I just finished the Maze Runner as one of my #Summerthrowdown reads for July and #MustReadin2014. I have been waiting weeks on the library hold list to get my hands on a copy. I found it entertaining and irritating at the same time.
The premise for the story was fantastic. There is a massive stone wall maze that contains an area known as "the glade" which is home to a group of teen age boys whose memories have been wiped before they arrived. Once a month a "greenie"or "greenbean" is sent up via a metal box to join the others. The boys are left to survive using the few supplies they are regularly provided and must live by their wits. Every day a group of Runners go into the maze to seek an escape. After two years the mystery of the maze has yet to be solved when Thomas shows up and then everything changes including the sudden arrival of a girl.
I like the mystery of the story but the characters were blah with the exception of Chuck and Newt. I envisioned Newt as an Aussie accented character and Chuck as the sweet gullible buddy who is bound to be killed off.
The movie trailer certainly makes it look more exciting than the book. I really want to see the movie but the book was only mildly entertaining.
I have continued on my Harry Potter Re-read challenge and am up to The Order of the Phoenix. I mostly listen to the audio version while I work. I never get tired of Harry Potter.
In my car, I am listening to Insurgent because I like Emma Galvan's voice. I can only listen to so much before I get fed up with Tris. (Yes, I do like the series but after a second read of it, Tris has become a bit full of herself always insisting on taking on all the bad guys alone}. I think now that I know the full outcome of the series, I am a bit more harsh with Tris. I was the same way with Bella Swan's lack of confidence. The girl could cook, she was smart, she was kind and a good friend. Why was she so down on herself?
I also spent a day at the library reading through a stack of picture books but my favorite picture book of the week was one sent to me by author Debbie Diesen. See pictures from inside the book hereI am setting it aside to use as a start of school book.

Next up for me is The Night Gardener, Almost Abigail, and more Harry Potter.
What does your reading week look like? Let me know.


