September 2014 Bookshelf Bucket List: Technoliterature! + Event Alert: Marie Lu Book Signing Event

How's it going? It's that time of the month again! Time to list down yet another set of books that our bookshelves ought to have before it breaks. This month's theme is all about technology! I figured that since this month is the month of the release of the iPhone 6 (which apparently is also a flip phone lol), it would only be appropriate. This month's BBL features books in which technology plays a huge part. So with all that said, let us begin!

1. The Eye of Minds

• Title: The Eye of Minds
• Author: James Dashner
• Genre: young adult, sci fi, dystopia, adventure
• Pages: 308 pages (hardcover)
• Published: 8 October 2013
• Series:  The Mortality Doctrine #1

"An all-new, edge-of-your seat adventure from James Dashner, the author of the New York Times bestselling Maze Runner series, The Eye of Mindsis the first book in The Mortality Doctrine, a series set in a world of hyperadvanced technology, cyberterrorists, and gaming beyond your wildest dreams . . . and your worst nightmares.

Michael is a gamer. And like most gamers, he almost spends more time on the VirtNet than in the actual world. The VirtNet offers total mind and body immersion, and it’s addictive. Thanks to technology, anyone with enough money can experience fantasy worlds, risk their life without the chance of death, or just hang around with Virt-friends. And the more hacking skills you have, the more fun. Why bother following the rules when most of them are dumb, anyway?

But some rules were made for a reason. Some technology is too dangerous to fool with. And recent reports claim that one gamer is going beyond what any gamer has done before: he’s holding players hostage inside the VirtNet. The effects are horrific—the hostages have all been declared brain-dead. Yet the gamer’s motives are a mystery.

The government knows that to catch a hacker, you need a hacker.
And they’ve been watching Michael. They want him on their team.
But the risk is enormous. If he accepts their challenge, Michael will need to go off the VirtNet grid. There are back alleys and corners in the system human eyes have never seen and predators he can’t even fathom—and there’s the possibility that the line between game and reality will be blurred forever."

This selection is somewhat influenced by my reading experience with the Maze Runner series. I thought that since I had an epic read with the same author, why not try this one? And sci fi happens to be one of my favorite genres, so I think that this book could be interesting. And I just thought of this right now but this pick somehow celebrates the premier of the Maze Runner movie as well (which I have not seen yet *sobs*).

2. Feed

• Title: Feed
• Author: M. T. Anderson
• Genre: young adult, sci fi, dystopia, fantasy
• Pages: 308 pages (paperback)
• Published: 23 February 2004
• Series:  none

"For Titus and his friends, it started out like any ordinary trip to the moon - a chance to party during spring break and play with some stupid low-grav at the Ricochet Lounge. But that was before the crazy hacker caused all their feeds to malfunction, sending them to the hospital to lie around with nothing inside their heads for days. And it was before Titus met Violet, a beautiful, brainy teenage girl who has decided to fight the feed and its omnipresent ability to categorize human thoughts and desires. Following in the footsteps of George Orwell, Anthony Burgess, and Kurt Vonnegut Jr., M. T. Anderson has created a not-so-brave new world — and a smart, savage satire that has captivated readers with its view of an imagined future that veers unnervingly close to the here and now."

Now this next book I have heard from during Alex London's book signing event. He was talking about how he admires this book and how it somehow influenced his two books Proxy and Guardian. Just thought I'd check it out and here it is now on our September 2014 BBL! I also would like to read this because it is not a part of a series. I mean I do love reading books from series but there's just this magical feeling of finishing a book with no sequel. I can't describe it in detail but it just leaves you longing but at the same time feeling contented. 

3. Legend

• Title: Legend
• Author: Marie Lu
• Genre: young adult, sci fi, dystopia, fantasy
• Pages: 305 pages (paperback)
• Published: 16 April 2013
• Series:  Legend #1

"From different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths...

Until June's brother is murdered, and Day becomes the prime suspect.

In a shocking turn of events, the two uncover what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths to which their country will go to keep its secrets."

Now this is exciting! I figured it would be a great way to end our BBL with this book since Marie Lu is actually going to have a book signing this November! But here's the deal: I'm super undecided if I should go to this event or not, primarily because I haven't read her books yet. Hahaha. That is why this is on this month's BBL. Alex London and Marie Lu are great friends, so maybe I'll like this series as well? Who knows? But sure enough, this book caught my interest, and I can't wait to read it. And maybe I'll make up my mind about the event after I'm done with this.

So that's it for this month's Bookshelf Bucket List! Have these books caught your interest as well? Or do you have books to recommend to me that might fall down this month's theme? Let me know in a comment! Until then, this has been your on-duty bookworm Jude, sharing with you every month three books that our bookshelves ought to have before it breaks. Oh yeah, time to wake up that guy from Green Day. Happy October everyone! Peace!

Book Review: The Death Cure

The Death Cure is more than just the final book of the Maze Runner trilogy. Other than ending the trilogy, it's also where we learn more about the characters' past world. In the Death Cure, we receive a few answers for some of our questions beginning with "why". But then again, like the previous books, the questions with the most juicy answers are the ones not cleared. (sigh) And I don't consider it as an "ending" either.

The Scorch Trials: Blazing With Enigma (Book Review)

Some men just want to watch the world burn. And for James Dashner, that statement is not merely a figure of speech. Dashner's sequel to the question-inducing Maze Runner is a fiery hot mixture of mysteries, problems, trials, deaths, (yes, deaths) and twists that will leave your questions barely answered. BARELY.

• Title: The Scorch Trials
• Author: James Dashner
• Genre: science fiction, Dystopian, young adult
• Pages: 368 pages
• Series: The Maze Runner

"Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. No more puzzles. No more variables. And no more running. Thomas was sure that escape meant he and the Gladers would get their lives back. But no one really knew what sort of life they were going back to.

In the Maze, life was easy. They had food, and shelter, and safety . . . until Teresa triggered the end. In the world outside the Maze, however, the end was triggered long ago.

Burned by sun flares and baked by a new, brutal climate, the earth is a wasteland. Government has disintegrated—and with it, order—and now Cranks, people covered in festering wounds and driven to murderous insanity by the infectious disease known as the Flare, roam the crumbling cities hunting for their next victim . . . and meal.

The Gladers are far from finished with running. Instead of freedom, they find themselves faced with another trial. They must cross the Scorch, the most burned-out section of the world, and arrive at a safe haven in two weeks. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.

Thomas can only wonder—does he hold the secret of freedom somewhere in his mind? Or will he forever be at the mercy of WICKED?"

To be honest, if it weren't for the suspense effect that Dashner uses, I would be totally disappointed about The Scorch Trials. If you've read The Maze Runner, you'll be disappointed that you've read it from cover to cover without getting an explanation to the abnormal things that have been happening to Thomas, the protagonist. Now imagine what you would feel if you read another whole book yet once again the explanation you are longing for is not there. I've got a couple of words for that: utter disappointment. 

The Maze Runner: Definitely Not a Pile of Klunk (Book Review)

It's been a while since I've read another good book, and by good I mean really really good. The kind of book that you could probably read from front to back non-stop if you had the time. Luckily I was able to get some suggestions from my friends and good that! I think I've found yet another one of these "good books".

   

• Title: The Maze Runner
• Author: James Dashner
• Genre: science fiction, Dystopian, young adult
• Pages: 374 pages
• Series: The Maze Runner

"When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he's not alone. When the lift's doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade-a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don't know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they've closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.

Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up-the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. 

Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind."

I've been reading a lot of Dystopian books and I have to say The Maze Runner outranks all of them. First, it's because I can easily relate to Thomas, the main character, since we're of the same age group. Dashner used a straightforward manner in revealing things that makes The Maze Runner easy to understand. Also, I admire the concept of the maze itself. The maze puzzle gives you the I-just-cant-stop-reading-this-until-they-solve-the-freaking-maze kind of feeling. (Now that's a mouthful!)