Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

I'd heard a lot about this book, and specifically heard the audiobook version was good. I don't know that I would have bothered to read it if I hadn't had an audiobook copy, because I am trying to work through a lot of other books that are taking more of precedence over random library books for now. But today and the last few days I've been working on a bunch of projects so I couldn't read, but I could listen to an audiobook, so I got a lot of listening in on this and managed to get through it pretty quickly. My main reaction is that I really liked it. It was quick-paced and exciting and engrossing, and a fun read. The story is about Wade Watts, a teenager set in 2045, who is participating in a worldwide contest searching for a hidden Easter egg in the Oasis virtual reality video game. Whoever finds the egg wins the prize of billions of dollars and control over the Oasis.

Here's what I liked about the book: it was fast, fun, and had a super-interesting premise. I thought it was very well-written and it was easy to stay engaged in it, even though I am decidedly not a video game person and the entire book is about video games, past and future. I liked (some of) the 80s references too.

Here's what I didn't like about the book: there were a few things I didn't understand, or quite believe, in the plot. Like, the year is only 2045 and the world is completely unrecognizable from today? I don't believe that. And little things--like Wade goes into debt and has to become the company's indentured servant to pay off his debt? In only 30 years from now? I honestly do not believe that would change that drastically. There were also a few times where I felt like the author contradicted himself about things a few pages or chapters apart (which always bugs me to no end--why did no editor catch that?). It also seemed like a way unnecessarily over-the-top amount of 80s references. It seemed unrealistic that the entire world would be that obsessed with the 80s and not be somewhat annoyed by it, without thinking, "Wow, I don't mind studying all this 80s stuff because it might make us billions of dollars if we win, but I would rather listen to 2045 music once in a while?" There was not a single reference to any sort of contemporary pop culture (other than Oasis video feeds, etc.), which seemed kind of unbelievable as well. There was also some profanity, and more than I thought was necessary.

Anyway, even though my paragraph about the negatives of this book is longer than the positives, I actually thought this book was solid. It's just easier to point out specific things that are irking me than specific things I liked. Here's the main selling point: the book was so good that I kept finding excuses to listen for longer than necessary so that I could get farther along in the story. This is definitely one I'll want to go see the movie. The trailer looks good and I'm excited to check it out.