Ready Player One (Ready Player One) by Ernest Cline- Reshelved Books

Yes. I know that November was over almost a month ago now and yes, this post is waaaaay late but life happens, you know? 

Anyone who has been following us since the beginning, knows that we don't read dystopian books.  (I think that Jessica *may* have posted a review on one a while ago... I can not recall though...)

But that's okay because I'm going to be shaking it up today!

The book featured in this review was ranked #76 out of 100 books for PBS's Great American Read.  This is also our first Great American Read reviewed on the blog! 

This book was reccommended by someone who was #helpingtheblog. (Shout out to M.B. for #helpingtheblog)

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline takes place during 2044, where poverty is a real and feared thing.  People are being mugged and murdered.  While there is all of this going on, there is one place where people can go to escape reality.  That place is called OASIS.  (Which is a video game!)

I found this book to be super eyeopening.  Virtual reality video games already exist.  With the way that 2018 has been going, I could see the world falling into despair and everyone seeking refuge in a video game....

This book is crazy long! (It’s alittle over 600 pages) but it grabbed your attention and it made you keep wanting to know more. 
I loved the imagery that was created by Cline. This book did not lack to any attention of detail. You could visualize everything.  It was really impressive and awesome. 

Now for the movie... 

The movie didn’t really follow the book. There was a big change between the movie and what Cline had painted as pictures in the book. I understand that though. If the movie followed the book, you’d be watching the movie for like 6 hours. 

The movie did include the key parts of the book. So nothing here was missing. 

How do these rate?
Book: 5 coffee beans out of 5
Movie: 4.5 popcorn kernels out of 5

- Jillian

Simon vs. The Homo Sapien Agenda (Love, Simon) by Becky Albertalli- Reshelved Books

Helloooooo.

So, last week we learned that Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist was a movie I had seen but a book that I had not read.

This week I'm focusing on the book and the movie that made me think of doing this book and it's movie month.

Drum roll please.... 

*drum roll*

Simon vs. The Homo Sapien Agenda and it's accompanying movie Love, Simon!

Guys... this movie was very cute!  My supervisor at work suggested that I watch the movie because as she said "it's cute".  She did not lie, the movie was very cute. (We have already established that though, didn't we?)

A few months ago, the book had come through as a donation.  I grabbed the donation, where it lived in my desk for some time before I actually had the availability to read it. 

For Simon, I followed the universal rule of reading the book before watching the movie. (Which is totally worth it). 

In Simon vs. The Homo Sapien Agenda, Simon has a secret, that he's not ready to share yet, he's gay.  Simon, under the pen name "Jacques", confides to another student at his high school, "Blue".  Simon doesn't know who Blue is and at first, he's okay with that.  As time goes on, he starts to develop feelings for Blue and protecting who he is, is becoming harder. 

In a twist of events, Simon is outed by one of his classmates.  His outing threatens the relationship that he has developed with Blue- especially once Blue puts two and two together. 

The book brings to light real issues, there wasn't anything that was sugarcoated. You could feel Simon’s emotions. The book was about more than what I’m typing out here now. I think it’s important to mention that. 

Love, Simon stayed pretty close to the content of the book.  There were a few differences- the biggest on that I found was that in the movie, Simon had one sister and in the book, he has two...

I must say, Albertalli did a great job of keeping me guessing and wondering who Blue was!  I was following Simon and I was totally agreeing with who he thought they might be.  I never would have ever guessed who it actually was! (No, I will not be giving the spoiler here). 

Book: 4 out of 5 coffee beans!
Movie: 4 out of 5 popcorn kernels!

I liked both the book and the movie.  I would definitely recommend them :) 

~ Jillian

Every Day by David Levithan - Reshelved Books

Deweys... 

I just finished a wonderful YA novel. 

And I'm itching to share it with you!! To me, this book is something beautiful.  I loved the concept.  I loved the way that the story was told. 

I just loved this book.  It's as plain and as simple as that.

Every Day by David Levithan tells the story of "A" and Rhiannon. 

When "A" wakes up each morning, "A" has a new body and it's never the same body twice.


When we meet "A", we find "A" waking up as a 16 year old boy named Justin. It's during this day as Justin that "A" meets Rhiannon. 

"A" is instantly taken back and captivated by Rhiannon.

Now here is the thing about "A", when "A" wakes up in a different body, "A" usually sticks to following the daily tasks of that body.  "A" doesn't like to cause disruption or any change. 

Once "A" meets Rhiannon that all changes.... 

Rather quickly, "A" started to throw caution at the wind and make decisions that were rather reckless.  The impacts of some of "A"'s decisions did negatively affect Nathan.  Nathan woke up on the side of the highway, in his parent's car- unaware of how or why he got there. 

In 16 years, "A" never once has had an encounter where discovery is the end result. 

In a weird twist of events, "A" comes close to jeopardizing all that "A" has known. 

Will "A" become known? Will Rhiannon and "A" be able to sustain their relationship? 

What will happen with "A", Nathan and all of the commotion that Nathan is causing? 

Well... I'd suggest that you read the book to find out! 

For a book that's worth 4.5 coffee beans, I think that's pretty fair!

I feel that Every Day is a good representation of the power of love.  You can see how much "A" does love and care for Rhiannon and how much "A" is willing to risk. 

I liked how there was no protagonist (I say this because Nathan is able to move forward past his experience). When the reader looks at the book as a whole, there were three main characters.  The bodies that "A" visited daily, those were just extra (if that makes sense).  Yes, we got to learn a little bit about the bodies but after meeting Rhiannon, "A" was just using those bodies as vehicles. 

Don't get me wrong, the "bodies" that Levithan wrote for "A" to visit were very diverse. Male, female; boy, girl; black, white, Asian; and poor, rich. The family dynamics and the background stories for each body were all different. You got to see bodies who had "perfect" families, bodies who were suffering from mental illness (Kelsea who wanted to take her own life) and the body who was suffering from a drug addiction. 

I loved the ending.  I thought it was beautiful.  I loved how "A" was able to find the perfect representation in a body that would be constant and consistent for Rhiannon.  I loved how "A" took the time to make memories for Rhiannon and Alexander.  I also was proud of "A" and I liked how as the reader, you were able to see that "A" was able to grow.  

I will gladly say it again that I give this book 4.5 coffee beans.  I would definitely recommend it to those who are looking for an easy and quick read that is an enjoyable yet powerful read.

~ Jillian