Maze Runner by James Dashner

The first of science fiction trilogy create by James Dashner published on October 2009. The novel revolves on the lives of young boys, with no memories, trapped inside a maze for an unknown reason and all hoping to escape the said place.

Characters

• Thomas - (Named after Thomas Edison) He is the main protagonist of the story. Like everyone else, he could not remember anything from his past including except for the name Thomas and his desire to be a "runner". Later in the story, he realizes his importance in being inside the changing maze.
• Teresa - (Named after Mother Teresa) The only girl that has been sent to the Glade (Maze). She can talk to Thomas through telepathy.
• Alby - (Named after Albert Einstein) Known as the leader of the gladers.
• Newt - (Named after Isaac Newton) One of the few gladers, second in command with Alby. He was once a runner but stopped after he injured his leg. He is one of the closest friends of Thomas
• Minho - The leader (keeper) of the runners, who is in charge of navigating and creating the maps for the maze.
• Chuck - (Named after Charles Darwin) The first glader to befriended Thomas since he was the greenhorn before him.
• Gally - (Named after Galileo) Being stung by a griever, he was one of the few people who survived and was able to recover parts of his memories. Being able to see from his memories, he doesn't trust Thomas as he believes that he is one of the people who sent them in the maze. He is also the keeper of the Builders.

Synopsis

The novel opens from the time Thomas arrives at the Glade (aka the Maze) where he was greeted by Alby. The first few parts of the story explains the life of the gladers are inside the maze and how each one of them is assigned to a specific job. Though being the newbie and like everyone else who can't remember anything from their past life (except the ones being bitten by Grievers and survivide), he was accused by Gally, a co-glader and keeper of the builders, that he seen him in his memories as of the people who sent them in the maze.

Aside from knowing his name, Thomas feels that the he has been in the maze before and seeing Minho and other runners, made him feel that he wants to join them as a runner too. One night, he follows Alby outside the maze in the event of saving him and was trapped out there in the danger for one night. Being able to survive, he was then assigned as one of the runners. Days after and a new glader has been brought to the maze and this time it was different from usual since it was a girl and most of all, she knows Thomas.

From here the story progresses on their attempt to escape the maze and later find out that the reason why Thomas and the girl was brought on the maze was to trigger a series of event that will bring destruction to everyone inside.

What I Can Say

If you are a fan of sci-fi and post-apocalyptic readings, then this book is for you. The story keeps me guessing on what could be the reason why they are brought to "The Glade" but sorry for me, the story ended without telling you exactly the answer to this reason. The story ended in the way leaving the readers to guess what happens next sort of like a TV drama with "to be continued" phrase at the end. I'm not really a fan of such type of novels so I really didn't appreciate this one. For me, stories and novels should at least close the main plot line even if it has a follow up book. It's like "hey we are in a maze so let's get out" and the story ended there.

Quoted from the Book

"If you ain't scared… you ain't human."
-Alby

"It's kind of hard to ask a dead guy what he did wrong"
-Minho

"Just follow me and run like your life depends on it. Because it does."
-Unnamed man

Rating

3 out of 5

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Paper Towns by John Green

The third book written by American author, John Green, on year 2008. The story starts with the life of young friends Quentin (aka Q) and Margo seeing a scene that has changed their life without them knowing.

The story flashes forward to their high school years when one night, Margo and Q went for a one night of great adventure. Here is a story of getting lost and being found.

Characters

• Quentin "Q" Jacobsen - the story's main protagonist. A young man who has a crush for his neighbor Margo since they were kids
• Margo Roth Spiegelman - Q's love interest and neighbor, who went missing after one night of great adventure with Quentin
• Marcus "Radar" Lincoln - one of Q's best friend and the author of "Omnictionary". His parents are said to own the largest collection of Black Santas and described in the book as having all type of Santa figures in their home.
• Ben Starling - one of Q's best fried and has a reputation as "Bloody Ben" after a kidney failure that most people think that it was because of chronic masturbating.
• Lacey Pemberton - an old friend (best friend) of Margo who went with Q and friends on finding Margo. She has been Ben's boyfriend too.

Synopsis

Started when both Quentin and Margo were younger and saw a murder scene in a park. Realizing the event, they thought that a guy has it's strings broken, a metaphor at their young age, was the reason the man died.

From there, the story flashes forward to their high school years. They were maybe neighbors but on campus they are just strangers living on their own life.

One night, Margo knocks on Q's window and persuade him for a night adventure - a series of pranks and revenge plotted by Margo Spiegelman leaving only her initial on every crime scene. It was a night full of laughter and realization, a night that Q didn't realize would change him.

The day after, Margo suddenly disappeared without notifying everyone leaving no trace (or the way it looks like). Days passes by until Q accidentally found a clue on Margo's window telling him the whereabouts of her. From there the story progresses as Q looks for more clues and hints that she leaves in the hope of finding her.

What I Can Say

I find this story one of the few that you can't put down upon reading. The suspense on every chapter fills me as it unfolds the mystery of Margo's disappearance.

I love how the story defines the title Paper Towns - giving two meanings (an unfinished subdivision that just exists on brochure and a map trademark use for cartography) but I think it conveys that some places are just imaginary. One thing though that I really love about the story is how the protagonists explore the world, leaving his comfort zone, for an adventure worth remembering.

Quoted from the Book

"It is so hard to leave—until you leave. And then it is the easiest goddamned thing in the world."
-Margo

"The town was paper, but the memories were not."
-Margo

"I didn't need you, you idiot. I picked you. And then you picked me back."
-Margo

"At some point, you gotta stop looking up at the sky, or one of these days you'll look back down and see that you floated away, too."
-Detective Otis Warren

"Okay, you're the Grammar King again. You've regained your throne. Now take me to SeaWorld."
-Margo

"It's always seemed so ridiculous to me, that you would want to be with someone just because they're pretty. Like choosing breakfast cereal based on color instead of taste"
-Margo

Rating

4.5 out of 5

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The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The fourth book written by John Green and published by January 2012. This young-adult novel tells the story of a young 16-year old girl, with thyroid cancer, and her journey through teenager's life.

Characters

• Hazel Grace Lancaster - a 16-year old girl diagnosed with Stage 4 thyroid cancer. Augustus Waters' girlfriend.
• Augustus Waters - described as a tall, smart, attractive young guy. Similar to Hazel, he is diagnosed too with cancer.
• Isaac - a friend to both Hazel and Augustus. At the start of the story he was describe to have been diagnosed wiht eye cancer and for him to be NEC, he's eyes were removed permanently making him completely blind.
• Peter Van Houton - an American writer of Hazel's favorite book -- An Imperial Affliction

Synopsis

Hazel Grace, diagnosed with cancer, was force to attend a Support Group where she met Augustus Waters, a young guy with "one leg". The two get along together, went on dates, and even shared secrets and hobbies most specifically Hazel's favorite book entitled An Imperial Affliction. AIA is a book written by Peter Van Houton telling a story about a young girl diagnosed with rare blood cancer. Apparently, the book ended unusually when the main character died leaving readers, including Hazel and Augustus puzzled about the ending. Their questions about the book brought them to Amsterdam where that made their relationship even deeper. On their last day on their trip, Augustus tells Hazel that he's cancer has returned and he's getting worse as day passes.

Returning to their hometown, the couple faces the worst truth about life and the pain of living that soon enough one of them has to go on first with facing death.

What I Can Say

Many people get hyped after reading this especially after it was turned into a movie during the summer of 2014. People were so dazzle with how the love story of two people ended up so tragic and leaving everyone with teary eyes.

But being a person who doesn't really appreciate romantic scenes, I see more of the story showing how life gives you joys and tears both on unexpected moment.. both on unexpected timing. I love how Green tackles the truth about cancer, that even though it was somehow fictional, he somehow shows the good side of the world on how others see people with said disease.

Technically, it gives me an impression that even though you're at your weakest point, life has still its own way of showing you the beauty it has to give.

Quoted from the Book

"That's the thing about pain, it demands to be felt."
— Augustus Waters

"My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations."
— Augustus Waters

"Some infinities are bigger than other infinities."
— Hazel Grace Lancaster

"The marks humans leave are too often scars."
— Augustus Waters

"Maybe 'okay' will be our 'always'"
— Augustus Waters

"Some tourists think Amsterdam is a city of sin, but in truth it is a city of freedom. And in freedom, most people find sin."
— Augustus Waters

Rating

4.5 out of 5

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