Ready Player One (RPO #1)

Author: Ernest Cline
Pages: 375
Overall: 4/5
Setting: 5/5
Characters: 4/5
Plot and Themes: 4/5
Cheers Factor: 4/5
Pairing: Q*bert

Okay I feel much more clever than I likely am with this drink but the famous video game was started in the 80’s and I didn’t even realize it worked with my drink and this book until I was writing this.

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Ingredients
-Mango Sherbert
-Prosecco
-Cranberries

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This is so easy you put the sherbet in the glass and top with champagne then you garnish with the berries. If you wanted to spice it up you can always add a shot of vodka or dull the champagne with some club soda. Basically whatever works for you, but it’s super yummy and a nice way to drink your dessert.


Take a Shot: The Oasis is the future of virtual reality. Set in the year 2045 almost all of the real world has fallen to neglect. Many people spend their time in The Oasis attempting to escape it. Five years ago James Halladay died and before he left behind the ultimate contest, a chance to win the keys to The Oasis. Wade Watts is a Gunter, a person who is hunting for the clues that lead to winning the contest. Come along as Wade and his reluctant allies continue their quest to win the prize of all prizes.

Setting
The Oasis is genuinely any dork, nerd or 80’s fan’s dream. I loved how the author added such nuances. Like the funeral scene from The Heathers, a truly great movie if you haven’t seen it. Or all of War Games, also a great movie if you haven’t seen it. Truly it is imperative for a fantasy novel to explain its setting efficiently and in detail without becoming redundant. This book does it so well, I truly felt immersed the whole time.

Characters
The only reason the characters don’t get 5 stars is because they are so ADAMANT to be annoying and rude to one another. It’s similar to Normal People where you want to pluck the characters from the novel, give them a stern shaking and some choice words due to their inability to comprehend the counterpart's love and interest towards them. It’s aggravating beyond belief.

Plots and Themes
I love the dorky nature of this film, it only further reminds me that deep down I do have dorky tendencies. The structure of this film and plot was so similar to that of a video game that I commend the author. The central villain was ominous, but also not all too threatening. I liked the drawn out process of the film as well. It greatly contradicts the film in that it takes place across a few days as opposed to the novel taking place roughly over a year. 

Overall
I loved this book. It has inspired me to go watch War Games, again a great movie Matthew Broderick is great in it. But seriously this book really made me contemplate my vast 80’s knowledge as well as my genuine inner dork. I did love that and wouldn’t  want anyone else to miss out on this hence why it’s high in my rating.

Too Strong - character that refuse to admit they love one another (a truly annoying trope)
Reasons to Raise a Glass - DORKY 80’s FACTS that is all like just read it then we can talk
I loved this book. I won’t give it 5 stars because it wasn’t the best book I’ve ever read...well listened to, but it was so good and I truly loved it so much. I felt myself geeking out on all the films I knew as well as the video games and tv shows. I just felt like I was in on the inside joke. I liked that a lot and felt honored that I knew what was happening. Even though the book did a great job of explaining that you would know even if you didn’t, I still felt rewarded.
    I do want to address the STUPID annoying relationship of Artemis and Parzeval. Like JUST DATE ALREADY. It is not that freaking hard. Clearly they both love each other and I get the whole reluctance due to insecurities, but still I was like really? Come on.