March 2017

Insert coin.

Ready Player One.

Go!!!!

I couldn't begin this review any other way could I?

Ready Player One is the debut of self professed super geek Ernest Cline (He owns a Delorean, proton packs and has a private number plate of 'ecto88'. I think that title is pretty safe). The story takes place in a dystopian future where humanity has sucked up many of its resources. They escape their awful reality through virtual reality.

The virtual space is called the Oasis and it is headed by an eccentric billionaire, James Halliday. The story kicks off with Halliday, through his will, giving away his fortune to the first person to complete his three puzzles.

The story's hero is Wade Watts. He is an average high school kid who has an intense fixation with all things 80s and Halliday. He dreams of leaving his home (caravans stacked on top of each other, insane concept but equally as brilliant) and solving Halliday's puzzles.

Below are my thoughts and i've tried to avoid Spoiler Avenue.

WHAT I LIKED:

Cline's simple style enabled for a quick read, which suited the novel. You're given the imagery through great similes and clear nouns. The dialogue between the characters flowed and although some characters played to type they accompanied the story.

Plot twists are great elements in the story. You never feel as if the narrative is becoming predictable and the twists completely blindside you. They also feel authentic and not devices begging for your attention.

The concept of the virtual world is fun. It reminded me of the Japanese Anime 'Sword Art Online.' A stumbling block for virtual world stories is the stakes. Real death can't occur in virtual world so the 'bad guys' lose an element of their fear. Cline side steps this by linking the virtual threat to the real world. He creates genuine fear and genuine problems.

The depth of 80s pop culture references was brilliant. Cline is a fan not just someone attempting to jump on the retro bandwagon. I learnt about music and games, from that era, that I didn't have a clue about. Did you know people complete the 255 levels of Pacman without losing a life? I didn't, but thanks to Mr. Cline I now do.

**** SPOILER*****

The epic Mech battle at the end. Great pace and suspense to the fighting and my jaw had to be scrapped off the floor when the scene finished.

WHAT I DISLIKED:

That there hasn't been the announcement of a number 2? The story doesn't end with the need for a number two, but i'd love to head back into Cline's world. Different characters in a different time? Just back in this world! Surely it will be called Ready Player 2.

WOULD I RECOMMENED?:

If you are into gaming, 80s pop culture, and 60s/70s Japanese anime/manga this is a must read. If you aren't it's still fun and has great pace and twists. It's definitely worth the read and is the most fun book i've read this year.

"So Jakes, will you tell us where you hid it? Or are we going to have to persuade you?" A voice emerged from the darkness.

"Persuasion? hmm... I may tell for some decent food. Don't mean to hurt your feelings, but that soup you've been serving me isn't going to win Master Chef anytime soon." Jakes scoffed at his own humour. Silence crept from the darkness. "I guess it's the thought that counts. I thank you for keeping me fed during such a time." Sarcasm wagged his tongue.

"Shut up!" A new voice reared from the dark. It was hoarse and needed a drink. "If you don't tell us, maybe your girlfriend will, or how about your mother?"

Jakes' bravado left him momentarily. It returned wearing new shoes and an expensive hat. "Persuasion 101, use something personal against your target. Nice touch guys, but mother abandoned me as a child and I only have eyes for The Queen."

"It doesn't need to be this way Jakes." The calmer voice slithered from the dark. "Tell us where you hid it and this ends now."

"Let's save some time shall we? I'm not going to tell you anything. There is nothing you can threaten me with and if I die, so does the whereabouts of the little black box." Jakes face read 'your move' like a chess grandmaster who has just checked their opponent.

Silence tried to sweep through the room but a drop of something dripped somewhere.

Jakes sat beneath a capricious light, that was not concerned with the idea of being reliable. When it chose to do its job, it doused Jakes with a beam that lit a small area around him. Darkness veiled everything that the light didn't touch.

Jakes hands interlocked behind his back. A tatty rope tied them to a creaky chair. Despite being stripped naked, he showed more calm than a monk during prayer. A damp stench hung in the air but Jakes had acclimatised to it.

From the shadows, a diminutive figure moved forward. It stopped short of coming into the light. Jakes guessed it was the calmer voice.

"I was beginning to think I was surrounded by a cult of voyeurs. Why don't you come closer, let's see which idiots decided to capture a Scarlet Agent." Jakes adjusted himself to a more upright position.

"So confident aren't we Jakes?" The voice was new but familiar. "It wasn't always like that was it?"

The figure hobbled further forward, tasting the flickering light. She dropped her hood. Jakes barked in anger. He convulsed and agonised, testing the quality of his constraints. His feet thrashed in a futile attempt to frighten her. Left and right, his chair shimmied. "You!" His teeth tussled with each other to a stalemate.

"Didn't think you'd see me again. What were your last words to me?" The woman's talons scratched her chin. "I remember. 'Death suits you.' "

Hate seared across Jakes' face. The veins in his throat bulged. The woman vultured around him waiting to strike. "Let's play a game Jakes?" She whipped a phone from her cloak and shoved it in his face. "Take a look at this screen." Without looking, Jakes spat at the phone but missed. "Manners Jakes. What are they teaching you at Scarlet these days?" Jakes earlier confidence had found a new host.

Two women appeared on the screen. They were in a well lit basement. Like Jakes, they were tied to the chairs they sat on, but with more clothing. Gags and blindfolds interfered with their faces, but Jakes knew them. His eyes gave that away.

"How did we find them? Is that what you want to know? Snakes are everywhere Jakes."

"You piece of..."

"Wait, wait. You haven't even heard the game." Her lips curved upwards, enjoyment pulsed through her movements. "You have to say a number between 1 and 10. If these easy to find women say the same number as you. They die. If they say the wrong number then I'll let them live." Jakes' face carried his reply. "Oh not a fan of that game?" She sighed, "It's one of my favourites." Jakes throttled her ocularly. "Don't look at me like that. Tell us where the box is and no one dies."

"Release them and I will tell you everything."

"Demands? In your position." Sarcasm erupted in the form of chuckle. "Box then the women."

"Release one of them. I will tell you where it is and then you must release the other."

She stroked the wrinkles out of her forehead. "How about we change it. I kill one of them. Then you tell me where it is. If it's where you say then the other one lives. Yes? That's much better."

"Please. No. Please!" Jakes struggled on the chair.

She spoke into the phone. "Kill his mother first. Death suits her."

For book 7 of the year, I had a read something written by a female author. I chose White Teeth by Zadie Smith. It's a story focusing on two families in South London. The main events take place across
20 years (with a few time jumps to World War 2) and involve several generations of the families. Themes such as religion, identity and family are explored without any author prejudice. Smith uses her characters to highlight the struggles of cultural integration. This is achieved powerfully through humour and honesty. Smith dissects and analyses ideas without propagation. The book showcases inner city struggles during a tense period of time in London where social changes were huge.

White Teeth was Zadie Smith's debut and it was met with critical acclaim. Here's my quick breakdown.

WHAT I LIKED:

Zadie Smith's writing style flowed. I loved how nonchalantly she described London and I identified with a lot of her depictions of the old city. She injected a lot of humour into the story, making the darker moments more striking. Her characters were authentic. I knew them, and felt I could have had conversations with them. I shouted at Samad Iqbal's character constantly. His hypocrisy was infuriating at times, but I guess my emotions represent a good character.

Her depiction of the difficulties of cultural integration and identify was powerful. I felt sympathy for some characters and utter distain for others. My own views on identity came into play. Any book that gets its reader feeling and thinking, as Smith does in White Teeth, is a great piece of literature.

The fear of cultural assimilation from the Iqbal's and the ignorance toward it from the Jones' was explored well. Just seeing the two families have such different core views but be so close depicted modern London.

WHAT I DISLIKED:

Length, length and length. The story is 560 pages and I did feel there was a lot of surplus narrative.

WOULD I RECOMMEND?:

Smith's writing is easy to read. Her words roll across the page, which helped with a book that was too long. The characters are interesting. The themes that underpin the story are woven with skill. This book has grown on me massively. Initially, probably due to length, I would have recommended Smith but not this book. However, with time, I wholly recommend this book. I've even got a few colleagues at work into it.

Follow me

We need to talk about Matthew!

Things I did and things I think I did

Best Of The Best

Hordes of Hell (Love you really)

Books that have tickled my fancy

Owl Post

Pages