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Ready Player One reviews from people you don't follow
80s references (2 more)
Immersive world building
Not just for gamers
A bit too much referencing (1 more)
Would have liked to know what the winner did with the money after the game was over
I wasn’t alive in the 80s and am not a gamer, but I still got sucked into this book. I have seen a lot of 80s movies and heard of a lot of the consoles and games mentioned, so I was able to catch/understand most of the references. A lot of world building went into this, both inside and outside the OASIS simulation, and I think it was done well. I wish it had gone into what happened after the game was over. Did the winner try to help fix this dystopian society or just buy a big mansion, live like a king and watch the rest of the world burn? I’m glad the main character was from Oklahoma, my home state, and from a city only about 2 to 3 hrs from where I live. Oklahoma isn’t usually a popular place for movies or books to take place so it was nice to see something that partly took place in my state. It was also nice that this character wasn’t portrayed as a country bumpkin being from Oklahoma. Although, his living conditions and home life are pretty standard for characters from my state. I’m excited to see how this story translates from book to movie because, if done right, I think it could be good.
Third time's the charm!
I started this book ages ago, then put it down and forgot about it. I started it again after I watched the film, but again, I stopped reading it for some reason. This was my third attempt, driven by having watched the film. I'm sure that it's pretty obvious that this book is nothing like the film (as is so often the case). The details in the book could never all be included in a film, and there are a number of places where the story has been completely changed, and I can see why. There is so much detail: from music, to TV programmes, to computer games, to characters' motivations. Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed both the book and the film. The book is both very exciting and very detailed. I have to admit to skimming some, feeling guilty, then going back and reading it properly!
I loved the references to 80's music, although some were a bit random even for me (this is probably the difference between a Brit and someone from the US reading it). I do find though, that Ernest Cline's writing is incredibly detailed, and this is probably the reason why my 14 year old son gave up halfway through. I'm impressed he got to the halfway point to be honest!
I loved the references to 80's music, although some were a bit random even for me (this is probably the difference between a Brit and someone from the US reading it). I do find though, that Ernest Cline's writing is incredibly detailed, and this is probably the reason why my 14 year old son gave up halfway through. I'm impressed he got to the halfway point to be honest!

The Marinated Meeple (1848 KP) rated
Mar 23, 2018
Writing (2 more)
Character development
80's references
This is one of the most fun reads I've ever had.
I kinda love this book, and the Audio Book is read by Wil Wheaton which is kinda perfect. I even love the dystopian future aspect, where everyone spends all the time online, plugged in to the Oasis. And here within it in a big mystery, with shades of willy wonka. Here is this everyday geek, who through hard work, determination and cunning deciphering of the codes and clues makes a run at the greatest prize of his time. Once agai on fo the most fun books I've ever read, and I really hope the movie coming out soon lives up to the feel, I already know it won't have everything as no movie is ever a complete version, but I feel that steven spielberg at least has the chops to take it on and do it justice. I hope I'm not wrong.
Ready Player One reviews from people you don't follow
Promising concept buried under clumsy craftsmanship
A great concept that should in theory be catnip to an 80s kid such as myself. However this is to pop culture junkies what Fifty Shades of Gray was to S&M enthusiasts: poorly written, drawn out fan fiction that is in dire need of a more competent editor.
The 80s pop culture references are so clumsily laid on, they lose any fun they may have held for me after the first chapter.
Sure, the author has done his research, but this reads as if it was written by a machine trying to approximate human emotion and interaction; technical pitches for gadgets yet to be commissioned in place of wit, story and heart.
Very disappointing.
The 80s pop culture references are so clumsily laid on, they lose any fun they may have held for me after the first chapter.
Sure, the author has done his research, but this reads as if it was written by a machine trying to approximate human emotion and interaction; technical pitches for gadgets yet to be commissioned in place of wit, story and heart.
Very disappointing.
<2021 update>
Have also seen the movie mentioned below. It was just OK; not great.
<original 2016 review>
Prior to reading this, I'd heard good things about it, and was aware that - like seemingly nearly all of the current Young Adult Dystopian novels - there was a movie for it in the pipeline, by none other than Spielberg himself.
Set in the near-future, I found this to be like a cross between the Bruce Willis movie Surrogates (in that nearly everybody seems to live their life vicariously through other means), The Matrix (cyber reality) and maybe even a bit of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (the MacGuffin that gets the plot rolling). it probably helps that - unlike the characters - I actually *was* a kid in the 80s, and so get plenty of the various pop-culture references made.
Plenty, but not all - this, remember, is set in America, so leans more towards the American or Japanese spectrum of popular culture than European.
Have also seen the movie mentioned below. It was just OK; not great.
<original 2016 review>
Prior to reading this, I'd heard good things about it, and was aware that - like seemingly nearly all of the current Young Adult Dystopian novels - there was a movie for it in the pipeline, by none other than Spielberg himself.
Set in the near-future, I found this to be like a cross between the Bruce Willis movie Surrogates (in that nearly everybody seems to live their life vicariously through other means), The Matrix (cyber reality) and maybe even a bit of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (the MacGuffin that gets the plot rolling). it probably helps that - unlike the characters - I actually *was* a kid in the 80s, and so get plenty of the various pop-culture references made.
Plenty, but not all - this, remember, is set in America, so leans more towards the American or Japanese spectrum of popular culture than European.

Versusyours (757 KP) rated
Dec 13, 2019
Pop culture (2 more)
Nostalgia drips from the page
Future true story
Modern retro
Coming to this book from the movie was a mistake but not a bigger one than reading this then watching the movie.
In a strangely possible future that sees the real world being second to virtual world of the Oasis, Wade Watts finds himself orphaned and obsessed with the 80s and all levels of geek and pop trivia. This obsession grows as he along with millions of others are undertaking a quest to control the virtual world and basically be the king of both worlds. Many movies, computer games, songs and even breakfast cereals are dissected in great detail and this attention to detail makes the book for me and is where it had me hooked. If you love nostalgia then this book will be a dream of not then it could be too much.
The story is packed with twists and turns with the obligatory love interest make this book fun, interesting and gripping in equal measure.
Book then movie, I need to learn to remember that one of these days
In a strangely possible future that sees the real world being second to virtual world of the Oasis, Wade Watts finds himself orphaned and obsessed with the 80s and all levels of geek and pop trivia. This obsession grows as he along with millions of others are undertaking a quest to control the virtual world and basically be the king of both worlds. Many movies, computer games, songs and even breakfast cereals are dissected in great detail and this attention to detail makes the book for me and is where it had me hooked. If you love nostalgia then this book will be a dream of not then it could be too much.
The story is packed with twists and turns with the obligatory love interest make this book fun, interesting and gripping in equal measure.
Book then movie, I need to learn to remember that one of these days
Contains spoilers, click to show
This book was a really enjoyable read. There are a lot of references to 80s pop culture and need culture, which I'm not a big fan of, but I still really enjoyed reading. My major complaint is a major spoiler. The premise is that everyone is competing to inherit a virtual reality universe essentially. Like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory but for a video game. There are a few main characters, and the main female is faster and smarter than the male who ends up winning, which I found frustrating. The book could have ended better if the female lead won, in my opinion. The ending was still good though.