By Ernest Cline
Genre YA Sci-fi
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Synopsis
In the future the world is becoming more and more ugly. Wade Watts, like most everyone else on the planet spends his time plugged into the OASIS, a virtual world where you can be anyone and be anywhere. And like everyone else, Wade dreams of finding the ultimate prize. The OASIS' inventor has hidden three quests in the OASIS and whoever finds and completes them wins his fortune.
First Sentence
Everyone my age remembers where they were and what they were doing when they first heard about the contest.
I've been avoiding reading this one since it first came out in 2011. I'm a nerd but I'm not THAT big of a nerd! When my book club voted to read it I inwardly groaned and probably outwardly groaned too. I did NOT want to read this book! I almost decided to just skip the book this time around but figured I couldn't really call myself a reader if I wouldn't at least give it a try. So I tried.
And guess what? It was way nerdy! Like over the top, nerdy as hell. There wasn't a single moment he showed us the story it was all telling all of the time and about that telling...Cline really needs to take a chill pill. Sure he created an awesome idea (who wouldn't want to plug into the Oasis and go visit The Shire etc?) but Cline seemed a little too obsessed with this world he created and would stop the story to tell us all about it...over and over and over!!!! And the amount of times everything just coincidentally worked out had me rolling my eyes more times than I can count. Oh, and male nerds seem to have this obsession with the manic pixie girl type because the love interest, surprise, surprise, was one.
ALL of that aside...I could NOT put this book down! I was glued to it like I was glued to The Legend of Zelda A Link To The Past video game back in the day. It was full of flaws but it was one hell of a ride! I was dying to see it all play out even though I knew it would all work out I couldn't stop turning pages to make sure it did. Phew!
My three star rating I think is fair. It kept me totally immersed and turning pages but that's not an excuse for all its flaws. Just because a book is exciting and being made into a movie by Steven Spielberg doesn't mean it can be poorly written and edited; in my opinion.
Should you read it
I think, if you've ever played video games or lived through the 80s you're going to find it as unputdownable as I did but get ready to get your geek on.
Your reviews crack me up. I haven't wanted to start this one either because I know just how 80s Geek it would be. It's hard either books that keep you entertained but that you can see all the flaws. Like some social media to be honest...
ReplyDeleteI read this so long ago I only remember bits and pieces of it, but I do remember that it read fast and I found it hard to put down.
ReplyDeleteHa ha ha! I will give you that it's nerdy and that he does tell a lot. But, I don't mind it. I think he shows enough too. I'm excited to see what happens in the rest of the book.
ReplyDeleteHere's to nerds and the 80s!!! :) I remember loving it despite the video game aspect, which is one nerdy thing I don't get. Still trying to decide if I re-read/skim it for book club... if I can find it that is. Glad you mostly almost sort of enjoyed it. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favorite books! I'm bummed you didn't like it as much as I did, but still glad you liked at that it kept you reading. I listened to it (narrated by Wil Wheaton) not sure if that made a difference for the book or not.
ReplyDeleteI've read several rave reviews of this book but haven't got around to reading it. Your review definitely intrigued me. I guess I'll read it if the mood calls for it.
ReplyDeleteI've read several rave reviews of this book but haven't got around to reading it. Your review definitely intrigued me. I guess I'll read it if the mood calls for it.
ReplyDeleteI had a lot of fun when I read this. Glad you liked it!
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I'm going to get this in time for book club, which is okay since I can't come to book club anyway!
ReplyDeleteI liked this book but didn't love it, it's totally a three star for me as well. I am kinda curious about the movie, just to see how they adapt it visually. In fact I had to push myself to finish it, although I did like some of the video game references and stuff. I thought it a tad overhyped.
ReplyDeleteLOL about LEgend of Zelda...
Yes to all the criteria for reading this book for me. I meet all of them! I do have this book, but haven't read it yet. I will before I ever see the movie, so that will likely make me get on with reading it. Better figure out how much time I have before it hits rental.
ReplyDeleteI didn't get very far with this one. I've never been into video games and reading this was like watching someone else play a video game. Boring! And all the detail. Snore. I gave up about 1/4 of the way through because the story was going nowhere. Maybe I didn't stick with it long enough because READY PLAYER ONE was VERY putdownable for me.
ReplyDelete:D As someone who grew up in the 80s playing video games, I had a great time reading Ready Player One. I remember it only being a 4 star read for me, but it was so long ago I don't really remember the issues I had with it (which is kind of great).
ReplyDelete