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Ready Player One (Ready Player One, #1)

Ernest Cline

Start date: February 1, 2015

Finish date: February 28, 2015

Discussion: FEBRUARY | Ready Player One

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FEBRUARY | Ready Player One

* February's Book Pick!
By Jess | FairyT… · 20 posts · 132 views

last updated Feb 07, 2015 10:00PM

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What do you want to read in March?
By Jess | FairyT… · 65 posts · 206 views

last updated Mar 03, 2015 03:36PM

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Feb 04, 2015 Sylvia rated it really liked it

3.8/3.9 stars out of 5

"These three words were always the last thing an OASIS user saw before leaving the real world and entering the virtual one: READY PLAYER ONE."

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline is set in the year 2044 when pretty much everything on earth has gone to hell. At this point in time, pretty much all of humanity lives and conducts business in a virtual world called the OASIS. When the multibillionaire creator of the OASIS James Halliday dies, he creates an elaborate, three level, 80 3.8/3.9 stars out of 5

"These three words were always the last thing an OASIS user saw before leaving the real world and entering the virtual one: READY PLAYER ONE."

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline is set in the year 2044 when pretty much everything on earth has gone to hell. At this point in time, pretty much all of humanity lives and conducts business in a virtual world called the OASIS. When the multibillionaire creator of the OASIS James Halliday dies, he creates an elaborate, three level, 80's infused, riddle- laden, game within the OASIS. The prize, an Easter egg his fortune and control of the OASIS. Five years after Halliday's death, no one had managed to crack any of the levels of the game; that is, until Wade Watts. As soon as Wade Watts avatar's screen name Parzival shoot up to take the lead on game's scoreboard, everything in his real and virtual world got thrown for a loop. Soon thereafter, the lives of his fellow gunters (Aech, Art3mis, Daito & Shoto) would also suffer real and virtual consequences related to the hunt for the egg.

Like many dystopian novels, the task of world building is oftentimes slow and voluminous. Add to it the task of fleshing out the history of James Halliday with the purpose of integrating it into the 2044 society (real and virtual) the characters find themselves makes for some rough reading patches, pacing wise. Although slow, these moments did provide some critical and interesting insights into the characters (specifically Wade Watts) and what made James Halliday and the OASIS tick. However, the pace of the story eventually picks up, and when it does, holy cannoli, it's off to the races! This is when everything Cline deliberately and methodically sets up in the beginning starts clicking and you are taken for a heart pounding ride.

The geektastic journey through the virtual world of the OASIS is accentuated by the vast cache of 80's pop culture and references Cline utilizes throughout the book (the 80's- Halliday's obsession). Indeed, Cline leaves virtually no 80's stone unturned. But trust me, one does not have to possess any knowledge of the 80's, Dungeons and Dragons, or video games in general to enjoy this book. Heck, the closest I've come to gaming were the few times I bit the dust while playing Pac Man. Ernest Cline does a great job of explaining all of the games clue and how they tie into their corresponding 80's pop culture references. Being familiar with the book's 80's references, I imagine, would make Ready Player One all the more enjoyable.

Ready Player One is a fun read that I'm glad was chosen to be the February read for one of my book club's.

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Sep 02, 2014 Jess rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: best-books-ever

I purchased and read this book on the suggestion on every single in the history of the world. Ok, maybe not every single one, but most of them. Every person I have spoken to about this book has absolutely loved it. In fact, when I told a few of them I hadn’t read it yet I received some shocked faces and screamed suggestions that I read it immediately. So, I added it to The Great Stack a few weeks ago and got around to it during Bout of Books 11.

It took me about fifty pages before the book sucke I purchased and read this book on the suggestion on every single in the history of the world. Ok, maybe not every single one, but most of them. Every person I have spoken to about this book has absolutely loved it. In fact, when I told a few of them I hadn’t read it yet I received some shocked faces and screamed suggestions that I read it immediately. So, I added it to The Great Stack a few weeks ago and got around to it during Bout of Books 11.

It took me about fifty pages before the book sucked me in. Let me just say that those first fifty pages, I was pretty terrified that I was going to have to report to every person in the known universe that I didn’t enjoy it. I love the 1980’s, I love John Hughes, I love video games, I love pop culture, and I love dystopians—so it Ernest Cline pretty much saw into my soul with this one. (Not to mention my husband, the super gamer’s, deepest hopes that I would one day begin to ask him about obscure 80’s trivia and video game terminology.) But, I still didn’t love the first world building elements of the novel. I will add, this may not be the fault of the writing—I struggled with the physical design of the book towards the beginning, the smaller font and the amount of text without breaks on each page made it troublesome to enjoy.

However, past the first fifty pages, I was hooked. The world building is truly intense and complete, and I can’t help but compare Kline to his Halliday in terms of covering every detail and base in his design of this future America. The entire concept, of a video game Easter egg hunt in order to essentially rule the world is fascinating, extremely original, and just plain wonderful.

I generally shy away from novels with male main characters. Call me sexist, whatever, I just struggle to relate to or find interest in a male main character. (We all read what we want, so, no judgment!) But Wade was a pretty awesome character. I liked his tone, I genuinely cared about what happened to him, and I found him to be realistic and fun. This world was best written through his eyes and I connected to him and his struggles.

The other characters are just as well-written and just as realistic and interesting. I struggled to find any character that was unnecessary. Most developed the story, world, or exhibited Wade or another main character’s personality. I was interested in every aspect of this world—the people, the history, the politics, the technology, and the comparison between OASIS and the real world.

Get spoilers, the rest of my review, and enter to win a free Kindle copy of this book at: http://jesskiddingbooks.blogspot.com/... ...more

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Jan 05, 2015 Ana rated it really liked it · review of another edition

What a ride! This was fun, and epic, and awesome.

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Aug 24, 2014 Marci M. rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Originally seen on http://www.thegeekybookworm.com/

This book was a SOLID 5/5 for me.

This book was such a thrilling ride from start to finish and it has easily crawled it's way up into one of my top favorite books that I've ever read...ever! First off, this book appeased the geek in me and I kept laughing and smiling whenever I ran into a reference from something that I loved. Ernest Cline put together a fantastic story that I truly believe is perfect for pretty much anyone. Although, I will say Originally seen on http://www.thegeekybookworm.com/

This book was a SOLID 5/5 for me.

This book was such a thrilling ride from start to finish and it has easily crawled it's way up into one of my top favorite books that I've ever read...ever! First off, this book appeased the geek in me and I kept laughing and smiling whenever I ran into a reference from something that I loved. Ernest Cline put together a fantastic story that I truly believe is perfect for pretty much anyone. Although, I will say that the younger audience might have trouble relating to the book when it comes to all of the 80s references, but even so, I still think they will enjoy it.

The story sticks to the typical dystopian theme, but the events that take place and the characters are so unique that I didn't feel like Cline was beating a dead horse. It felt fresh and new, even though I have read numerous dystopian novels prior to this one. I absolutely loved the sci-fi aspect of what occurred, and I became so immersed in the details and the world of the OASIS that at times I wished I had this program.

Wade was a delightful character, and I thought he made a fantastic protagonist. He was funny, witty, and at times I could completely relate to him (being a gamer myself). Thinking back I loved each of the characters that played a vital role in this novel. The dialogue between Aech and Wade (Parzival) was hilarious and their friendship was one that I think a lot of online gamers can relate to. I also really enjoyed the relationship that Wade and Art3mis had. Cline was able to incorporate romance in a way that I think a lot of teenagers and young adults can identify with, because it wasn't over the top the way a lot of YA authors write it.

I am so happy that I received this book in my LootCrate, and it is one that I will be recommending to a lot of people, because it has a little bit of something for everyone. I will definitely be pre-ordering Ernest Cline's second book Armada (due out in Fall 2015) because his ability to tell a fun and exciting story was completely showcased in Ready Player One. If you haven't read it, then I highly suggest you do so! ...more

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Dec 06, 2014 Carla rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2015, favorites

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 16, 2014 Chu rated it it was amazing

Oh my god! Review follows on:
http://www.chulikestoread.blogspot.de/ ...more

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Feb 15, 2015 Cristina's Chronicles rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ebooks

An amazing read!

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Jul 31, 2014 Emily rated it really liked it

*4.5

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Dec 23, 2014 Lil Miss rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-2015, so-wished-i-owed

Oh my inner nerd and my old bones loved this so! so fun I listened to this audio and hello will weaton narrated it {giggles} could that be any better?!? But back to the actual story I had heard how amazing this was and yup it was! I love the fast pace of the "hunt" and all the flashes of nostalgia. This was so good I can not wait to see what else Cline writes. ...more

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