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Hello Goodreaders!

For April, I decided to take a different approach to how the Monthly Book Read is chosen and discussed.

Instead of voting, I had people just put in suggestions.

As well instead of having weekly threads, I am putting it into one main thread for the book, and it will be this one.

Just please, warnings for spoilers!

I look forward to hearing from everyone on this book :) Also any feedback on how I am changing the monthly book read is welcome!

I am 150 pages in so far... I am enjoying it, if only for the total throwback to the 1980s and 1990s. Even though I was born in '88 I think I am still grasping a lot of the cultural references.

That being said, does anyone find Cline is kind of overdoing it? Almost too many iconic references? I kind of get that feeling sometime.

How do you feel about the main character? Do you find him to be relatable?

I finished this book not too long ago, so I'll be jumping in on the discussion from time to time. I loved this book, but it was more of a "I love you despite all your imperfections" sort of romance. Cline overdoes a lot of things, and I wondered who his audience is supposed to be. I was born in '88 also, and the references are really aimed at someone older than me, but the writing was juvenile enough to be aimed at someone younger. Maybe the audience is really immature 30-somethings?

Anyway, I loved the world he created, and as I've said in so many discussions, I'm a sucker for anything dystopian/apocalyptic. I found the narrator to be a lovable underdog, and I appreciate that he always describes himself as pretty much chubby and ugly. If he had been good looking, I think I would have taken the narrative differently. I found him funny, often a jerk, but with a drive to win that was admirable.

Jennifer, those are some of my exact thoughts on this book's style. The narrator's expressions and tone made me think I was reading a Percy Jackson book.

Thumbs up for Will Wheaton's audio book reading though!

Nicely put Jennifer! I am liking the plot developments but there a certain 'something' that is lacking or just not quite right. This surprises me as the book received such a high rating here on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ. Mind you, the copy I own is an advanced readers addition that's a proof (I know someone who is an editor at Random House and she gave it to me). I hope that it is not drastically different than the final copy and I am being unfair in my opinions! Maybe I should find the Will Wheaton audiobook.

It's interesting you raised the question of intended audience. I guess probably twenty and thirty year olds would get a kick out of the nostalgic aspect of it, but I do agree the style does come off a bit juvenile. Then again it is a book about pretty much a giant video game!

How much appeal do you think the book holds for a younger generation? (I'm thinking 12,13,14 year olds). I think there has been a resurgence in a lot of the franchises mentioned (like Star Trek, Star Wars etc...) so someone who didn't necessarily experience the 70s/80s/90s would be able to identify with some of the references. Although I have to wonder if they would know who John Hughs was or Mathew Broderick....well there's always Wikipedia to fill in the gaps!

I don't know if it's just me but for some reason I picture OASIS and the avatars as being similar to Minecraft. I know it's described as being more realistic but I cannot shake that association.

Haha now I am rethinking the entire book in hugely pixelated blocks....

I considered recommending it to my 12 year old nephew but wasn't sure if he would like it. Although a lot of the references went over my head, and I still enjoyed it.

When I was still in the midst of the audiobook, I had NPR in in my kitchen on day, and they did a short piece on new technology revealed at some gaming convention. It was basically a beginning stage of something like OASIS, and it made me really think of all of the real-life ramifications of technology like that. I always look for the links between dystopian books and reality (and they usually aren't hard to find), and I thought of how much we already shut ourselves off from the world with our technology. I wonder how something like OASIS would change our world...

Jennifer- I think it is only a matter of time before something like OASIS does become reality.

Correct me if I'm wrong (I'm not into video games and I do not know a ton about them) but multiplayer role playing games like World of Warcraft already kind of enter into this zone. You can spend real money purchasing gear for your character and interact with others hooked up in the same quest. I guess the only limitation is the number of autonomous players who can interact at a time? Based on limitations in internet speed? I'm not entirely sure, but that's my understanding.

I think it is so interesting that we, as a generation, have witnessed one of the most rapid periods of technological growth since the industrial revolution. It is pretty wild that I can remember a time when every home did not have an internet connection (we got internet when I was 13 or so). Now we live with instant access to information 24/7, to the point you are almost bombarded with it. I really try to make a point of limiting screen time but it is hard to do with having an iPhone handy, iPad, computer, tv etc.... Sometimes you have to force yourself to step back from it all. That's one of the reasons why I prefer to read hard copy books instead of eBooks!

The one thing in Ready Player One that strikes me is Wade's unhealthy lifestyle. The convenience foods and lack of physical activity. I'm at a point in the book where he is holed up in his apartment and is able to exist without ever having to leave its confines. That prospect is terrifying. It scares me to think that this could be a possibility in the future. Where social contact is fulfilled via technological means, rather than real world contact. Is this where society is heading? More and more of our business is conducted online, from ordering goods (Amazon)to consuming media (Netflix). Recently a staple business in our city, a used bookstore that has been downtown since the 70s has announced it will be closing. They cite that they just cannot make up for the lack of patronage resulting from online ordering and eBooks. This prospect makes me sad! Will the day come when all small independent businesses will have to close their doors? Then we will only have these massive conglomerates to deal with?

Don't get me wrong I do purchase things online once in awhile but these days I do find myself opting to support small local business. You pay a bit of a premium but at the end of the day I don't want to be left with only one place in which to shop and no other options.

Sorry if I went on a bit of a tangent! These are just a few thoughts going through my head as I look to a future that seems to be ever more dominated by technology! Of course there are a plethora of positive things that come along with the prospect as well. I guess it's just about finding a balance.

I am not sure how the book will hold to people who are not familiar or even heard of the 80's references in this. But at the same time, I think the book very well resonates with more of today's youth because they get avatars and being connected to an online person more than any previous generation.

I do see Hayley's point as well. You can spend your whole life online especially in Oasis and completely ignore your body and any real relationships, and just hide behind it or the opposite where the online is exploited much like the Sixxers.

There has to be a balance, but for many there is not. Wade is just one example of being online, what about the others? We don't see how they live or how they operate? And what about society itself? Hayley brought up a very good point and I know the store she speaks of and I have never been to it but slowly I am starting to support more local than anything because, really, it could have been me. I could have own that store or any of us, I would surely believe as readers we would have a fantasy of book stores and ownership.

These are only the downsides, there is an upside to it as well like those who are not able to go downtown or leave to explore places. Those who live in remote locations and then I see the upside of OASIS and the internet and I know it was briefly mentioned about real world travel but I'm not sure where everyone is so far???

I finish the book but I won't go into this further until everyone is further along.

So status update on how far along is everyone please!

I was born in 88' so a lot of the references weren't aimed at me, but it was still easy to follow the gist of the reference (whether it music, actor, game .etc.) and I also found it was good food for thought for all the reasons you guys have already talked about.

It was a fun and playful book but i'd enjoy a darker version of a similar concept even more.

I'm on page 257! Should be done in the next day or two!

Along with Chris I could see this being a lot darker...

I am also envisioning a movie... I think this book would translate well into a movie script.

Also how cool is it Cline mentions Wade votes to reelect Wil Wheaton to the OASIS user council, and that Wheaton reads the audio version of the book! He must of loved that...