Ready player one!

Hi all!

My name is Chiara and I’m a bookworm.

Before we begin with today’s review I feel I must once again apologise for my absence. Reading has almost taken a backseat in the last month or so. My job is slightly taking over my life. We’re loosing staff at the moment and it seems like I’m picking up the slack. It is being split between others but it’s exhausting me. That and coming up to Christmas I do a lot of crafting.

But, finally, I have finished a book. Ready player one.

I listened to this as an audiobook. You can all debate the differences, advantages and disadvantage of the various forms of book, ebook, audiobook etc. But personally I am a fan of ebook. I like to walk and use public transport so my headphones go with me everywhere with me and I listen to books. I’ve gotten a few funny looks from people when I start laughing at something funny in the book.

But once again back to the book (I do have a habit of getting sidetracked, don’t I?). It’s read by Will Wheaton which is perfect for all you sci-fi fans out there.

I know some of you will be thinking that this was made into a film. And it was. Spielberg by the way. Absolutely amazing by the way. (I’m watching the film as I’m writing this).

But what surprised me was how different the book and the film are. They are basically the same characters but a total different story. That big race scene at the beginning of the film. Not there. No Shining. No videos from Hailday’s life. There is a Delorian though and a zero-g

The story is brilliant and I love every moment of it. The author, Ernest Cline, is definitely an 80’s buff. All the films and music they talk about I’ve seen and listened to.

I wouldn’t say that it is necessarily aimed at my age group (20s) but maybe more my parents generation, for the people who lived through those decades and like to remember and reminisce.

For me the book doesn’t quite set the same pace as the film. It is set into three part and at the end of each of the first two parts it looses all pace. There is also a lot more challenge to the book. For each key there is a gate, an extra challenge to play.

The book focuses around Wade Watts, as in the film, but the further you progress through the book the less you see of other characters, which, for me, is something the book is lacking. It focuses solely on Wade and his life to the point that sometimes chapters will go by before you meet another character. Or that is what it seems like.

On the other hand, for all the books faults, and I have listed a few here, I did love the book. I was able to submerge myself into the book and forget where and when I was. And isn’t that the best measure of a good book? Being able to really live in the book.

In a way I would compare the ‘Oasis’ the gaming world that they all live in to books. It is their escapism and that earn brownie points in my book.

I don’t think there is much more I can say about the book. I hope you watch the film and read the book and let me know what you think of the two, which one you prefer and why.

Thanks for reading. Once again my name is Chiara and I’m a bookworm. And also…

Merry Christmas.