Turning Pages by Penguin Books NZ discussion

It's the year 2044, and the real world has become an ugly place. Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes this depressing reality by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia where you can be anything you want to be. And like most of humanity, Wade is obsessed by the ultimate lottery ticket that lies concealed within this alternate reality: OASIS founder James Halliday, who dies with no heir, has promised that control of the OASIS - and his massive fortune - will go to the person who can solve the riddles he has left scattered throughout his creation.
For years, millions have struggled fruitlessly to attain this prize, knowing only that the riddles are based in the culture of the late twentieth century. And then Wade stumbles onto the key to the first puzzle. Suddenly, he finds himself pitted against thousands of competitors in a desperate race to claim the ultimate prize, a chase that soon takes on terrifying real-world dimensions - and that will leave both Wade and his world profoundly changed.

This book is SO much fun!

I used to work for a small literary agency in London, and this book was recommended to me by every single one of my seven colleagues (all of whom had generally very different tastes in fiction). It took me a while to pick it up because it didn’t sound like the kind of book I’d normally reach for (I’m not a gamer, nor am I particularly invested in 80’s nostalgia) but when I finally did, I couldn’t put it down.

It’s heavily nostalgic (I got a kick out of a number of the references but even those I didn’t get still added something to the story) and the world building is really fun, but beyond that it’s just a great example of a really solid adventure story! And I think that those are surprisingly hard to come by these days.

Have you read Ready Player One? How did you find it?

I’ve read this!! Such a great concept for a book and even though the movie was quite good the book is ALWAYS better !!

Bland Boring Jessica wrote: "I’ve read this!! Such a great concept for a book and even though the movie was quite good the book is ALWAYS better !!"

I actually haven't seen the movie! I always thought it would be a really tricky story to adapt though so I'm definitely interested to see it.

Your comment just kicked off a very lively discussion in our office about whether we can think of any movie adaptations that are better than the books they were based on.

So far we have:
Blade Runner
Silence of the Lambs
Fight Club
Jurassic Park
The Shawshank Redemption

Great Friday afternoon workplace chat haha.

It has been adapted quite well I would say!

Oh I love that!!! I would also add Jaws to the list and Neil Gaiman’s Stardust ✨

Totally agree that the movie adaptation of Stardust is better, and I would also add to the list (with trepidation and don't-hate-me), The Lord of the Rings. I've read the books, but there's way too much Ent song and long winded faff happening throughout the books for me, and I'd much rather watch the (epic) movies. Extended versions, of course. :)

Also, I loved Ready Player One, but haven't seen the movie version yet.

Okay GURL I almost said this too even though I loooove the books because of all the extra lore you get but they’re not exactly an easy read and there’s a lot of Ent song and singing in general I feel you!!!

Anjali wrote: "Totally agree that the movie adaptation of Stardust is better, and I would also add to the list (with trepidation and don't-hate-me), The Lord of the Rings. I've read the books, but there's way too..."

Ooh, totally agree! I really loved The Hobbit book but didn't like the movies (don't be mad but did there need to be three?????) but I prefer the LoTR movies to the books. It's just quite a bit of information and tree descriptions?

I'd also like to add Never Let Me Go, the movie was so beautiful and well done!

Oh man, I loved Ready Player One! I read it back in 2016 and was not expecting to find it as ace as I did! I gave it to my video-game-loving, book-avoiding older brother to try - he dug it too! And I agree, the film was prettttyyy good - they understandably made changes, but it was all quite well-done I think (:

I loooved Ready Player One but it's been a few years since I read it now! I also loved the movie, despite getting annoyed at the changes made while I was watching it grrrrr. But cinematically it was awesome

Madeleine wrote: "Oh man, I loved Ready Player One! I read it back in 2016 and was not expecting to find it as ace as I did! I gave it to my video-game-loving, book-avoiding older brother to try - he dug it too! And..."

It is such a good recommendation for people who aren't necessarily enthusiastic readers! I wonder why that is? Maybe it's just that it's such a straight forward, fast paced adventure?

Have any of you read his next book Armada? I heard it was fun but not quite as good.

I read it a few years ago for a book challenge read a long - not something I would have picked off the shelf on my own, but I really enjoyed it! I heard he was writing a sequel back in 2017? I do hope a sequel comes one day!

I have the book on my tbr! I brought it right after watching the movie cause the movie blew me away!! I cannot wait to read the book