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mandyadams's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
i <3 this book shoutout Libby for letting me listen to the audio for ✨free✨
rembrandt1881's review against another edition
4.0
My wife got me this book for Father's day and two days later I am finished. I liked this book for a number of reasons although after reading some of the reviews I was worried that it might fall flat. One of the largest criticisms of it is the early chapters have a lot of information stuffed in them to set up the world and lay the foundation for what is to come. While there is a lot of information that is given, most of it can be forgiven if you look at the nature of the main character and what he needs to do to finish his quest.
Yet there is quite a bit of extra pop culture and obscure references thrown at you perhaps as if Cline just really wants you to know how much more he knows than the average person. Once you start to get past the first third of the book, things start to even out as the references come more in line with the actual story and the explanations aren't so long winded. The story becomes quite good then, with the normal sort of dystopian tropes existing but presenting themselves in a unique way because of the unique setting of this novel. I felt a fair amount of tension as well for the characters in both of the settings in which this story takes place.
While there can be some criticisms with the lack of comparison between the different facets of the worlds where the story takes place, it wasn't necessary to as some have said to highlight them any more and when it does move into a more 'shared' space between the two it makes for good reading, much like the original Matrix. If you can hang in to get past the beginning you end up being rewarded with a cool story of a hero in a unique time.
Yet there is quite a bit of extra pop culture and obscure references thrown at you perhaps as if Cline just really wants you to know how much more he knows than the average person. Once you start to get past the first third of the book, things start to even out as the references come more in line with the actual story and the explanations aren't so long winded. The story becomes quite good then, with the normal sort of dystopian tropes existing but presenting themselves in a unique way because of the unique setting of this novel. I felt a fair amount of tension as well for the characters in both of the settings in which this story takes place.
While there can be some criticisms with the lack of comparison between the different facets of the worlds where the story takes place, it wasn't necessary to as some have said to highlight them any more and when it does move into a more 'shared' space between the two it makes for good reading, much like the original Matrix. If you can hang in to get past the beginning you end up being rewarded with a cool story of a hero in a unique time.
emjorgensen98's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
sony17sony's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked it
I started reading it because of the upcoming movie and was really surprised that i actually liked it. The only thing i might not have loved it was a bit easy to guess some of the plot twists, besides that i liked it.
I started reading it because of the upcoming movie and was really surprised that i actually liked it. The only thing i might not have loved it was a bit easy to guess some of the plot twists, besides that i liked it.
brandongryder's review against another edition
4.0
Worth reading for the 80's references alone. Throw in old school gaming and computers and you have a winner.
khueanhtran's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.25
very much geek heaven, very much reliving my middle school YA era
some of the writing feels a little juvenile reading it at this point in time but actually….it was really entertaining! like i finished it so fast
the thrill i experienced when recognizing a singular reference (the monty python one) really goes to show why/how this book would be so beloved by gamers/geeks (i say this endearingly)
some of the writing feels a little juvenile reading it at this point in time but actually….it was really entertaining! like i finished it so fast
the thrill i experienced when recognizing a singular reference (the monty python one) really goes to show why/how this book would be so beloved by gamers/geeks (i say this endearingly)
margaretcampbell's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
dunder_mifflin's review against another edition
5.0
I really, really, enjoyed this book. I'm so glad I decided to finally read it!!