Ready player one? Anyone read this?

PaulieS · Dec 29, 2016

Not sure if this is the right place for book reviews, so apologises in advance. I'm 10 hours into this, and I've gotta admit, it's a struggle. The basic surmise is that it's based in the future where life is pretty much unbearable in all aspects. In order to escape this, millions of folks worldwide log into a huge VR world. That's the main crux, and although the concept is interesting, I've never come across as many cliches and lack lustre writing in all my life. The hole premise is just an excuse to lodge in as many 1980's pop culture references as possible, and I've gotta say, it gets pretty old, pretty fast.

So again, interesting concept. Extremely dull and unimaginative execution.

iszevthere · Dec 29, 2016

I read it and enjoyed it thoroughly, but knew it wasn't a book I would read again. A lot of the references flew over my head; I am a nineties baby. I didn't take the book seriously at all. Tons of old, tired tropes were jammed in there, so it was easy to not be too invested, which helped me like it.

Kjbartolotta · Dec 29, 2016

Loved it and teens love it, and after I read it I swore NEVER to read a book with a Stars Wars reference. Broke my rule to read Armada, sorry I did.

PaulieS · Dec 29, 2016

Fair enough guys, I see your points. Maybe, just maybe, I was taking it too seriously? Shouldn't have gone in expecting a "war and peace" kind of plot :roll:

zanzjan · Dec 29, 2016

I loved it, but then, I'm a child of the 80s. Not everyone is the right audience for every book.

This isn't really the place for book reviews. If you're reading something and you want to discuss it, there's the "What We're Reading" thread. But keep in mind that many authors are members here, and if you're going to "review" a book, do it to objectively discuss substantive craft issues that are relevant to writing, not just to slam something you personally don't like.

Myrealana · Dec 29, 2016

I read it for my December book club. I had a hard time getting into it. It turns out even a nerd-child of the 80s can be overloaded on 80s references. However, since it was for book club, I persevered.

At about the halfway point, I actually got interested and read the rest in an evening.

It's not great literature, but it's passably entertaining.

PaulieS · Dec 29, 2016

zanzjan said:
I loved it, but then, I'm a child of the 80s. Not everyone is the right audience for every book.

This isn't really the place for book reviews. If you're reading something and you want to discuss it, there's the "What We're Reading" thread. But keep in mind that many authors are members here, and if you're going to "review" a book, do it to objectively discuss substantive craft issues that are relevant to writing, not just to slam something you personally don't like.

Point noted, apologises.

jjdebenedictis · Dec 29, 2016

It has a heartwarming ending; that often saves books that aren't too strong the rest of the way through. When it comes time to say what a book was like, people tend to remember the ending first and how the book made them feel the best.

I, too, didn't find the writing great, but I also didn't dislike the story. I just didn't quite get into it, despite understanding most of the 80s references.

Arcs · Dec 29, 2016

The idea was fascinating. So I read the whole thing as quickly as my schedule allowed.

The first key was an instant solve for me, in my meta view of the book. But the execution was wonderful. The other two were kinda weird, but I liked the idea enough that I went with it. I was rewarded with what I felt was a great ending. The only part about the book that I didn't like was the hetero "romance". But that's just me.

zanzjan · Dec 29, 2016

PaulieS said:
Point noted, apologises.

No worries, just a point for future reference. Keep it about the writing and you're good.

jjdebenedictis said:
I, too, didn't find the writing great, but I also didn't dislike the story. I just didn't quite get into it, despite understanding most of the 80s references.

It was also very dude-centric, so despite getting waaaay too many of the references there was still a sense of being not quite in the crosshairs of the book. But I liked it really for the novelty and kind of unabashedly artless exuberance of much of it.

DongerNeedFood · Dec 29, 2016

One of my favorites, I've read it several times. I grew up in the 80's and loved the references. Looking forward to the movie. However, when I read Cline's followup book ARMADA, I did get tired of the excessive 80's and geek references. It was fine the first time around, but in Armada it was overkill.

LukeWoolsey · Jan 11, 2017

I enjoyed the read. I found that the 80s references went completely over my head, as I am also a 90s child. But the idea behind the whole world was what fascinated me.

I did find the writing a little strange at times, but all in all I thought it was a good read.

Frankie007 · Jan 11, 2017

i remember getting the novel in Loot Crate--when the book first came out. but I had traded it for something i REALLY wanted at the time. i do not regret that. LOL

King Neptune · Jan 11, 2017

I never heard of it, but I may look for it. The is a lack of paarody in the SF subgenre, and the parodies in fantasy are as strong as might be good. 1980's cultural references can be funny by themselves.

zanzjan · Jan 11, 2017

I had high hopes for Armada but I admit I don't think I even made it 50 pages in. Just didn't grab me.

Ready player one? Anyone read this?

PaulieS

iszevthere

Kjbartolotta

Potentially has/is dog

PaulieS

zanzjan

killin' all teh werds

Myrealana

I aim to misbehave

PaulieS

jjdebenedictis

is watching you via her avatar

Arcs

zanzjan

killin' all teh werds

DongerNeedFood

LukeWoolsey

Frankie007

King Neptune

zanzjan

killin' all teh werds