As I post so often now, I’ve realised I need to be more precious with the time I’m giving to books. This means I’m giving up on series more easily than I used to. I was very stubborn as a teen and I would need to see series through to the end, but I don’t have the time to be doing that any more.
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
This is a bit of a sore spot for me. I remember getting this book way back when it had only been out for a year or so and oh god was I excited about it. I had heard so many beaming reviews and had a few people recommend it so, of course, I was excited. But do you think I could get into the story at all? The answer to that is a big fat no.
It took about three attempts but I finally finished reading the first book, and then I just didn’t continue with the rest. Now, this is a big thing because I already had the second book at this point and I hate not reading something if I’ve already brought it, but no I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
I’m still going to check out the Netflix adaptation though…
If you think I’ve made a huge mistake with this, please let me know. But honestly, I think it’s way too late to give this series a second chance.
Goodreads synopsis: Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can’t wait. In just a few weeks she’ll have the operation that will turn her from a repellent ugly into a stunning pretty. And as a pretty, she’ll be catapulted into a high-tech paradise where her only job is to have fun.
But Tally’s new friend Shay isn’t sure she wants to become a pretty. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world—and it isn’t very pretty. The authorities offer Tally a choice: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. Tally’s choice will change her world forever….
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
I do remember somewhat enjoying the first book in this series but only managed to just about finish the second. Nothing against James Dashner but his writing style just was not for me.
I often found myself getting bored with the storyline and thought it was quite confusing at times. I was 15 when I read these, so not actually too young to understand what was going on, but I found that I had no interest in finding out how the series would conclude. Which resulted in me never picking the rest of the books even though I already owned them.
The biggest issue for me was that they were marketed as the ‘must-have’ books for fans of The Hunger Games (my favourite book series at the time). They definitely did not live up to this expectation and maybe I would have enjoyed them more if I weren’t constantly comparing them.
Synopsis: If you ain’t scared, you ain’t human.
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone.
Nice to meet ya, shank. Welcome to the Glade.
Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out—and no one’s ever made it through alive.
Everything is going to change.
Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.
Remember. Survive. Run.
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