bunzilla's review against another edition

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I really don't get why this book is so popular? None of the characters are likeable except for Marx and they kill him off for no reason lol 
Too slice-of-lifey for me as well

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syn_06's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

this is probably one where I'd be writing forever if I did a full review. I think it started off really strong but got a little lost midway through. it takes a turn that feels cheap and unnecessary to me. and in the end it felt like Sadie never really found agency, or maybe it was subtle and subdued when I wanted to hear her roar. It made her feel like less of a main character to me, which diluted the themes of the book. 

aside from that, some of the social commentary felt out of place for the 90s/early 2000s 
 and the book is a little snobby, which will repel some readers.

overall I enjoyed it. but it's heavier than I was expecting so you've been warned


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tbrnichols's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I really appreciated the seriousness that gaming was given, both as a past time and a creative art and the descriptions of how sacred and intimate a space gaming should be really rang true to me. I also appreciated the idea of a representative audience of one as the genesis of great creative works, especially since it sort of created "muse" as a super category for friends, lovers, rivals, and sometimes even acquaintances. I'm not sure if I think that Sadie got better at understanding someone through mere observation in the ways that Mazer seems to prefer and intuit, while he seems to have gotten much better at verbal explication, but the creation of gaming as a sufficient alternate feels justified as a hybrid, a synthesis, and a deeper examination of motivations along the lines of acting. 

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fi_sandison's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-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

4.5


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rhiadav1's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

Wow, this was a really hard book for me to finish. As soon as I started reading I knew that I was going to struggle to get into the storyline as it was extremely slow and dull. I was determined to finish it just so I could be done with it and by the end I was skim reading the pages. 

Overall, the characters were beyond frustrating. I despised Sadie as she treats Sam horrendously. I do not see how it can be viewed as a form of love. I also didn’t understand what the point of the story was as a result of this. The characters displayed very little development even over such a long time span and the ending was anti climatic. I’m very glad I can move onto a new book.

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spicyplantsaige's review against another edition

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emotional funny sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Fell flat at times but very good. A bit predictable at times and seemed like a complex love triangle which I don’t usually go for but intellectually written with nostalgia for the “golden era of video games” but very interesting nonetheless 

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hannah_the_bookworm's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad 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? It's complicated

5.0


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lenak's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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krmontgomery's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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laurajordensharris's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5


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