July 2021 - Fiction Group Read - Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

[Alannah]

Discuss our winner here.

[Alannah]

I have been told to read this book for ages. I'm glad it won so I have an opportunity to finally get around to it.

[Jennifer]

I enjoyed the book. Has anyone watched the movie?

[LauraT]

Not seen the film, but liked it a lot whe I read it, years ago...

[Karin]

I have read the book and might have also seen the film (but if I saw it, I was disappointed--you'd think I'd remember, but I don't.)

I liked this a lot due in great part to Wil Wheaton's audionarration.

[Nidhi]

I couldn’t get the idea about its theme, is it science fiction? I will be following the discussions and in the meantime I will try to finish A Thousand Ships .

[Pam]

I listened to the audiobook earlier this year. Wil Wheaton does an awesome job as the narrator!

[Jennifer]

Yes the audiobook was a favourite of mine and I’m wondering if the movie will kill the good feel.

[Honey]

I’m usually not a fan of books being made to films as there are bits that get taken away by artistic liberties. This time around, I actually liked that the film brought to life the game itself. The visuals were brilliant and it still had its feel good moments.

[Alannah]

Jennifer wrote: "I enjoyed the book. Has anyone watched the movie?"

I haven't but I think that's how I originally heard about this book. Someone on YouTube was compiling a list of books adapted to movies.

[Karin]

Nidhi wrote: "I couldn’t get the idea about its theme, is it science fiction? I will be following the discussions and in the meantime I will try to finish A Thousand Ships ."

It's quasi-scifi--it's more dystopian future in this book, since it's mostly online gaming. The second one is more scifi in some ways, though.

[Karin]

Speaking of this book, my son asked to finally listen to the audiobook (he can read, but due to his learning style, etc, absorbs best by audio) and he just started this this afternoon.

[Kat]

About halfway through and even though I'm a 90s kid and don't know anything mentioned from real life experience the story is awesome 😊

[Ruth]

I had read this when it came out and even though I have never played a video game in my life I really enjoyed it. It was a fun read. I have not seen the movie but I guess I should check it out.

[Alannah]

I am still listening to this book, it's quite interesting. I will expand on my thoughts when I have finished.

[Jennifer]

Some parts reminded me of the feel of Ender's Game. Anyone else see this or other similarities?

[Honey]

Jennifer wrote: "Some parts reminded me of the feel of Ender's Game. Anyone else see this or other similarities?"
Some parts yes. Orson Scott Card was also referenced in the book as one of James Halliday's heroes. :)

[Alannah]

I ended up really enjoying this novel, I have the second book waiting to be listened to after I finish my current book. I was able to understand the 80s references somewhat and definitely felt I could relate to some of the themes throughout the book.

Overpopulation leading to online school - Obviously children have had to do online schooling because of the pandemic. I also work getting children with special educational needs and I have noticed over the years that more and more children are requiring support leading to specialist schools filling up so fast and not getting the support they really need.

The fact that most people are addicted to the internet and can easily build up debt to create this illusion to show they're doing better than they really are. I see this all the time in social media.