My avatar: Miss Orangutan Librarian
Level one: at first I felt like I was off to a rocky start. Though it was well written, the opening sequence was info dump after info dump, setting up the game and a nihilistic backdrop that was hard to like. Everything so far felt depressingly similar to our own world, with very small changes that didn’t really appeal to my imagination. Also, not being a gamer, I struggled to get into the premise and a lot of the references were lost on me. But then I levelled up…
Level two: as the book progressed I began to have more fun with it. I slowly forgot my initial misgivings, becoming absorbed in the characters and their adventures. And before I knew it I was rooting for them to *win*…
Level three: by the last third I was totally loving it. With the heightened drama and the world building, the book had me in the palm of its hand. Initial reservation forgotten, I felt like I’d fallen into a whole different universe. And it was just as I escaped my own reality I thought isn’t this the point? Because I may not play video games, but I can more than understand getting lost in make believe and needing an alternative to shitty reality. I mean, even writing this on my blog, I totally get what it is to live online…
Game Over: And then came the finale to take this to a whole other level: the message to step outside the game. It could not have ended on a better note. As the kids say, “it gave me life” 😉
Rating: 3½/5 bananas
So have you read this? What did you think about it? Let me know in the comments!
the orang-utan librarian 
I’m probably going to read this at some point, but it won’t be for a couple of years at the earliest. I’m hoping he builds up a decent back log of books by the time I get around to him and I can plow through it all in a couple of months…
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Ah fair enough!! It is worth reading- I was prompted to get to it before the film comes out (which, knowing me, will take years for me to get to anyway- so I really didn’t need to rush 😉 )
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I absolutely LOVED this book. One year at my library they did a little “Key Quest” throughout the catalog where you had to follow clues to find the keys and gates. At the end of the game they said it was based on “Ready Player One” so I just had to read it. I’ve read it a couple times now and in fact am about to start it again now that hype over the movie has started. 🙂
Now, I actually liked his second book better as it seemed more “believable”, but I know many fans of RPO don’t like his second book at all.
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Wow that sounds like such fun!! I’d love to do something like that!! 😀
And it is a really good book- it took me a while to get into, but I ended up really enjoying it 😀
Ah I’m really curious about that now too!!
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I’m glad to read you enjoyed it – I did not at all! I think it’s one of those marmite books, people seem to either love or hate it with very little middle ground!
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That’s fair!! It took me a while to get into, so I can see both sides for sure- even though I did really end up enjoying it 🙂
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I’m hoping that this is one of those the adaption is better than the book! *crosses fingers* As a writer book blogger I wish it was better understood how essential a hook is and showing the world and not info dumping the world… still I’m glad you liked it in the end! ❤
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I can totally understand that- and yes- it did take ages to get going. It was a good idea and story overall- but there were better ways to introduce the world (imo). But in the end it did win me over, which was good! ❤
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Hun, even if I didn’t appreciate your review, which I did, I would still adore how you approached it. The Level */ Game Over thing had me grinning.
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heheheh thank you so much!!! 😀
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I loved this book. I’m a gamer so I wished something like the Oasis existed in the real world. I thought this book was so much fun to read.
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Yes it was really fun to read!! I could totally see why gamers loved it when I started and by the end I really liked it even as a non-gamer!!
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I love how you formatted your review in game levels! Very cool!😎👏 I can’t believe I still haven’t gotten to this. Now that the movie’s coming out maybe that will give me the push I need.
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Thank you so much!!! 😀 It’s well worth reading before the film (which is what prompted me to read it too)
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I haven’t read this yet but now that I know it’s going to be made into a movie, I’m thinking of checking it out. I dabbled in gaming for a couple years back in my college days so maybe it will be a fun read! Clever buildup on your review here! 🙂
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Ah yes, that’s why I picked it up- although knowing how bad I am about catching up on films, I really needn’t have rushed 😉 Thank you so much!! 😀
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Lovely review! I haven’t read this book yet, but it’s on my radar now that I know there is an adaptation coming soon ahah. I’m sorry to hear that it was a bit of a rocky start, it’s a good thing it got better after this though 🙂 I’ll have to give it a try someday 🙂
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Thank you so much!! Yeah I was glad that it got better, even though it was hard for me to get into at first!! I hope you enjoy it if you check it out!! 😀
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I love ready Player One! It is one of my favorite books. I know it is a bit info-dumpy, but at the same time, my love for it knows no bounds .
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Ah I’m glad you like it!! 😀
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Received this in a Loot Crate, & was excited to read after
hearing about it. I thought the book started out strong
with some great world building. There were a few WFT
moments like the author casually slipping in “God doesn’t
Exist” which left a sour taste in my mouth. I found the story
got a bit rushed/sloppy around the final battle & so I couldn’t
say it was as amazing as all the buzz & hype made it out to be.
Your 3 1/2 rating is right on point. It will be interesting to
see how Hollywood handles the book for the film adaptation.
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I can understand that- it was a tad too ideologically driven in its world building (imo). And I can understand what you mean about the ending too. Yes absolutely agree about the film! I’m glad you agree with the rating!!
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After hearing about how much name- and reference-dropping the novel does, I was extremely wary of it. Maybe a big part of it is the fact that I grew up in the 90s, while the author obviously grew up in the 80s, and 80s nostalgia doesn’t speak to me at all, but I don’t think my opinion would be any different. The one-page excerpt I read hurt my head.
But it sounds like the novel is about more than just references. I really liked the premise of it, so I hope it’s worth reading or watching when the film comes out.
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Ah yes I’m the same- to be honest, a lot of that passed me by. Some of it I knew, but some of it just went over my head.
But in the end it was really worth reading. I really hope you like it if you check it out!
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I LOVE THIS BOOOK SOO MUCH 😂 I love how you reviewed it by levels made complete sense !
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I’ve not read this book yet and I fear that may be down to all the hype. It’s one of those books that have a really interesting concept but I’m not that big a gamer so I’m not sure if I’d enjoy it as much. Hmm I’ll give it a go and see how I fare with the hype.
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Ah I get that- it took me ages for the same reason. Yeah I’m not a gamer either so I wasn’t sure, but it ended up being worth it in the end.
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Reblogged this on Emo Pretisdi Vision.
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So nice book! I like it too much ❤
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Thank you!! ❤
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I understand how it might have been challenging to get into this book based on our current world experience and the lack of gaming in your background, but I’m so glad you enjoyed this! Ready Player One is a firm 4 star for me. I completely get you with the info dumps. But the addiction to the culture and how true Cline stays to the mission really captured me. I am not really into pop culture but I appreciate all the 80s elements. I’m a bit anxious about this movie, though… I don’t have high hopes…
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Yeah it was tough to get into, but I did end up enjoying it 😀 I did like some of that (the parts I got at least 😉 ) yeah I didn’t get much out of the trailer, but I honestly have no idea what to expect.
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The trailer is SO confusing! It doesn’t explain a darn thing. I read the book and I still am not certain what’s going on….
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Yes I totally agree!!
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Maaaan, I feel like I’m missing out on something that I’d probably enjoy a lot. Based on the trailer and all its Easter eggs, I can only imagine the awesomeness that the book beholds and all the nostalgic throwbacks it might give me!! Excellent review!! I’ll make it my mission to read this before the movie comes out. 😛
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Hehehe I really hope you enjoy it if you give it a go!! Thank you!! 😀
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So glad you liked this book! This is one of my all time favourite sci-fi novels 🙂 I can see how the start would have felt slow with all the explanations (though having been somewhat of a gamer when I was a teen, the premise and references still intrigued me), but later it does pick up the pace. I was also a little dubious at first about the generic/not-very-different dystopian world, but I warmed to it eventually, especially as the main focus was on the Oasis. One of my favourite parts was when it became clear the hunt in the Oasis could have serious consequences for Gunters in the real world (the “wow, this just got real” moment)… because it wasn’t “just a game” anymore. From that point onward I think the story had me utterly enthralled!
Oh, one thing I also loved was that the enemy was basically corporate greed and privatisation – I’m not sure if you’ve found this too, but so many YA dystopias have an oppressive government as the enemy, and while this was certainly similar, I liked that it was ultimately about money and the big, faceless company for a change (also a gloomily plausible scenario).
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I did enjoy it!! 😀 Yes, I did like the premise but it took a bit for me to properly get into it, but once it picked up the pace I really enjoyed it 🙂 yeah me too- once they left that world it was really cool and acted as a good background. Yes for sure!!!
Yes you’re right- that was really clever!! Definitely agree!!
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Love the way you wrote the review.. very gamey! 😀
I wonder if I’d like the book.. I definitely have seen a great number of positive reviews for it… maybe 🙂
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Thank you so much!! 😀 It was fun! So maybe worth checking out 😉
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One day, I’m finally going to get around to reading this book.. with everyone telling me how awesome it is + how interesting the synopsis is, I’m genuinely surprised I haven’t read it yet!I never knew the book was structured into ‘levels’ though – that;s really cool, and to me, it;’s a more immersive experience.
Great review ❤
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Ah I really hope you like it!! hehe no that was just me having fun with the review 😉 though there are levels in the book, it’s not how the structure’s ordered.
Thank you ❤
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I have been thinking about this one for a while. I read Ender’s Game a while ago and wasn’t a big fan, not sure how but I mixed up the titles but I meant to grab this one. So now I haven’t really been in the mood. Maybe I should get to it this winter.
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Hehe I get that!! They have similar concepts. I do hope you like this when you get to it 🙂
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I’m looking forward to reading this book soon, especially since there are some faint similarities to my own book. Perhaps gaming will eventually go to this level. Who knows?
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Ah I really hope you enjoy it then!
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I still haven’t yet read this though I am curious since everyone likes it. I had a copy but leant it to my uncle. Have yet to get it back.
That’s why I don’t lend books
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Oh gosh, yes I’ve had that happen 😔
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I’m not sure you have to be a gamer to love this book – I am and I did – but I think you probably do have to enjoy sci-fi. Trouble is, with sci-fi, the world is one of the main characters. Thus, the writer either sets up the ‘world’ at the beginning, or drops the reader in the deep end, doling out the info bit by bit. Some people hate the info dumps, others hate feeling ‘lost’. Either way, sci-fi takes effort, so if you don’t like sci-fi there won’t be any pay-off or reason to persevere. As one of the commenters said – like marmite [or vegemite to us Aussies], you either love it or hate it.
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