Ready Player One by Ernest Cline -> Restarting August 6th 2021

[Raven]

Chapters 17-27 (view spoiler)[I must admit that I liked Wade the underdog better than this new Wade that has loads of technology and weapons. We haven't seen the other characters much though, and I'm kind of sad about that. Art3mis and Shoto make brief appearances and Aech is only mentioned. We never actually hang out with him. (I know I said I was wary of him, and I still am. I would just have liked Wade to have some human interaction.) Also, that little romance phase between Wade and Art3mis fell short for me. I'm just not shipping it... Sorry!

Finding the remaining keys and clearing the Second Gate was fun, but I still feel like the discovery of the Crystal Key was too easy compared to the other 2. The Third Gate seems like it will be hard to get to, so I guess that makes up for it. I'm really interested to see what sort of plan Wade is cooking. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

40% (view spoiler)[ Are you serious? Sorrento was and the Sixers tried to kill Wade! and his friends were next. It sucks that all those people died but I think that Wade is right, Sorrento would have killed him regardless... (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Lane wrote: "Maria wrote: "

[spoilers removed]"

hummm... I didn't really think about that... it will be interesting to see your theory pan out.

[Lane]

Part Two

(view spoiler)[ It is just nuts to me that the Sixers are actually killing people with impunity. Like I know they cover their tracks well, but geez. And them barricading the third gate seems pointless, because Wade has that extra guitar clue and that PacMan coin, and the Beta Capsule. I just hate the Sixers so much, I hope they lose in the most embarrassing and traumatizing way possible.

I don't even know how I feel about Artemis. (hide spoiler)]

[Lane]

Part Three

(view spoiler)[ That ending gave me everything I could have asked for. That final face-off, with Shoto sacrificing himself and then everyone getting blown up!? What?! And I'm so happy Og got to play a role in the end, since James had been so important to him. It only seemed right. I think the notion that James had Asperger's was actually a really compelling component of his characterization, especially in regards to his inability to connect with people but his ability to create this world where people feel the most connected. Though I'm happy that Wade adjusts to reality. (hide spoiler)]

[Raven]

Level 3 (view spoiler)[Overall, this has a pretty good ending. I knew that they would have to team up at some point and although Wade ended up being the only one to enter the Third Gate I loved that the others were with him through an audio link.

I loved Og's involvement and how they all came together at his house. Aech's identity reveal was fun, and I found it so cool that it didn't affect his/her friendship with Wade.

I'm still in the same boat with the Wade/Art3mis ship though. I'm just not feeling it... (hide spoiler)]

[cersei]

if anyone is still reading this, im in the middle of reading and wanted to join! i was supposed to but could not find the thread for the life of me! (my goodreads has been acting a mess! lol)

[Morgan]

Chapters 1 - 10

(view spoiler)[As a child that although was riased in the 90's, I grew up with my older cousins and parents showing me all of these 80 references I am seeing throughout the novel. I think Kline does a good job with the footnotes at the bottom of the pages, but the font is tiny in my edition and I sometimes can't see where it is stating this footnote is on the page. Overall Wade just seems like any other ordinary teenager that isn't as loved by their guardians, which is a bit depressing. I know it adds layers to who Wade is but I want him to be a bit more excited in the first part of the book . . (hide spoiler)]

[Morgan]

Thoughts on Chapter 15

(view spoiler)[ SUCH A GREAT commentary on how obsession makes people mad!!! This contest is not only pushing Wade to do crazy ridiculous things, it's making everyone. I keep imagining the scene from Charlie and the Chocolate factory when everyone around the world is trying to find the golden ticket!! It's madness just like the oasis is madness. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

53% (view spoiler)[ Really? Between chapters 18 and 19 I almost dropped this book… it was soooo boring reading about his boring life without Art3mis! Now finally chapter 20 will get to the more exciting stuff. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

65% (view spoiler)[ I can’t believe those damn Sixers killed one of the Japanese guys! Daito! In Real Life not just his avatar… Wade needs to get his head on gear and hurry up with that Jade Key! He needs to beat Sorrento! I don’t like that guy! (hide spoiler)]

[Grace =^_^=]

cersei wrote: "if anyone is still reading this, im in the middle of reading and wanted to join! i was supposed to but could not find the thread for the life of me! (my goodreads has been acting a mess! lol)"

@cersei, you could copy the link of this buddy read thread on your desktop or somewhere easily accessible to you to make it easier to find in the future :) That's what I do.

[Grace =^_^=]

Ch. 14-15: (view spoiler)[ I thought it was pretty extreme that the Sixers are so greedy for money & power that they'd be willing to kill!

The High Five meeting in Aech's basement - maybe I'm being paranoid but I don't think anyone can be trusted anymore.

I'm frankly getting tired of all the virtual action going on. I really would like to see some events happen in "real life." (hide spoiler)]

[Grace =^_^=]

Ch. 16 - 20 (view spoiler)[ Wade's now moved into an apartment in Columbus, Ohio. The first thing he vows is to "abandon the real world altogether" until he finds the egg. And how was that different from his life in Oklahoma City?

If Art3mis is in college, how the hell does she find the time to study AND spend countless hours hunting for the egg? I'm overthinking things, aren't I?

The zero-g groove zone at Og's birthday party seemed pretty cool.

I'm glad Art3mis cut off all communication w/ Wade/Parzival. (hide spoiler)]

[Grace =^_^=]

Level 3/Ch. 28 (view spoiler)[ Finally! Some real world action is happening! (hide spoiler)]

[Grace =^_^=]

Ch. 32 (view spoiler)[ Well, look who shows up in Aech's basement! The Great and Powerful Og. I think someone in the thread suspected he'd be more involved somehow. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

I haven't been able to upload my comments here for some reason, but Goodreads is finally working for me!

Prologue - chapter 4: (view spoiler)[ I'm loving all of the pop culture eggs already dropped but I'm anxious for the story to pick up. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Chapters 5-9: (view spoiler)[ so he found the key and met the girl all in one fell swoop. Obviously they will become allies. But now I'm wondering how his friend and others will treat him knowing he has the key. (hide spoiler)]

[Grace =^_^=]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I'm wondering why Sorrento wasn't taken down right away - once Wade sent all the incriminating evidence and vidcaps to the media. He was allowed to keep trying to get to the third gate! By then the whole world knew what he was involved in but no one bothered to crash IOI to arrest him?

I was curious to know how that quarter Wade earned during Pac-Man would figure into the story.

I liked that Cline underscored the message that reality is "the only place where you can find true happiness. Because reality is real."

So Wade gets the girl - a real live girl - and begins to feel what living in the real world can be like, to actually touch and interact w/ ppl in the flesh. Finally. He really needed to get off his ass and get a life beyond his simulated one in the OASIS. (hide spoiler)]

[Gillian]

Lane wrote: "Cinthia wrote: "30% [spoilers removed]"


Oh the blasphemy (view spoiler)[ " I think they should have considered working together a little more seriously. It's clear that the Sixers are a near insurmountable force." (hide spoiler)] how could you even entertain that thought for a second.

[Gillian]

Lane wrote: "Maria wrote: "

[spoilers removed]"

Well spotted Maria it was obvious it was someone spying but I did not pick who it was at the time.

[Gillian]

I still really enjoyed this book second time around. Having lived through the 1980's its so easy to imagine all the games, movies and music references, they just buzz through my head as I read. I keep thinking what an amazing movie this will make. I hope the film makers do it justice. There is some really good advice that filters through as the story goes, which applies to this day and age. I love my games but I can see how its so easy to get distracted by them and before you know it life is passing you by and you have forgotten to participate in it. Unfortunately not everyone takes the time to look around and realise that.

[[deleted user]]

71.0% (view spoiler)[ What is the second phase?!?!! I hate those sixers! Blockers!! (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

83.0% I knew it! There was no glitch with those comic books!! This is getting good!

[[deleted user]]

91.0% (view spoiler)[ What do you mean you all died?! I’m about to throw this book at the wall!! (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Finished! (view spoiler)[ I love happy endings! he gets the money and the girl!! woohoo!!! (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Grace wrote: "Finished I'm wondering why Sorrento wasn't taken down right away - once Wade sent all the incriminating evidence and vidcaps to the media. He was allowed to keep trying to get to the third gate! B..."

very well put! I agree Sorrento got lots of free passes!

[[deleted user]]

Gillian wrote: "I still really enjoyed this book second time around. Having lived through the 1980's its so easy to imagine all the games, movies and music references, they just buzz through my head as I read. I k..."

awesome message!

[Jenn]

Finished Level 1: (view spoiler)[ They blew up his house!?!? WTF?? Also, I really hope that we can trust these other gunters that Wade is friending - most importantly Aretemis and Aech. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Jenn wrote: "Finished Level 1: [spoilers removed]"

Right? Sorrento is not playing fair

[Grace =^_^=]

Cinthia wrote: "Finished! [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Yes, and I'm glad he finally realizes how much better living in the real world can be! (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

@Cinthia and I can only imagine that he gets worse!

[Jenn]

Chapters 17-22: (view spoiler)[ who wants to bet that coin is going to mean something later?? Also I hope he makes up with Aech. That was a cool friendship and it's sad that it fell apart. And I seem to be getting about half of these references but I was only a child in the 80s lol (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Finished level 2: (view spoiler)[ the rush to the final gate begins! Pretty sure that the final task isn't just for one person by that cryptic warning. I wonder who will answer Wade's call. And here's to hoping that Sorrento goes down! (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

Jenn wrote: "Chapters 17-22: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[The coin would have driven me crazy, knowing it had to mean something for all that work and being so hidden but no info given with it I felt bad for Wade, especially since he was probably kicking himself for wasting those hours instead of key searching. (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

Jenn wrote: "Finished Level 1: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[The moment when we all realize just how serious this hunt really is... *GULP* (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

Aly wrote: "Chapters 22-24 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I questioned if the Sixers cheated for that key too. I mean, how did the go from having to follow others around to taking the lead?!. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Finished: (view spoiler)[So I ended up really liking this one. It started off a little slow with info dumping then picked up with the first key then kinda slowed in the middle but dang, that ending! I'm super excited for the movie now. (hide spoiler)]

[Andrea]

Bit late, but 30% into it at the moment.
Can I please have an OASIS of my own? Pleaaaase?! It has Middle Earth in it - someone please teleport me to it asap! Oh, and Quidditch? Yes, please!
(view spoiler)[I agree with everyone that the info-dump was a bit too much. It is such a great concept, but I didn't retain half of the things I was reading (as I was reading them).
I really like Wade so far, though - I like how he's made a life for himself out of nothing. I get the feeling I will like Art3mis too, but not Aech.
I'm not into gaming, but I love the concept and the idea of the competition and OASIS, of course.
Excited for the real action to start, now that they've uncovered the first door. (hide spoiler)]

[Andrea]

44% (Level 1)
(view spoiler)[Wow, that escalated quickly! I can't believe the IOI blew up his house. I did expect Wade to appear sadder about all those people dying, though.
But I'm really enjoying it so far - I really want to see more of the High Five :) (hide spoiler)]

[Jennifer]

Ch 25 - (view spoiler)[ Ugh, these sixers are pissing me off! Come on, Wade, figure out how to beat these SOB's! (hide spoiler)]

Finished - OMG, this is the best book! My kids even got into the audio and I had to restart it so they could listen. Of course, I kept having to shout "earmuffs" because of all the cursing, LOL. And now they are trying to convince me that playing video games will make them rich someday.

(view spoiler)[ I don't know what made me happier - that Wade won with the help of his friends, or that Sorrento (the POS) lost. (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

Jennifer wrote: "Ch 25 - [spoilers removed]

Finished - OMG, this is the best book! My kids even got into the audio and I had to restart it so they could listen. Of course, I kept having to shout "earmuffs" because..."

Yep you never know when all thoe gaming skills come in handy lol. Just be sure they also study al shows, music and movies from the 80s. No modern stuff lol.

[Jamie]

Done! (view spoiler)[I had forgotten how the coin worked! That is so awesome. How jealous the others must have been. Great ending! (hide spoiler)]

[Andrea]

70% (Level 2)
Hmm, I'm really enjoying the concept and the treasure hunt aspect of it, but I don't like the style. So descriptive - it's like an encyclopedia for the most part, so I zone out (unintentionally) every so often.
(view spoiler)[I can't believe how far the Sixers are going to win it! Seems odd that there's nothing to stop them (in the real world).
I'm really curious to see how Wade will win this - I'm pretty sure he will - or at least, that one of them will (Wade, Art3mis, Aech, Shoto - probably Art3mis). (hide spoiler)]

[Andrea]

Finished!
(view spoiler)[Good ending! I was sure the Sixers would be defeated, but I loved the way Wade did it! Clever plan to infiltrate them. He really did deserve to win & get the girl!
I didn't love it, though. Maybe because I knew almost nothing about all those games, movies, songs etc, so I couldn't get excited about them and figure anything out.
But it was good & I'm really looking forward to the film. (hide spoiler)]

[Sharon]

Chapter 1: (view spoiler)[ The world is very interesting. I already like Wade. Also, I does seem odd that he was raised into this virtual reality world. I am glad That I’m rereading this book, especially since the movie comes out soon. (hide spoiler)]

[Sharon]

Chapter 9: (view spoiler)[ Hmm...it seems like Parzival and Art3mis might fall in love. I wonder how their first “real” meeting will turn out. I wonder if the attraction would still be there if they are not like their virtual avatars. (hide spoiler)]

[Sharon]

Chapter 14: (view spoiler)[ I can’t believe that they bombed the trailer park. I feel so bad for Wade. (hide spoiler)]

[Sharon]

Ending Thoughts: (view spoiler)[ I think I will boost my rating from a 4 to a 4.5 stars. I really liked the story the second time around. The battle scene at the end was awesome, and I did like the romance. Also, the ending was fantastic. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date Changed. Restarting April 10th 2018. Happy Reading ☺

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