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silverfox9's review against another edition
5.0
An awesome book that takes video game/nerd culture and wraps a great adventure/action story around it. This was Ernest Cline's first novel and I absolutely can't wait to see what he comes out with next. He has made a fan for life.
jaxish's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
tense
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? No
5.0
fulfilled_bluebird's review against another edition
5.0
Super fun and easy read filled with games and geekiness
artemisavalon's review against another edition
5.0
Where do I even begin… Having seen the film adaptation for RP1 multiple times, I was already familiar with the story and I absolutely loved it already. But what I did not expect was this book to add so much more detail and entirely different twists to the story.
The pop culture, the perfectly curated characters AND an entire world of gaming? What more could I ask for. All in all, I knew I'd love it, but I never thought I'd love it THIS much.
Earnest Cline really created a perfectly finessed digital world that is so detailed it nearly feels real. Especially if you game yourself it's so much fun to read about all the gaming references.
Final remark, Wade Watts has easily become one of my favorite fictional characters.
The pop culture, the perfectly curated characters AND an entire world of gaming? What more could I ask for. All in all, I knew I'd love it, but I never thought I'd love it THIS much.
Earnest Cline really created a perfectly finessed digital world that is so detailed it nearly feels real. Especially if you game yourself it's so much fun to read about all the gaming references.
Final remark, Wade Watts has easily become one of my favorite fictional characters.
szuko08's review against another edition
5.0
Far and away, one of the most original stories I've ever read. The mixture of pop culture references, gripping plot, and even a sprinkle of social commentary is pretty unparalleled. I also thought it was eerily frightening how imminent this iteration of the future really seems. I think this is going to end up being an all-time fave book for me!
sabine4242's review against another edition
3.0
I had mixed feelings about this book. When the action was moving it was really very engaging and interesting. And listening to the audiobook was great, as Wil Wheaton is the ultimate geek/fan/nerd icon to do it. However, there were many times where it felt like running lists of facts of 80s trivia and pop culture that could have been edited down somewhat. Overall enjoyable, but a little heavy handed at times.
vijayboopathy's review against another edition
4.0
A good read. It occasionally felt cheesy, but overall, it was still enjoyable.
orissa's review against another edition
1.0
Truly, truly terrible. Pages upon pages of references, but not even in a fun way. It's just not interesting to read about someone (a teenager!) who has memorized all the movies, TV shows, song lyrics, game trivia, and life history of celebrities from the 80s. Maybe if it was mentioned when relevant? But it's probably a quarter of the book. Just the character spouting off facts and trivia (to impress... other characters? - who do seem impressed! To impress the reader? I tuned out).
The book BEAUTIFULLY encapsulates misogyny, racism, and transphobia (very kind of the author to not mention anything blatantly homophobic, unless I missed that?).
The main character quite literally stalks his love interest at one point, hanging outside her virtual house with a boombox over his head (even though). Any scene they had together was just painful to read.
The book is also super transphobic, with the main character asking the love interest if she's *REALLY* female? And has *ALWAYS* been - biologically - female? (barf). Just horrible!
The author hesitantly approaches how race factors into the idea of a massive virtual world, by having a character say that it's actually "good for women and people of colour" because they can use white avatars and are therefore treated better (this concept comes up earlier in the book as well, but quickly moved off of). But the author doesn't take it a step further to say that, hm, wouldn't it be nicer if people could be their authentic selves online instead of masquerading as white dudes? Which could have been a more interesting way to see it, honestly. Or if the main character used a white male avatar but wasn't actually one, and we saw the struggle between wanting to be ourselves and wanting to be valued by society (though this author couldn't - and shouldn't - write from this approach).
And to round out the whole thing, the two Asian characters are complete stereotypes
Honestly, the entire treatment of all the other characters was just cringe-worthy.
The author should have just written the main character as a forty-year old, because that would have been more accurate. Also,.
A bad book. Disappointed by the high ratings and glowing reviews.
Random note: Drink every time someone says "... and get the hell out of Dodge."
The book BEAUTIFULLY encapsulates misogyny, racism, and transphobia (very kind of the author to not mention anything blatantly homophobic, unless I missed that?).
The main character quite literally stalks his love interest at one point, hanging outside her virtual house with a boombox over his head (even though
Spoiler
at this point she has him blocked after she rejects him and he doesn't take it well). She very clearly says that they are NOT dating, yet Wade continues to be :( so sad :( that she dumped him :( for chapters after that.The book is also super transphobic, with the main character asking the love interest if she's *REALLY* female? And has *ALWAYS* been - biologically - female? (barf). Just horrible!
The author hesitantly approaches how race factors into the idea of a massive virtual world, by having a character say that it's actually "good for women and people of colour" because they can use white avatars and are therefore treated better (this concept comes up earlier in the book as well, but quickly moved off of). But the author doesn't take it a step further to say that, hm, wouldn't it be nicer if people could be their authentic selves online instead of masquerading as white dudes? Which could have been a more interesting way to see it, honestly. Or if the main character used a white male avatar but wasn't actually one, and we saw the struggle between wanting to be ourselves and wanting to be valued by society (though this author couldn't - and shouldn't - write from this approach).
And to round out the whole thing, the two Asian characters are complete stereotypes
Spoiler
(honour deaths - multiple, pretty much 0 differentiation between the two of them, overly stoic and sacrificial, calling them samurai, the KATANA BIT LMAO).Honestly, the entire treatment of all the other characters was just cringe-worthy.
Spoiler
The reveal at the end is pointless as Wade continues to use "he" to refer to his friend anyway.The author should have just written the main character as a forty-year old, because that would have been more accurate. Also,
Spoiler
it takes a certain kind of author to go the whole book without mentioning sex, and then randomly have the main character buy a sex doll and talk about masturbation using the grossest cliches everA bad book. Disappointed by the high ratings and glowing reviews.
Random note: Drink every time someone says "... and get the hell out of Dodge."
salty_avacado's review against another edition
4.0
Famous for a reason! Def want to reread at some point. Super interesting and so many layers, rlly good story