.
Jimmy was a normal 14 year old by with a Mom, Dad, and an older brother living in a town called Duluth, Georgia. Until the day he was climbing a tree and saw a man dragging a woman fighting into the woods, then she just vanishes. Where did she go? And why is this man... Oh, Jimmy nows this man... The whole story just takes off from here.
Jimmy is sent by his dad to find an old friend, not knowing exactly where this friend lives or what he looks like, whos name is Joseph. Then he is told by his dad to be scared, that being scared will keep him alive.
On page 3 of the book there was one paragraph I just loved and really made me look forward to the fun tale that was going to be told with a childs view and discription on things, which does make it easy to see knowing what a kid sees.
"Before I begin, there are things to say. You must prepare yourself. The world is not what you think it is, and the nightmares that sometimes wake you in the middle of a storm may be truer than you think. Every novel you've ever read may not be as fictional as you thought. If I have learned anything, it is that nothing is beyond possible or belief. The world as I once knew it has turned upside down, and I've finally realized that the phrase "truth is stranger than fiction" is not just a stupid cliche.""
Jimmy was a normal 14 year old by with a Mom, Dad, and an older brother living in a town called Duluth, Georgia. Until the day he was climbing a tree and saw a man dragging a woman fighting into the woods, then she just vanishes. Where did she go? And why is this man... Oh, Jimmy nows this man... The whole story just takes off from here.
Jimmy is sent by his dad to find an old friend, not knowing exactly where this friend lives or what he looks like, whos name is Joseph. Then he is told by his dad to be scared, that being scared will keep him alive.
On page 3 of the book there was one paragraph I just loved and really made me look forward to the fun tale that was going to be told with a childs view and discription on things, which does make it easy to see knowing what a kid sees.
"Before I begin, there are things to say. You must prepare yourself. The world is not what you think it is, and the nightmares that sometimes wake you in the middle of a storm may be truer than you think. Every novel you've ever read may not be as fictional as you thought. If I have learned anything, it is that nothing is beyond possible or belief. The world as I once knew it has turned upside down, and I've finally realized that the phrase "truth is stranger than fiction" is not just a stupid cliche.""
reason23's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to love this book because I'm such a fan of Dashner's other series, The Maze Runner and Eye of Minds, but this was just a big disappointment. The beginning is so bad I almost gave up on it right away, and was sure this was going to be a 1 star review. After it's very rocky start, it did improve, and I was able to finish it, but that isn't saying much.
This is a book that feels like it was written by a high schooler. The overuse is terrible similes provides a very amateur feel. The author tells you how to experience the book instead of showing you.
It's written from the perspective of 14 year old Jimmy, who I was sure was actually 10. Nothing about the narrative felt the way a teenager would act, speak, or think.
While I think the plot has promise, it doesn't feel very well developed, and the characters are very flat. I was never really invested in any part of this story. It also felt unfinished, as if the whole series was meant to be one book, and the publishers decided to break it up out of either greed or impatience. Very little happens, and nothing is explained. Who are the Stompers? The Givers? The Shadow Ka? Where are the "gifts" Jimmy is supposed to receive? Why were they brought up if they were not going to be explained?
This is a book of all action and no explanation, but even the action is more build up than anything happening. The one thing this book does have going for it is that it sets its scenes well. I can vividly picture every place Jimmy went. He just didn't do anything when he got there. And there was no ending. Not even a cliffhanger. The book just sort of stops, again making me believe the whole series was meant to be one single book.
I wouldn't recommend this book unless you want to commit to the entire 4 book series, and since I haven't read all 4 books, I'm not sure I would recommend making that commitment either.
This is a book that feels like it was written by a high schooler. The overuse is terrible similes provides a very amateur feel. The author tells you how to experience the book instead of showing you.
It's written from the perspective of 14 year old Jimmy, who I was sure was actually 10. Nothing about the narrative felt the way a teenager would act, speak, or think.
While I think the plot has promise, it doesn't feel very well developed, and the characters are very flat. I was never really invested in any part of this story. It also felt unfinished, as if the whole series was meant to be one book, and the publishers decided to break it up out of either greed or impatience. Very little happens, and nothing is explained. Who are the Stompers? The Givers? The Shadow Ka? Where are the "gifts" Jimmy is supposed to receive? Why were they brought up if they were not going to be explained?
This is a book of all action and no explanation, but even the action is more build up than anything happening. The one thing this book does have going for it is that it sets its scenes well. I can vividly picture every place Jimmy went. He just didn't do anything when he got there. And there was no ending. Not even a cliffhanger. The book just sort of stops, again making me believe the whole series was meant to be one single book.
I wouldn't recommend this book unless you want to commit to the entire 4 book series, and since I haven't read all 4 books, I'm not sure I would recommend making that commitment either.
mstaker's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting, but kind of creepy. A fast read that introduces you to Jimmy Fincher, his family, and his mission to save the world. I've liked the books that Dashner has written but I haven't fallen in love with any of them. This series has potential, I'll have to read some more of them to see if it gets any better.
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