Thoughts 
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, Audible 2012, Narrated by Wil Wheaton, 15.75 hours
WHY I READ THIS: This book, a science fiction geeky gamer story, has been getting so many good reviews that I just had to find out why. The audiobook and the narrator have especially received high marks for entertainment. I want to read more science fiction. I like and dislike Mr. Wheaton and I had a free credit to burn at Audible.
I also wonder how it ended up on so many of my favorite bloggers favorites lists! How did this book get into the hands (and ears?) of so many people I respect? It must have had a helluva genius marketing team because I can only think that they are many other books equally as geeky and fun that have not hit the bonanza like this one.
CARE’s QUICK What’s It ABOUT: Set in the future where world energy resources are lacking and every person seems to be mostly living an escapist life online in a virtual world, this tells of an amazingly rich and eccentric designer of this virtual world who has set up an elaborate ‘game’ to hunt for the rights to his fortune after his death. Our hero, Wade narrates this quest. We meet his friends, learn of his adventures both in the ‘real’ world and the online world, and gasp & squeal & shout for his success. Wait – no, not success but his very survival!!
It’s fun.
Wheaton does a great job. The book has so many 80s references that I was able to relive some fun memories of my own days in that decade. I didn’t play that many computer games when I was a teen but this was still fun. Pacing and plot are terrific, world building wonderful and I really cheered the characters as they fought the bad guys. Honestly, the scene where two of the people meet IRL after being such good friends for so long online, brought a tear to my eyes. *sniff*
RATING: Four slices of pie. Chess pie; since chess is a game. Ok, that’s lame but I can’t think of any pie references in the book.
Yay! Glad you liked it! I was very disdainful of people who spent all their time playing video games in the 80s, but came around to computer games when I started getting hooked on them myself on our very first computer. (Oregon Trail and Sim City, anyone?)
Disdainful! You were probably a book snob in high school, huh? Honestly, I don’t remember who if anyone in my circle played video games but I recall wondering what D&D was and being too afraid to ask.
Yes, I’m a reformed book snob! I still haven’t come around to role-playing games, but that’s probably a failure of imagination on my part. I’ve found it very easy to get hooked on computer games like Myst, etc., so I try to stay away from them!
I loved this book and was just recommending it to someone the other day.
Ooooh sounds like a good time! I’m not super proficient in video games, because I’ve never been any good at them… My hand eye coordination sucks. I now want to read this, and I want to taste chess pie, because I’ve never had it.
I love this book and I don’t think there was anyone more perfect than Wil Wheaton to narrate. It doesn’t hurt that I absolutely love the ’80′s and science fiction. It was one of my favorite books I read last year.
I kinda did not like this one and I love 80′s pop culture. I just felt everything was too contrived and convenient.
Sometimes you ride the rollercoaster and do NOT think about how old the rusty bolts are that are holding it together – you just hang on and love the thrill.
This was my favorite book for last year. I didn’t play many computer games in the 80s (although I did later!) but I recognised so much in the book. Great!
It’s amazing to me that some books just get tons of love and press and other similar books fall by the wayside. I read and liked this one too, but I agree, it got tons of press!
I’m not a big sci fi fan and was never much of a gamer, but it sure sounds like this one made a splash. I might have to check it out.
I was one of the people who loved this one. I just thought it was so much fun. Sure, a little convenient at times, but the whole time I listened I was having fun.
I really enjoyed this one and your line — ” can only think that they are many other books equally as geeky and fun ” — makes me say: What are those books? I’d like to read them too!
everyone at the bookstore has been loving this! I may have to check it out
Still one of my favorite audiobooks of all time. I particularly geeked out with all the mentions of Middletown, Ohio, since I was living in Middletown, Ohio when I was listening to the book!
How cool! I love it when I can relate to locations in a book.
I read this book last year and I had so much fun!
love your pies……we prefer omelets! I too was wondering about this book. Thanks!
I GUSHED about this one and even your review here makes me want to listen ti it again (I am sure I will at some pint this year) AWESOME audio! I am glad you listened to it Care!
I swear to God I am the only person on the PLANET who did not like this book. Not at all. What the hell did I miss???
I thought this was fun too! I didn’t love the ending, but it was a hard-to-put-down book!