The BOOK/MOVIE Club discussion

Discuss your thoughts on Ready Player One with us here!

this book is a great bit of fun and let my imagination run wild with all of the games and references inside

Dylan wrote: "this book is a great bit of fun and let my imagination run wild with all of the games and references inside"

I very much agree. I wouldn't say this book is a masterpiece or anything, but I can't remember the last time I had so much fun reading a book either! Being a bit of a pop culture geek and having a particular appreciation for the 80s, this felt like it was made for me.

Full review:

I can’t remember the last time I was this enthusiastic about reading a book.

I’ve of course read better and more interesting stories- quite a few, actually. But not since the Harry Potter series have I read one that was this much sheer FUN. Ready Player One was a blast from start to finish, and I only got more invested in it as I progressed. By the end, I was reminded of why I love books in the first place.

To start, I think the book’s main gimmick will either grab you or it won’t. Are you a fan of 80s pop culture and/or classic videogames? If not, this probably isn’t going to do much for you. But for me (being kind of an 80s film buff), it was like I was finally being rewarded for all the useless knowledge I’ve acquired over the years. This book is basically Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for futuristic-retro gamers, and it was damn entertaining for it. The setting was exciting and full of possibilities, creating an expansive world ripe for sequels and further exploration. The story and characters were simple, but fun and engaging. The integration of 80s nostalgia was perfect, and the ending was suitably epic and satisfying. There are a couple of really good twists in there, too.

As for negatives… I don’t know. There are probably a few, but I didn’t notice and I don’t care to. There wasn’t one dull moment, and I wish more books like this existed. I’ll soon be checking out Ernest Cline’s other book Armada, and I’m suddenly much more interested in Steven Spielberg’s movie adaptation coming soon. This book doesn’t exactly break new ground, but it was everything I wanted it to be. I give it a 9.5 out of 10.

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P.S. I recommend watching the films “War Games,” “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” and “Ladyhawk” before reading the book. It will improve the experience greatly.

P.S.S. I recommend the Audible audiobook highly for this one- Will Wheaton’s narration deserves almost as much praise as the book itself. A good narrator can make or break an audiobook experience, and he delivers on all fronts.

In a nut shell: Ready Player One is a fun take on a dystopian future (can the words fun and dystopian even be in the same sentence?!). After reading several depressing dystopian books in a row- 1984, Fahrenheit 451, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? I needed a cheesy title to bring me out of the doom and gloom.

If you grew up in the 80's or were part of the afterglow of the 80's Nostalgia you are in for a sweet surprise as you say "Oh I remember that" at least 10 times per chapter. Basically, Ready Player One is the 1980's kid Pop Culture Reference Bible.

I can imagine that this would be a great book to read to a younger sibling/cousin/son/daughter to get them interested in reading while making them think your really cool due to your extensive knowledge of the 80's. haha...

I admit, there are a few cringe worthy moments as the author tries to relate to today's teenagers, but these moments don't ruin the book in any way.

Fun fact: A film adaptation for Ready Player One is coming out this year! It is being made by one of the most famous 80's directors of all time... Spielberg! You can bet, I'll be seeing it!

My Rating: 9.5/10

Cline has confirmed a sequel and possibly a trilogy to this book, I'm so pumped!

Karma wrote: "Cline has confirmed a sequel and possibly a trilogy to this book, I'm so pumped!"

Same!! Reading Ernest Cline's newest book Armada right now, it's very similar to Ready Player One but more about aliens. It's still full of 80s nostalgia though! It just makes me want more Ready Player One stories though...

Can't wait to see the movie, but I can't tell if it's gonna be good from the previews. It looks pretty different from the book but we'll find out soon!!

I actually resisted reading this book because I prefer series. (the longer, the better!)
When I started this novel, I couldnt put it down, and wrapped it in 2 days. such a great book! as a gamer who grew up in the 80s, I loved both the retro and futuristic feel. I am very excited for the film.

I decided I wanted to read this book because of the movie coming out and because I watched so many booktubers on youtube talk about this book. I thought it was amazing! Took me a week because life got in the way, but I love the 80s feel of the book. I was born in 1990 so I grew up with the afterglow of the 80s. I still watched a lot of 80s tv series and movies. I remember I took my book to work and left it in the car because I wanted to finish it when I got off. I had like 20 or 30 pages left and NEEDED to finish it.

I loved this book. I wasn't sure at first since I'm not interested in video games. But the 80s references really swung it for me.

I don't know about you guys but I love this book. I wasn't raised in 80s but I know some of the games, most actually. It is easy to understand and the plot is great. This book became my OASIS haha

I'm going to read this whilst I'm waiting for Capcom to release Resident Evil 2, Stanley!

I loved this book. Originally read it for the 80s stuff. I'm not big on games. But this book was just a fun trip!!

This book took so many things I was obsessed w/ as a kid and completely legitimized them. Max Headroom (I watched the series, had a crush on Matt Frewer for a while because of it), Blade Runner (one room library, whose name dominated the check out card for the videotape? Mine.), Rush (just since 1980 when I was 9 years old and then attended my first concert at 10), Duran Duran, etc. And I never had my own computer as a kid but totally had it in me to became obbsessed w/ video games. Played King's Quest on my friend's computer. Monty Python was a given. Anyhow, you get the gist. All my obsessions in one book w/ an exciting story wrapped around them. It felt kind of like guest starring in someone's book. Reading this was a seriously good time.

This one has been on my "Want to Read" list for a while because I'm such a nerd. I only started it yesterday, but it's already a ton of fun. I agree with Max's recommendation on the Audible version. Will Wheaton does a great job!

I love Ready Player One! I read it a few years back and it just really stuck with me. A few months ago, I decided to listen to the audio version read by Will Wheaton - completely worth it. Wheaton has the passion that, for me, makes the book even better.

While I don't think the writing is necessarily amazing, the story is what makes the book great - and I loved rooting for Wade and it was nice to read about people who are like me, too: nerdy, fun, interested in pop culture.

Personally, I was let down by the movie adaptation (of course). I didn't think it was a bad movie, but I felt like it tried mainstreaming geekiness, almost 'normalize' what nerds are and how they are. The characters didn't really look like how they were described, either. However, the OASIS looked incredible. I'll give Spielberg props for creating that.

I'd love to know what other people thought of the movie compared to the book!

Kristin wrote: "I love Ready Player One! I read it a few years back and it just really stuck with me. A few months ago, I decided to listen to the audio version read by Will Wheaton - completely worth it. Wheaton ..."
CAUTION SPOILERS!

Well these are my thoughts on the movie adaption...and yes I get that as readers we shouldn't be so set on what the book lays out because it wont be the same or they have to retract or add scenes or dialogue that may not have been there before but COME ON this movie was NOTHING and I mean NOTHING like the novel. I love Spielberg but he took this novel as if it was a glass vase, shattered it and then chose what major pieces to put back together and then left the essentials on the ground still.

1. How they obtain the keys?? What was wrong with the challenges that was already laid out for him in the novel. The whole car race thing, yes it was a more visually exciting way to get to the key/first gate but it messes with more than just how they get to the keys but how Wade meets Art3mis, how they know Halliday wanted a student to win the competition since it put the first key on Ludus, etc

2. The whole explosion that happens at the trailer park kills both his Aunt and Ms. Gilmore

3. I know it's all about interpretation but name the last time a wine port birthmark was that faint...

4. Why in the second challenge did they use the movie The Shining? I was looking forward to seeing them ad-lip and act out the original one in the novel

5. It wasn't a library that you could go to in order to access Hallidays life... the Anorak Almanac was made available to everyone plus both Art3mis and Wade has personal journals of their notes so the whole idea of reliving scenes of his life was just unnecessary. and on top of that, why did they made up Og Morrow as the "librarian/butler" character and not just let him be the hero to the heroes when they needed a place to play safely once IOI was after them

I could go on and on but this whole movie I was just so disappointed on how they put things together and they just seem to make up everything related to this movie and the novel was only in place to have the characters and title done for them.

I started reading Ready Player One for a uni class and found myself enjoying it more than I thought I would. It's such an interesting book and I couldn't put it down! I'm so excited now to see the movie, too. I haven't read any reviews yet and I'm planning on staying away from it so I can go in blind and not expect anything. Oh my god I could gush about this book for so long if I'm not stopped haha.

Karma wrote: "Well these are my thoughts on the movie adaption......"

I'm with you, Karma.

CONTAINS SPOILERS! Re: the movie...Just saw it yesterday . It was a fun movie but...as far as it being a book adaptation is concerned, w/ the the soundtrack chosen, and considering Spielberg directed it it was, for lack of a better word, bland. Or dull. Or oatmeal, or, whatever...meh. Visually it was cool looking, but no better than a well executed computer animated show on Cartoon Network. Everything that I loved about the book (and that made it such a personal 'read' to me) Rush, Blade Runner, Max Headroom etc. didn't make the cut. I could even get past it leaving out all but the briefest cameo Rush image appearances (same one showed twice in different places), though I'm a huge Rush fan, but the soundtrack itself and what did make the cut was just forgettable. Like I said, it was fun, but nothing special. Which is surprising considering the source material and who directed it. Oh, and I didn't like The Shining part either...especially since I had my 7 year old son with me. Made him cover his eyes during the elevator and lady in the bath scene. Those scenes gave me nightmares when I first saw that movie, and I was 11, not 7. I could get past that but I too thought filling in the dialog to War Games like they did in the book, would've been way, WAY better.

Hi all,
I haven't read any of the previous posts to avoid any spoilers. I was wondering who has read the book AND seen the movie, and wondering which I should I do first. The movie is being released on demand next month so should I start reading it now?
Thanks

Chris wrote: "Hi all,
I haven't read any of the previous posts to avoid any spoilers. I was wondering who has read the book AND seen the movie, and wondering which I should I do first. The movie is being release..."

I always prefer to read the book first, was no different in this case. Though the movie (unsurprisingly) deviates from the book, it was good enough on its own.

The book is awesome. The movie is just ok, if you've read the book first. They're nothing like each other other than the general premise. Honestly, if I were you, I'd see the movie first rather than vice versa. Because reading the book and the expectations you'll have from it will only result in disappointment w/ the movie. You'll probably enjoy the movie a whole lot more if you see it first...it won't detract from the book then.

Susy wrote: "Chris wrote: "Hi all,
I haven't read any of the previous posts to avoid any spoilers. I was wondering who has read the book AND seen the movie, and wondering which I should I do first. The movie is..."

Just see them as two separate stories and they'll both be awesome. But if you go see the movie expecting to see the story you've read, then yes you'll be disappointed.
I just don't like to read books if I've seen the movie. It's like my fantasy gets limited because of the images from the movie that are in my head....lol

Thanks Susy and Angela for your comments. I usually read the book first, and yes, get disappointed. I have made exceptions, such as The Handmaid's Tale, so I'll ponder on it some more before I decide.

Chris wrote: "Thanks Susy and Angela for your comments. I usually read the book first, and yes, get disappointed. I have made exceptions, such as The Handmaid's Tale, so I'll ponder on it some more before I decide."

Good luck Chris! I hope you’ll enjoy them both!