Chris R.

Chris R. reviewed a book.

“Week May 12 (and partially previous weeks)
pages 1-241
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone intrigues the reader very well and does so in a very rare way (that I think is a British method). In addition to building up suspense, which JK Rowling does very well, she also creates an...”

“Week May 12 (and partially previous weeks)
pages 1-241
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone intrigues the reader very well and does so in a very rare way (that I think is a British method). In addition to building up suspense, which JK Rowling does very well, she also creates an extremely homely environment, letting the reader grow comfortable in the setting and get to know the characters almost as if they are their own person in the story. The brilliant setting is Hogwarts, which amazes any reader, and the characters are all very realistic people. Perhaps the realism in the characters accounts for the fantasy elements of the setting. Comparing this unique story to other books, I would say that it is extremely different from the Maze Runner series (which I have been reading), because there, the author tries to make you feel as uncomfortable as possible and to feel the same apocalyptic pressure that Thomas, the protagonist feels. However I can find the same welcoming qualities of Harry Potter in the Time Quintet Series by Madeline L'Engle. In that series, despite the obvious conflict, the reader feels extremely at home with the protagonist family. From this I can draw that how a writer creates this vision of a friendly welcome place is by making a protagonist inferior in their previous life/the outside world, but providing them not only with safety and opportunity at a wonderful and supernatural setting, such as Hogwarts (or the Murrys' house in The Time Quintet), but also with company. Also, giving all the surrounding people not out of the sanctuary but in it the same opinions on major problems as the protagonist. if the protagonist finds refuge in a place, so will the reader.”

Chris R. is now reading a book.

Chris R. added a book.

Chris R. reviewed a book.

“Week April 14 and previous weeks (Spring Break)
Pages 0-285
"The Scorch Trials" is a very big leap from "The Maze Runner" in the way that the setting is completely different and the world has suddenly become much realer at an unexpected time, and also that "The Maze Runner" was a much...”

“Week April 14 and previous weeks (Spring Break)
Pages 0-285
"The Scorch Trials" is a very big leap from "The Maze Runner" in the way that the setting is completely different and the world has suddenly become much realer at an unexpected time, and also that "The Maze Runner" was a much more original idea than "The Scorch Trials". However one scene so far that I was particularly impressed with was one in which Thomas and his new friend Brenda are being chased through the underground tunnel systems by diseased insane people. They find a hiding spot, a cubbyhole in the wall, and wait for their pursuers to leave. The impressive part is how shocked the reader is when they have waited five minutes and turn on the light, but the man is still there, hiding, and scares the life out of Thomas and the reader. Thinking about how Dashner was able to "scare" the reader, I think that the first step was showing that the insane people mean business. They had been seen previously in the book, and talked about, so the reader knows how lethal and scary they are. The next step was creating the action scene that the one scary part follows, so that it would be more intense. Then, after the reader is convinced that the man is indeed, not hiding outside, just like Thomas and Brenda are convinced, but he turns out to be. This scene was intriguing and good because of its surprise.
Week May 5th and previous weeks (Book was finished long before)
pages 285-359 (end)
SPOLIERS
This book, like its prediscesor, is amazing because of its action, its messages, and its astonishing character development. In book one, Thomas developed a lot, going from being an almost realistic person to a fearless and inhuman hero, learning to put up with all kinds of hardship and abuse. In The Scorch Trials, this aspect of the series only intensifies. Thomas becomes more durable and tolerant in the face of the trouble that WICKED is giving him. This is because of the physical pain, psychologically threatening situations, and emotional disturbance of WICKED even stepping on his relationships with his friends, manipulating him. This is where one of the main morals in the story comes in. Thomas always remains strong despite the surrounding terror, a quality that everybody is better off with. Because of this trait, the reader learns to appreciate Thomas (in combination with how his humanity is still made known). That is why I think that The ScorchTrials is even better than The Maze Runner.
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Chris R. rated a book.

• Rated 5 stars