Ready Player One - Audio Edition

FINALLY. After years of sitting on TBR list, I FINALLY picked up Ready Player One. And after all those years and all that anticipation, I can 100% say that I was in no way let down, and in no way like, man, all that waiting and hype for this??? And to find that in a much anticipated book is rare and wonderful.

I will disclaimer by saying that I do not video game very well. My knowledge is limited and my skill is even moreso. I am a big fan of the older games like Ms. PacMan and the like, so that worked out in my favor. What I do actually do well is 80's. I love the 80's in all aspects. I love that Ernest Cline captured the dialogue so well (even though I've seen some younger kids who've read it criticizing it...but I really think that's just because they don't realize how outrageous and silly most of the 80's slang was).

I created the OASIS because I never felt at home in the real world. I didn’t know how to connect with the people there. I was afraid, for all of my life. Right up until I knew it was ending. That was when I realized, as terrifying and painful as reality can be, it’s also the only place where you can find true happiness. I love this line. I love this line because while Cline creates an entire world that you would love to submerge yourself in, and while there are worlds that exist that people lose themselves in every single day at every opportunity, the book can be summed up by that one line. I have personally lost myself to people online rather than real life and built and maintained great online relationships and sometimes that's felt more or better than the real life relationships I've had, but I also know that there's a degree of safety in that, and thats why they feel 'more' than reality. It did take me until later in life to realize that fact, however, so I think it's a great realization to put into a book geared towards Young Adult readers or Sci-Fi readers or Gamers, the type of people who do tend to be a little more reserved in reality and would rather get lost elsewhere.

I also love the realness that he gave to Artemis. She was what most teenage girls are - tough on the outside, but soft as hell and worried on the inside. Using OASIS to be bold and brave while being self-conscious and worried in real life. And obviously, same goes with Aech.

Aech brings a whole new level of themes to the book - the difficulty that girl gamers have in the realm. It's hard to be taken seriously, to be seen as a threat and not a sex object or a moron (her and Artemis both breach this subject with their avatars - one being a white male and the other being a "full figured" female). Aech also discusses race and sexuality...two subjects that we are still struggling with as a society today...for whatever reason. I just really enjoy this book, and any book that can touch on strong subjects without ruining the 'fun' of the book. I watched the Comic Con trailer for the Spielberg adaptation and my gut reaction is 'wow...this is not what I expected' It felt so "Tron" and so Michael Bay and featured a handful of things I don't recall being mentioned in the book, so as of right now I am skeptical, but hopeful.

I only have one real-time reaction because I generally only listen to audiobooks while on my commute, but it's worth sharing because it was my first reaction and ended up being my end reaction as well!

5 stars

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Chapter 0 - Omg omg Wil Wheaton is the narrator 😍. 80s references everywhere. This book has already lived up to its hype in my head.