Skip to main content

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

By
Brief synopsis (no spoilers):
The Earth is basically in ruins. Just about everyone on the planet escapes that reality by living in a massive online universe, called the OASIS. The inventor of the OASIS created an elaborate game that activated upon his demise, which will determine the future controlling person of the OASIS. Wade Watts is a Senior in High School, convinced he will win the challenge. Like most hugely popular stories, the movie appears that it will deviate heavily from the book in execution, but stay true to its basic principles (based on previews).

Category:
Sci Fi

Why I chose this book:
Very popular, especially with the movie coming

My personal opinion:
I can see a handful of points in this book that will get under the skin of various people. Tolerance of homosexuality is promoted; racial issues are pointed out frankly; sexual self gratification and pornography are condoned; atheism is upheld and Christianity is mocked; global warming has reached the point of ruining the planet; population overcrowding is rampant; indentured servitude has returned; etc. My thoughts on all of that: If you choose the see the author as a preacher of his doctrine, through this story, it might just make you mad. But if you choose to see the author as a storyteller, then all of those things are just fiction, part of the story, and you might enjoy it.
That said, I will not endorse this book. The language is entirely unnecessary, the story would have been just as amazing without it. If I could edit it for language, this would definitely be the best book I've read in about a year- excluding my core favorites that I've reread. The story was engaging, the characters believable, and the plot had just the right number and kind of twists. I do wish there had been a little less of the hero escaping peril through coincidence, but it's forgivable. While I am a child of the 80s, I did not connect with many of the references, but that doesn't affect my review. It's entirely due to the language and adult situations.

Warnings
Language: Large handful of the f-word; many uses of lesser swear words
Violence: Frequent fighting, but no gory detail
"Adult" situations: Masturbation is mentioned
Death: yes, including major character(s)

Movie rating equivalent:
R, for language

Protagonist description:
Wade is a High School kid, living in a slum, with no real family or support. But he refuses to let those circumstances define him.

Point of view of story:
First person, focused on Wade

Book length:
Medium-long to long

Story flow:
Excellent

Grammar and spelling issues:
None

Character connection (no spoilers):
I would definitely like more back story on the members of the High Five, and Og

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson

By
Summary: Every book needs you to turn the pages. But not every book needs you to tap it, shake it, jiggle it, or even blow it a kiss. Innovative and timeless, Tap the Magic Tree asks you to help one lonely tree change with the seasons. It begins with a bare brown tree. But tap that tree, turn the page, and one bright green leaf has sprouted! Tap again—one, two, three, four—and four more leaves have grown on the next page. Pat, clap, wiggle, jiggle, and see blossoms bloom, apples grow, and the leaves swirl away with the autumn breeze. (Amazon) Attention Span/reading level: Perfect for my three year old. I would say that ages 2-10 would really enjoy something like this. It really keeps kids engaged and makes them feel like part of the story. There is one word to one sentence per page. Good uses for book in teaching: Interaction, that the reader takes part in making the story, what a tree can do (leaves, blossoms, fruit) Favorite part:      Child: The fact that ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Balancing Act by Ellen Stoll Walsh

By
Summary: Two mice make a teeter totter. Soon a frog comes along and wants to join. Can the mice balance all the friends who want to play with them? Attention Span/reading level: 3-6 years old, usually 5 or less words on a page Good uses for book in teaching: Balance, science Favorite part:      Child: When the frog joins in     Mine: That the mice keep playing at the end  Least favorite part: None:   W arnings/negative feedback: None.  Review: This is a really simple but fun way to introduce the idea of balancing and weight to kids. It's fun to show them how it must be equal on each side to balance. Showing that size can affect weight is shown on the page where all the animals are on one side with the big bird on the other. This could be a fun activity to replicate with toys if doing a science lesson at home. 
Post a Comment
Read more

The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

By
Brief synopsis (no spoilers) Vin relies on her fighting skills, and a little extra "luck" to survive in the thief's world. Then comes Kelsier, a master thief and planner, showing her that what she calls luck is really much more. Kelsier and his crew plan to use a variety of special powers to free an entire population of slaves, including themselves, from tyranny. But, as always, there's far more to the story. Category Science Fiction or Fantasy Why I chose this book Rated highly on the library site My personal opinion (the review) Definitely the best story I've read in the past year. I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series. Special abilities, fighting, romance, social justice - this has it all. And not a single bad word or uncomfortable situation. Warnings Language: None Violence: frequent, some mildly graphic "Adult" situations: None Death: Some, and of major characters Movie rating equivalent PG-13 Protagon...
Post a Comment
Read more