Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

I got this book on Audible because I saw the movie and loved it so much- the movie was beautifully done and very enjoyable to watch. I am totally blown away at how much more I like the book. It's radically different from the movie. (As in, NONE of the quests are the same at all. There is no race, so "Shining" scene, and there are additional quests that make the book so much more incredible). The book is MUCH more in-depth about all aspects of the contest and the Oasis, and it is all wildly interesting. I shouldn't have been surprised at that. I want to LIVE in this book! It's one I will definitely be listening to or reading again soon. Wil Wheaton is a wonderful narrator, and I think his narration made the experience that much better.



Despite that I disagreed with some of the religious/political/social commentary thrown in here and there, this book was one of the most enjoyable I have read this year. I was not alive in the 80s, so I don't have the same nostalgia for the period as Halladay or other (older) readers of this book. However, I came away wanting to watch many of the movies and play the games mentioned in the book.

The passion and commitment displayed in this book often made me feel like a slacker. The main character devoted so much time to immersing himself in all things Halladay and all things 80s. At certain points, it was a tad unrealistic -- he somehow was the expert of all these video games and knew the lines of all these movies by heart. For example, there is one part where he has to play a perfect game of Pac Man, and that is one I actually have played before. I could never even get past level 4, so it kind of blows my mind to hear the main character talking about getting through hundreds of levels. This contest became the actual every waking minute obsession of the Gunters. Once you get past how sad that is, it's a really interesting storyline.

The discussion of Easter eggs in videogames is really fascinating - like how there were extra points to be won at the end of Pac Man and how you could get 40 extra lives in Tempest by dying at a certain point.

The technology is, of course, one of the main highlights of this book. Despite how drastically it changed humanity, I really do think people would jump at the chance to have VR this amazing. The unlimited possibilities make this a dream. I feel like VR like this will be available someday but not anytime soon (probably not in my lifetime). The technology was explained in much greater detail in the book than in the movie, and it made me appreciate it more.

Many scenes in the book in such a way that it elicits great emotions. I knew the outcome, but I was on the edge of my seat during many scenes, my heart pounding. Especially when the first key was obtained -- it was SO exciting!



Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who likes exciting adventures regardless of whether or not they know much about video games or the 80s. Knowing about some of the 80s pop culture will certainly make this book more enjoyable, but it can be enjoyed by almost anyone!

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