Ready Player One

Honestly, probably would have quit if this wasn't on the HBOB list. The plot, when it's happening, is interesting in a classic adventure tale way, but there are so many infodumps between plot snippets that it was hard to keep listening, even with Will Wheaton reading. Rarely say this, but think it will be a better movie, with editing.

This book is off the hook.

Not a very challenging book but very fun read. Interesting concepts and loved the nostalgia factor.

2.5 stars. I wanted to like this book but I felt frustrated by the lack of conflict, which led to this feeling like a semi-constructed plot. It definitely had momentum and plot driving the story forward but it just felt like nostalgia superseded real development.

This book was really well paced (which is my normal complaint with these type of competition based plots), had interesting characters, and a solid plot. It would have gotten five stars from me except HOLY SHIT SO MANY 80'S REFERENCES! I swear, there was an average of four per page, and some pages had up to 10. I get how it fits in with the plot, but it's just way over done.

Loads of fun. A little too much gamer stuff for me, but I was completely drawn into the world and loved the 80s culture references. That's my wheelhouse.
Reread in fall 2019 - just as much fun.

Okay, this was one I did as an audiobook with Wil Wheaton performing. Great job Mr. Wheaton, you nailed it. Onward to the story itself and that requires two statements: 1. This is a young adult novel and it has all those tropes, if you don't like young adult novels this will not be for you - I like young adult novels in general but admit this pushed my tolerance; 2. Holy Jumping beans is there a ton of exposition in this novel - I get why it is needed but I just started cliff noting some entire chapters of the middle part of the story because well, I was almost screaming make it stop make it stop stop explaining your story and just tell it. Okay I am better now. There is a lot to recommend in this story - believable characters, well imagined near future world and the bad guys are fully human not just “The Bad Guys”. Story is a coming of age novel and the amount of information about technology in this book well, a post-modernist novelist would be impressed by the info dumping in this one. Overall very good stuff.

I thoroughly enjoyed this tale. Ernest Cline draws up a dystopian future that is somehow optimistic and fills it with lovable and despicable characters that have some depth and mystery. The main plot driver is compelling and keeps the characters and readers in line. There were a few points in the story where readers may go, “wha-at?” - I certainly did - like, when one lady is identified as a character's only real-life friend and may have died, but is not mentioned at all. The story still pulls you forward.

Readers who grew up in the 1970s and 80s will appreciate the nod to popular culture of the time. It's fun to read about a future world where familiar sitcoms, movies, and songs are called upon in almost biblical fashion by earnest youths.

With one completely unnecessary discussion of masturbation, this book limits its audience. Other than that, the book is completely PG. There is some violence, but it is always “off screen” and there is no gore. Parents can make their own decisions on whether to recommend this to middle grade readers.

While I do find it hard to believe that kids in 2044 would find movies, tv shows, music and games from the 80's so unbelievably awesome, I really got swept up in this story with these characters and could not put this book down. I'm very curious to see how Spielberg's movie turns out.

The best book I have read this year so far and it probably has just become one of my all-time favorite books. I didn't recognize a lot of the references of the 80's, but it did not affect my experience of reading this book.

W-O-W

The story of Wade Owen Watts has been an absolute blast to read. Took me back to all the video games of my childhood.

A blast of geek fun especially if you a) where a teenager in the 80's or are an ardent student of the decade b) video games in all their iterations c) teen adventure etc. But you don't have to be immersed in these obsessions to enjoy the book. Eric Cline does an excellent job of putting the reader in the mind set of our hero Wade a.k.a. Parzival in an almost cinematic way, in fact a movie is being made by Steven Speilberg.

I've seen this described as a cross between Willy Wonka and The Matrix and that is fair but it's also the sum of all pop culture from the original “Twilight Zone” onward from hokey Saturday morning cartoons to “Blade Runner” covering pop music from Rush to Duran Duran. The world building is spot on and again it is fun. However all the flash is just the packaging for a conventional story like the ones it ogles i.e. “War Games” where a geeky but scrappy teenager overcomes overwhelming odds to succeed but also learns the power of true friendship and love. This is a good thing. Because that's what each new generation does: tell tried and true stories in new ways which are relevant to how we live now.

So take a jump and enjoy. Light fun is still fun.

It's a nice enough book for people who were born in the ‘70. The whole book is nothing but an homage to the 1980s and since I was born in 1988, most of the references got lost on me. I had to google most of the characters named and I haven't played any of the games that are played during the book and I only saw 2 of the movies mentioned. All in all, it's not a bad book, but the target audience is too limited.

This one's a favorite of my son's so he said I should read it. Set in a bleak near-future world, the only fun anyone seems to have is within a virtual reality world(s) called the OASIS. It's in the OASIS that high-schooler Wade Watts spends all his time, dreaming of finding three keys left behind by the recently departed creator of the OASIS, James Halliday. And Halliday was a kid in the 80s, so knowledge of pop-culture from the 80s is both important to the plot and a big part of the fun in this book. So, basically it a virtual-reality quest tale with some real-world danger attached. And a bit of romance. Should be a wicked cool movie that Spielberg makes out of it. I'm just glad I read the book first before the internet got all spoilery all over it. (Sometimes it's good to ignore the internet).

I was hesitant going into this book knowing it is not something I would usually pick up, and afraid that the 80s pop culture references would go over my head, but I finally picked it up after hearing too many amazing things about it. The world was fascinating and the story line was beyond intriguing. Definitely one of the best books I have read all year. Would recommend to anyone.

I have to start off this review by saying that I am really not a fan of dystopian books, shows or movies so I may be a little biased.

When Wade found the first Easter Egg I was so excited. I thought “heck yes, the action is about to begin!”. Well, I was pretty disappointed to find out that the rest of the book was just going to be slow and him basically worshiping this girl who he has never met and being self-deprecating.

Another point that bothered me was that he went from being a guy who lived in the dumps to getting the most expensive hotel room and putting in these magic walls that are essentially impenetrable. I get that we are supposed to see him as scrappy due to the fact that he was still able to get to the OASIS even though he was some super poor kid but the jump just seemed very unrealistic.

Overall the story was fine, but very predictable.

Dystopian novel for nerds, especially nerds who like the 80's and 80's video games. Cheesy at times but that did not make it any less enjoyable.

Plus:
- Concept/idee original, cel al transpunerii lumii jocurilor într-o carte.
- Foarte ludică, dar într-un sens matur (adică nu e YA, dar a accesat copilul din mine fără să-l facă pe adult să pufnească, sarcină cvasi-imposibilă).
- captivantă, o carte pe care nu o poți lăsa din mână nici dacă începe ww3 (mai ales a 2a jumătate).
- Ritm alert al poveștii, cu scriitură accesibilă.
- Transmite foarte bine anumite obsesii/vogi de gameri din anii 80.
- Are unele pasaje de-un cyberpunk extrem de întunecat, exact pe sufletul meu (partea cu aservirea).
- Ultima treime devine și mai bună, invers decât majoritatea romanelor și filmelor.
- Twistul cu Aech. Neașteptat.
- Se citește nu ca o carte sf, ci ca un joc.

Minus:
- Mult prea multe coincidențe și momente care statistic tind infinit spre imposibil; matematic, romanul nu e credibil, de la început până la sfârșit.
- din păcate eu-s gamer de anii 90, am ratat nostalgia asta cu 10 ani și nu am ”prins” nenumărate referiri/aluzii. Similar, prea americană, fără referințe familiare europenilor. Ca de obicei la scriitorii din SUA, Asia înseamnă automat (doar) Japonia.
- Are și destule pasaje plictisitoare (prea tehnice și/sau decriptive). Plus godzile și mega-roboți, puah.
- Inamicul este exagerat de simplificat, până la șablon.
- Povestea e doar pe drept înainte, cu foarte puține personaje (real doar unul, restul mai degrabă decor).
- Se citește nu ca o carte sf, ci ca un joc.

I loved this book, but it's definitely not for everyone. If you loved early video games and nerdy 80s movies (like Wargames), you'll love this too.

La historia empieza muy bien, pero poco a poco decae, principalmente por las soluciones tan simplistas y rebuscadas con las que el protagonista soluciona todo. Muy infantil (pese a los desesperados intentos del autor por no caer en esto tocando temas como sexo y masturbación). Muchos cliches. Y en especial... Las pruebas mas absurdas para obtener el tan codiciado “Huevo de Pascua”. Solo engancha por momentos.

I don't think anyone who grew up in the 1980s and played video games could not enjoy this book. I didn't play all the games the author references or even see all the movies, but I know them and loved to see them fit into the story. The future of VR was exciting to read about, even if a little scary. Also a future where companies can enslave people to repay debts is frightening and eerily plausible.

Some parts were predictable but the story was exciting and I very much enjoyed the book.

I was left with two questions: Did Wade ever tell his friends about the kill switch and did he give them superuser powers?

Me encantó, es un libro que apela a lo más profundo del sentimiento Geek/Nerd/Friki, las referencias a la cultura POP de ayer y hoy son interminables, pero están bien planteadas dentro de la “lógica” de la novela, están perfectas, se justifican al cien.

La lectura es muy amena la prosa es relajada y simple, hace que avances rápidamente y quieras terminar y que no se termine nunca.

Los personajes muy bien, considerando que tenemos personajes dentro y fuera de la “realidad” y que vemos todo desde un punto de vista, están muy bien, vamos descubriéndolos a medida que avanza la historia.

Hay partes que son previsibles pero que en vez de arruinar la trama hacen que las quieras ver pronto.

Lo pasé muy bien leyéndolo y hoy cuando escribo la reseña aún tengo un buen sabor que me ha dejado el libro.

Lo recomiendo pero con precaución, ya que si lo tuyo no son los Videojuegos, música, películas antiguas, anime, etc. No lo vas a disfrutar tanto.

A esperar la película dirigida por Spielberg ( Perfecto!!)

I am not a gamer at all and yet this book still managed to keep me interested in its story. It has something for everyone – video games, 80s pop culture references, action, danger, humor. If you're not into gaming and can't relate to the references, it's still a good read. I treated it like an Easter egg hunt and Googled references I didn't know too much about. It made me feel like a competitor in the game, and it made the read much more enjoyable. It was so much fun to dive into the history of the references and how they connected to the plot. The movie adaptation I created in my head while reading this action-packed book was awesome, and I am hoping the movie to be released in 2018 does this great page-turner of a read justice.

“Casi siempre, la vida del ser humano es repugnante. Los videojuegos son lo único que la hacen soportable”.

This was just... amazing, awesome, brilliant ... (add any superlative of your choice). Clever story, catchy plot, quite likeable characters and maybe even frightening vision of the future. Beware what can happen if we stay too long in the virtual reality and computer games. The best book I've read this year for sure! Recommended! <3