Buddy Read for Ready Player Two

[Diana]

For a few people, this book is July's Trim pick. So I decided to set up this thread to discuss the novel. I personally noticed that a lot of people didn't like it as much as the first one, so I'll be very eager to know what my fellow PBTers think about it.

I also found a list of questions based on different chapters. I'll post them using the spoiler function so as not to spoil anyone's fun.

[Diana]

Cutscene - Chapter 3 Questions

(view spoiler)[1) Would you have liked to have had more of the intermittent years played out?

2) What do you think the new quest will lead to?

3) Would you use the ONI headset?

4) Do you agree with Wade’s point or Artemis’ point on the ONI headset?

5) What do you think about the Vonnegut? Will it come into play later on in the book?

6) What do you think will be the thing that brings Samantha into the ONI? Will she ever use the ONI?

7) What are some of the more current pop-culture references you’ve caught so far? (hide spoiler)]

[Jen K]

Thanks so much Diana for setting this up and questions! I plan to pick up the book from the library today but won't manage to read until after I return from my holiday the week of the 10th.

I'm excited to read this one. I really enjoyed the first and then got a bit put off by the reviews of the second but I anticipate it will be fun.

[Diana]

Jen K wrote: "Thanks so much Diana for setting this up and questions! I plan to pick up the book from the library today but won't manage to read until after I return from my holiday the week of the 10th.

I'm ex..."

I had absolutely the same feelings, Jen! And I hope so much that the second one will also turn out to be very enjoyable.

[Diana]

I've just finished reading chapter 4, so I'm ready to answer the first part of the questions. It may include spoilers up to chapter 3 included.

(view spoiler)[1) Would you have liked to have had more of the intermittent years played out?

The years pass by really quickly but I'm OK with it considering how isolated Wade lives. I don't think there is much to be told about them.

2) What do you think the new quest will lead to?

Considering that it appeared right after the start of the ONI sales and that it's mainly addressed to "the heir", I have an idea that Halliday had plan B and wanted to persuade Wade to reconsider his decision. Or something that will help him change the course of the OASIS.

3) Would you use the ONI headset?

It's a little bit scary to be put into the dream and be controlled by some device, but it's also very interesting to know how other people feel in different situations.

4) Do you agree with Wade’s point or Artemis’ point on the ONI headset?

I can see the logic of Wade's arguments but I'm on Artemis's side here. People were already spending too little time in reality, and with ONI headsets they don't even have other reason to go back to reality than eat and sleep.

5) What do you think about the Vonnegut? Will it come into play later on in the book?

Surely, otherwise, why include it in the story?

6) What do you think will be the thing that brings Samantha into the ONI? Will she ever use the ONI?

It has to be something very important (like saving a life) but I can't imagine how ONI can play such a great role.

7) What are some of the more current pop-culture references you’ve caught so far?

As it was with the first book in the series, I'm not very good at picking up most of the references simply because I was born after most of the things described. So the only familiar references to me were Marty McFly's vintage time machine (from "Back in the Future"), "Matrix" movie and Wakandan Outreach Initiative made me think of Marvel's movie "Black Panther". (hide spoiler)]

[Diana]

Chapter 4 - Chapter 9 Questions

(view spoiler)[ 1) L0hengrin/Lo is introduced as a young version of Wade. What do you think of this character? How do you feel about Wade’s relationship with her?

2) Wade has to be told how to obtain the first shard. Is it sad to see how far his character has fallen? Did you think the obtainment of the first shard was satisfying?

3) What did you think of the “toll” being a strange flashback? What does it mean?

4) What do you make of Wade’s recurring nightmare?

5) What did you think of the reveal of Anorak being the villain? Is it random or foreshadowed? What does he want with the Shards? What do you think will happen?

6) Anorak’s reveal also set up the return of Sorrento, who is a real-life villain to torture our heroes. What did you think of that reveal? How will it play out? (hide spoiler)]

[Diana]

Time to answer the next portion of questions: Chapter 4 - Chapter 9

(view spoiler)[1) L0hengrin/Lo is introduced as a young version of Wade. What do you think of this character? How do you feel about Wade’s relationship with her?
She's pretty intelligent and seems an even bigger geek than Wade. So far I have only good feelings toward her, especially considering how much she cares about her friends and the fact that she's not trying to escape reality but looking for ways to improve it at least for the closest people.
As for her relationship with Wade, I can't say there is any. She just helped him with the quest, and he rewarded her. This made me remember one thing that I really disliked - Wade invading her privacy. That was a very outraging thing to do, IMO.

2) Wade has to be told how to obtain the first shard. Is it sad to see how far his character has fallen? Did you think the obtainment of the first shard was satisfying?
I think it's totally OK not to know something. He obviously feels embarrassed about it so this may have made the obtainment of the shard not absolutely satisfying.

3) What did you think of the “toll” being a strange flashback? What does it mean?
I personally have no idea why flashbacks are called the toll. Maybe we (and the main characters) still don't know the whole scope of the "toll"?

4) What do you make of Wade’s recurring nightmare?
It's just a dream that is a reflection of Wade's feelings. He's responsible for millions of people now, he actually has two worlds to think about (simulated and real) so it's totally understandable that he has nightmares about making the giant change to the world.

5) What did you think of the reveal of Anorak being the villain? Is it random or foreshadowed? What does he want with the Shards? What do you think will happen?
For me, the reveal of Anorak was absolutely random, I couldn't foresee it. It's an interesting turn of the plot. I'm not sure that he can have the shards to himself considering that Wade was the only one who could take the first shard. So it's hard to predict what he plans to do when all of them are found.

6) Anorak’s reveal also set up the return of Sorrento, who is a real-life villain to torture our heroes. What did you think of that reveal? How will it play out?
As in the previous book, Sorrento will definitely create obstacles for the main characters and try to take revenge on them. (hide spoiler)]

[Diana]

Chapter 10 - Chapter 26 Questions
(view spoiler)[1) Do you agree with Wade’s belief that there is an AI version of Keira, similar to Anorak, that Anorak wants to try and have fallen in love with him?

2) How did you feel about John Hughes' land?

3) How does the shard quest compare and contrast to the egg quest?

4)The character of Ogden Morrow plays a significant role in the story. How do you think his involvement will impact the outcome of the quest? (hide spoiler)]

[Diana]

Answers to questions to chapter 10 - chapter 26:

(view spoiler)[1) Do you agree with Wade’s belief that there is an AI version of Keira, similar to Anorak, that Anorak wants to try and have fallen in love with him?

It seemed impossible for me at first because the ONI headset should have been invented many years prior to the events described and it's a very complicated thing to create. But considering that Halliday managed to do it with his own conscience, maybe he could have done it with Kira before she died.

2) How did you feel about John Hughes' land?
As it was with the first book, I didn't enjoy reading about it a lot. I was born nearly in the 21st century and I have only the little amount of knowledge about the pop culture of the 80s. There was onlyone movie mentioned which I watched and the author didn't dwell on it. So reading about this land (and about Prince's land later) was mostly boring and I could wait to get to some more action-packed chapters.

3) How does the shard quest compare and contrast to the egg quest?
It's quite similar with the only exception that only Og or Wade can actually earn the prize.

4)The character of Ogden Morrow plays a significant role in the story. How do you think his involvement will impact the outcome of the quest?
We learned about the sword that can be used by Og only to slay Anorak. So I guess he has to do it for the story to have a normal ending. (hide spoiler)]

[Jen K]

Sorry I got so behind!! I finally started this one and look forward to delving into the story and questions.

[Diana]

Jen K wrote: "Sorry I got so behind!! I finally started this one and look forward to delving into the story and questions."

I've actually started thinking that you decided to skip it entirely, Jen))

[Jen K]

I borrowed the book at the start of July and just kept reading books that couldn't be renewed. Excited to start finally!

[Jen K]

Finished Chapter 3 last night.

[1) Would you have liked to have had more of the intermittent years played out?
* No, it seems that it wasn't that exciting but I appreciate that there was a long break to gear up for the next adventure especially since the debate is on how society has been affected.

2) What do you think the new quest will lead to?
*Outer space on the Vonnegut? I hope it doesn't get that drastic but we will see.

3) Would you use the ONI headset?
*I don't know. It sounds kind of creepy. I don't even enjoy using my brother's VR set.

4) Do you agree with Wade’s point or Artemis’ point on the ONI headset?
*Definitely with Artemis. I love reading as an escape but this is beyond extreme and cannot be healthy.

5) What do you think about the Vonnegut? Will it come into play later on in the book?
* I think so. There were a lot of details and mentions to not come into play later.

6) What do you think will be the thing that brings Samantha into the ONI? Will she ever use the ONI?
Good question. I'm not sure that she will. I'm hoping a situation isn't so dire as to require it.

7) What are some of the more current pop-culture references you’ve caught so far?
I didn't note them but think I got most if not all of them. This is my childhood. One of the cars was from a show I didn't know, the B one.

[Jen K]

Okay I kind of pushed through to get the book finished. I didn't enjoy all that much.

I ADORED John Hughes and watched all the movies growing up and enjoy Prince but even I was bored in those parts. It was just too much and over the top. It was as if it worked well in the first book so they would add every fact and character in this one.

Wade was just so whiney and annoying and selfish and so was Anorak. The others just didn't have much depth. They were just there to feed Wade his next line or reaction or share another trivia fact.

I'm glad I finally read and sad that I'm in the not so much camp.

[KateNZ]

I felt exactly the same, Jen. I had adored the first book (still do) and didn’t necessarily expect this to be as good, but it was so disappointing. The new characters were potentially the best but they didn’t get much room. And I spent the whole book wanting to smack Wade over the back of the head.

[Diana]

Jen K wrote: "Okay I kind of pushed through to get the book finished. I didn't enjoy all that much.

I ADORED John Hughes and watched all the movies growing up and enjoy Prince but even I was bored in those par..."

I totally agree with you, Jen, especially about other characters not being a big part of the story. And yeah, Wade was impossibly annoying!