We Read Stuff discussion

Discussion thread for Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. Spoilers are allowed.

In the year 2045, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade's devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world's digital confines, puzzles that are based on their creator's obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them. When Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win—and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape.

Okay, I started reading this in February but I haven't finished it yet. Does it count or not? I'm almost at 200 pages

Magic_Demigod wrote: "Okay, I started reading this in February but I haven't finished it yet. Does it count or not? I'm almost at 200 pages"

Of course! You can always comment and participate in book of the month things even if you are already partially through or even if you read it in the past and want to discuss. As well we leave them open so if you finish late you can still add your thoughts when you finish :)

Nikki ~ The Nocturnal Bookworm wrote: "Magic_Demigod wrote: "Okay, I started reading this in February but I haven't finished it yet. Does it count or not? I'm almost at 200 pages"

Of course! You can always comment and participate in bo..."

Thanks a lot!!!!!

Great book! The eighties references brought some cool nostalgia to the story. And I agree with Nicole that it was a page turner. I couldn't put it down.

I thought it was okay. The whole book was drowning in cliches, but I found the middle very hard to get through because of the very cliched 'hero get's everything he wants but oh no! what's really important? thing we did for a while.

Also, my god Shiro and Daito who had the affliction of constantly bowing and despite speaking perfect english use the -san honorific (although they only mention honor three times!), that got a little cringey.

I did read it very quickly, so something about this was compelling enough, or the style was easy enough that it was fine. It's definitely more YA level. It is a very cliched, overly done story covered with 80's nerd references and nerd male power fantasy. Usually it's fun enough to just breeze through it, but once in a while it drags, the veneer of geek can't cover some weakness up, the dialogue get's too awkward, etc. Overall I think I gave it two stars.

I loved this book! I did the audio version which was awesomely narrated by Wil Wheaton. I found it to be the audio version of a real page turner. I never wanted to stop listening!

@Katrisa: yes! totally agree that Wil Wheaton's audio was brilliant! I read it a while ago, and it was basically my gateway audio in converting me to the idea that I could actually read with my ears as well as my eyes :)

Cat wrote: "@Katrisa: yes! totally agree that Wil Wheaton's audio was brilliant! I read it a while ago, and it was basically my gateway audio in converting me to the idea that I could actually read with my ear..."

The dune books were my audio gateway, lol! I am a crocheter and my biggest dilemma was always - do I read or crochet with my free time? I felt like audio was "cheating". But once it occurred to me that I could listen to books while I crochet I tried it with the Dune universe and I was hooked. Now I have a long commute, so audio books make that pleasant too.

The first time I read this, a few years ago I really liked it. But in trying to re-read it recently I just kept getting annoyed at clichés and what felt like a lazy characterization. I don’t know how much of that is me and how much of that is the book just not holding up well to re-reading. I did feel like the 80s references were fun but there are so many other places to get that nostalgia fix now. I will give this book credit though because I feel like it was slightly ahead of the curve on that particular trend.