coimel's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A bit too short, I kept waiting for it to get to the main plot, but then suddenly we were at the climax and the book was over.
Also there are sporadic mentions of the outside world, but very little exploration beyond a brief sublot near the end. Very little on the conflict of people choosing the virtual world over reality and thus the point of being alive or the broader geopolitical landscape.
Which meant a lot of it felt like a video game story, making it difficult for a lot of the stakes to have weight, and feeling detached from clear rules or consequences. Not surprising considering that's what it is, but there ways authors can avoid this issue. This author doesn't. Like any video game, its' more fun to actually beat the puzzle yourself than it is to listen to someone else explain how they beat it.
Heavy on 80's pop culture, if you're into that.
lissajean7's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to this read by Wil Wheaton on the audio book, and I had a ton of fun. The depth of the characters and worlds was amazing and plausible. There are apparently some huge gaps in my knowledge of the 80s - even having grown up then. Some of the references were lost on me, which made a few small parts tedious. The only thing, other than waiting for Wil Wheaton to read every single name and number on the top ten score board every time it came up in the story, that annoyed me was the couple times the first person main character in the story would know something or do something and not tell the reader what it was. It wasn't a big annoyance, but it still irked me. Anyway, I found the themes though-provoking and timely with characters I could relate to and a conflict that was plausible and pretty darn cool. I found myself singing many songs and reciting classic movie quotes along with the story, so it has a huge nostalgia factor. However, there is so much information given that it overwhelms at times - even if the information is used for character and plot development. Even so, you should read it. Highly enjoyable. A solid 4.5 stars (but annoyed me enough not to round up).
melle_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A fast, fun read for video game lovers, especially if listened to. Wade and his friends are endearing and have you rooting for them on their quest for the Egg. Wade’s teenage qualities are amusingly apparent in his strong confidence in his abilities, as well as how hard he falls for Art3mis and how down bad for her he becomes lol. It’s a simple tale that wraps up neatly at the end. Not sure if I’ll read the sequel as I feel satisfied by the first book, although more could be explored in the lead-up to Ready Player One’s events. 4.25 stars :)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Racism
The antagonist organization commits violent crime in attempt to thwart the heroes’ journey, murdering their loved ones. The organization’s influence allows them to frame it as accidental/suicide and disguise their involvement, which to me is very dystopian.jaminjams's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kaybeevee's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
carolbsmith's review against another edition
4.0
I don’t like to do it in this order, but I saw the movie first and thought it was just ok. I decided to go ahead and read the book, and I’m glad I did. The book was 1,000 times better - in fact, they were barely the same story!
The book is very descriptive; it’s action-packed and well written. I’m glad I read it!
The book is very descriptive; it’s action-packed and well written. I’m glad I read it!
bookpotato's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
afox98's review against another edition
4.0
Depressing look into the future, but ended on a high note. Tons and tons and tons of 80s references...sci-fi, video game, and pop culture freaks will LOVE that. It probably could have been about a quarter shorter and been better. It dragged a bit for me in the middle.
natalie001's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0