Ever wish to escape reality for a minute and become a different person, and possibly even win a huge prize? Well, in 2045, they can. “Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline, with its intertwining themes of persistence, friendship, and identity is an amazing read for those who are knoledegable in gaming, but a relatively expected ending.

Teenager Wade Watts is living an unhappy life but like most people he lives much of his time in a game called OASIS, and he is determined to find the Easter egg, or loophole, within it to win fame and fortune. While playing the game he creates friends, a life of ease, and even falls for a beautiful girl.

This action-filled story is filled with flicks of sorrow. By having Cline incorporate the use of gates to unlock another journey to the Easter egg, it also opens another gate to Wade’s seclusion and introverted personality. Cline has a lengthy writing style that tends to over explain things and almost give away the plot. Overall, the plot could have been explained more concisely by decreasing the amount of foreseeable issues that occur.

This gaming-based story and action-filled adventure is recommended for anyone who enjoys such books. Unfortunately, I was not a huge fan because of my lack of knowledge of gaming, especially old school games and the culture from that time period.