Welcome to Quill Quotes Book Club, Ready Player One Discussion #1! We hope you are enjoying Ready Player One by Ernest Cline so far. Please keep in mind this discussion is only for Level One (Chapters 1-16). If you have read ahead or finished the book, please keep any spoilers or thoughts on later parts for the next discussion. See the Ready Player One Book Club Summary Page for the reading schedule details and other discussions.
Kevin’s Thoughts
I am absolutely loving this book so far!!! It’s one of my most-enjoyed reads not only for book club but any of my recent books. Going in, I was somewhat worried that I’d find the book predictable or a little dull since I’ve already seen the movie version. However, either I’m not remembering the movie very well or the book is pretty different so far. It seems like the movie used different pop-culture references that tied in with Spielberg’s other work and needed less introduction whereas Cline uses some more obscure references in the book. Even though I didn’t live through the ’80s and some of the references seem pretty obscure, I feel like Cline does a great job explaining them in a fun, simple way! The amount of miscellaneous knowledge/research that had to go into this book is pretty mind-boggling to me!
Along with all the pop-culture references, I just find the storyline super engaging and can’t put the book down. I would definitely be a “gunter” and would love to have a virtual reality world like the OASIS exist! Even with the technology today, I’m surprised I haven’t seen anyone attempt the “virtual film star” game concept. It seems like it’d be doable similar to other karaoke/rock band type games. I’m not sure there’s a movie I’ve memorized like Wade with War Games, but Top Gun would be a pretty fun one! On top of the entertainment factor, there’s also the underlying themes of corporate greed, individual privacy, and environmentalism which I think will always be pretty relevant. Wade’s resolve to stand up to IOI and refuse their offers was impressive but I wonder what he’d have done if he was actually home or if it was his mother or someone he loved at stake?
Favorite Quote
“Then the Hunt for Halliday’s Easter egg began. That was what saved me, I think. Suddenly I’d found something worth doing. A dream worth chasing. For the last five years, the Hunt had given me a goal and purpose. A quest to fulfill. A reason to get up in the morning. Something to look forward to.”
– Ernest Cline, Ready Player One
Brooke’s Thoughts
Alright, I finally finished reading level one! I was a little behind because I have been working a lot of overtime not because I don’t like the book. I am really enjoying the book so far. I don’t think I like it quite as much as Kevin but I still like it a pretty good amount. I’m not a huge fan of the ’80s. I like some music and a few movies from the ’80s but I am not obsessed with it like in the book. I think a lot of the pop culture references go over my head. That’s really my only complaint about the book. I really like the racing against each other vibe. It really makes me nervous because I want Wade to win! I also find the book to be humorous which it’s pretty rare for a book to make me laugh.
Favorite Quote
Being human totally sucks most of the time. Videogames are the only thing that makes life bearable.
Ernest Cline, Ready Player One
Ready Player One Discussion #1 Prompts/Questions
Feel free to comment whatever thoughts and questions you have! But if you aren’t sure where to start, consider some of the prompts/questions below:
- Would you like to have access to a virtual reality world like the OASIS? Just as a game or also to work, shop, and basically live?
- Have you seen the Ready Player One movie? If so, which do you like better so far and what differences have you noticed?
- Do you think you would have been able to refuse the Sixers offers/demands? What do you think Wade would have done if he was home instead of safe in his hideout?
- What lesson(s) do you think Cline intends the story to portray or is it purely for entertainment?
- Is there a movie you think you could act out like War Games in the first gate?
- Share a favorite quote!
Commenting
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We hope you enjoy this discussion and join us again in 2 weeks for the final discussion over the whole book! Check out the Ready Player One Book Club Summary Page for details.
I listened to Ready Player One on Audible narrated by Will Wheaton. I have things to say about him but I’ll wait until the final discussion. I originally got the audiobook, then saw the movie and was hesitant to listen to the book because I thought the movie was decent but it was not going to make any of my top lists. However, the book is a completely different case. I feel like all the 80s references mixed in with references to other popular culture made the book hard to put down, while the movie only had a fraction of these references probably due to licensing issues.
Cline spends time describing what a dreary place the US has become and in the same breath describes how amazing the OASIS is and this juxtaposition really stood out to me. A situation like the one Wade is in is not too far fetched. Immersive technology like the Oculus Rift is only getting more advanced. And if we are not careful with our planet we may end with the dystopia that Wade lives in. But if we could advanced the technology and protect our planet then sign me up for the OASIS because I would love to spend some time in The Walking Dead Planet and the Gotta Catch Em’ All Planet.
Like Mrs Cochran mentioned I think addiction is an important theme that Cline delves into. Addiction to the OASIS, addiction to being a gunter or a sixer , addiction to finding the egg. I think part of what the author is beginning to demonstrate in the first part is that being so obsessed or addicted to something can have some positive aspects like Wade finding commonality and friendship with new people, but as we all know can have extremely negative consequences such as the cold blooded murder of all the people in the stack all to find the egg. If we ever do have technology this immersive we have to walk this fine line between enjoyment and addiction and not completely lose ourselves.
There’s definitely a movie I could act out like War Games in the first gate. Me: “Master Skywalker, there are too many of them. What are we going to do?”
I agree that the book is much more engaging than the movie and has way more pop culture references! I do remember liking the movie though, so I’ll have to go back and watch it after finishing reading.
While still science fiction, it does feel very plausible for the not-too-distant future. It is impressive to know it was written in 2011 though when the prediction of huge internet companies with tons of power and internet privacy concerns were a bit less obvious. A Pokemon planet would be awesome!!!
Addiction would be a tough problem, but I’m not sure how much worse it’d be than current gaming addictions? Seems to me a lot of the added addiction in Ready Player One comes from how messed up the real world is.
Virtual reality would be fun for a short time but it could get addicting to escape reality. I’m not a gamer so I can’t see myself in Wade’s shoes. I did grow up in the eighties so I know the movies and would love to be in a favorite movie Indian Jones would be fun and scary to be in. I did see ready player one and I don’t remember much about it so I’m with you Kevin seeing the movie hasn’t spoiled anything in the book. I can’t really relate to Parzival so I don’t know what I would have done when Sixers offered so much money. I was shocked they blew up the trailers and felt bad about Mrs Gilmore and all the other innocent people.
I’ve enjoying this book more than I thought I would. I did read several chapters today to catch up and it’s a pretty fast read. I’m looking forward to finishing to find out what happens since I can’t remember the ending in the movie so it will be a surprise for me.
It definitely seems hard to draw a line between the real world and the game. It’s very interesting that so many people seem to make their living in the OASIS either from the game or just conducting business there that the game is more their “real” life. Indiana Jones would be a fun one! Made me think of the Lego video games where they have Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, and other franchises made into games, just not VR and it’s more following the story than the lines and acting. I vaguely remember his trailer blowing up in the movie but I thought it happened much later. Ms. Gilmore dying was probably the saddest with how his Aunt treated him.
I’m not a gamer so I don’t think I would use the OASIS to game but I think I would enjoy having an avatar. I would probably be more into clothes shopping and chatting with friends. Also, the schools in the OASIS sounds awesome! I would love to have learning be that interactive.
You know I could quote/act out Jurrasic Park all the way through. LOL!
I also don’t remember the movie that well and the book is way better so far!