Flawed characters make great stories.

I really enjoyed listening to this one, I wasn't sure I'll like it before I started, felt it might be an overhyped one but it really did well. Watch out for Chapter called NPC, it's the best chapter in this book.

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loved this little gem

great performance loved the pace of the books and the writing was great to create the right visual imagery ..friendship that rare underrated relationship...so meaningfully bought out here

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Almost all the characters are quiet insufferable

This is probably not my cup of tea, but the book was quite frustrating to be honest. Most of the characters keep doing the same things over and over and almost never learn from the same mistakes, the story is quite bittersweet and beautiful in its own way but it wasn’t the most palatable.
I know a lot of people have great things to save about this book but Ill leave at an “agree to disagree” pov with those reviews, and like I said probably not my cup of tea to begin with in the first place.

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Very emotional yet real.

Liked the connection between different characters and the smooth plot build up. The narration was brilliant. Definitely recommended!!

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Simplicity of narrative

Not going to be my favourite listen. Decent story, probably fit for a screenplay and not much more. Fairly predictable and on occassion sprertu dull.

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One my all time favourites now!

Ah! Where do I begin? This book will now, forever live rent-free in my head. Has to be one of my favourite books to date. I listened to the Audible audiobook, mostly during my commute to and from work. The 14 hours seemed to go like a breeze.

This is an adult coming-of-age fiction that tells us the story of Sam and Sadie. They are probably the two characters whom I have cared about the most for a long long time. These two kids befriend each other at a certain point in their lives, over Super Mario and realise how the two of them LOVE video games. You later realise that video games are another character in this book. For the next 30 years, Sam and Sadie played video games, designed and made video games and lived their life like a video game. Zevin proves that she knows quite a lot about the video game industry. There is another important 3rd character as well, Marx, who plays a major role in the lives of the two. Though this is a book about friendship and love, Sam and Sadie are never in a romantic relationship with each other and that wasn't the point even. It's how the two are important to each other for everything they do in life. In their best times and even when they hate each other.

It's a complicated book with a complicated story of all things happening in it. And would be one of those books, you would find me shouting at you to read ASAP!

The audiobook was brilliantly narrated with a change of voice over for that only chapter for Marx.

Loved the book. Will get a physical copy ASAP.

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2 people found this helpful

Must listen especially for way it's narrated.

What a ride , nicely narrated and characters had depth that was combination of so many good virtues like some sort of representation (of the beautiful side of humanity ). Amazing !

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An engaging story from the world of gaming

I am not a gamer myself. I only had exposure to simple video games more than 15 years ago and that's it. I recently realised how much the gaming industry and complexity of their plots has increased after watching HBO's series The last of us. I did not expect such a deeply moving series could be based on a video game. Then I watched the first season of another TV series Mythic quest which also introduced me to many nuances of these companies.

So I wanted to check out this book after reading the rave reviews and recommendations. Fortunately, it starts with Mario which I had played as a kid and the subsequent story doesn't need you to have much prior knowledge in gaming.

The 3 main characters have deeply drawn arcs and at some point of time, you will get frustrated with at least 2 of them. The author doesn't try to make them likeable. These are complicated individuals with equally complicated pasts. But you don't feel disinterested from their story despite their disagreeable actions.

Overall, an engaging work of fiction with a solid story.

I will share one beautifully written para from the book which I really liked.

"Nothing in life is as solid as it appeared. A childish game can turn deadly. A friend might disappear. And as much as a person might try to shield herself from it, the possibility of other outcome is still always there. We are all living, at most, half of a life. There was a life that you lived, which consisted of the choices that you made. And then, there was the other life. The one that was the things you hadn't chosen. And sometimes this other life felt as palpable as the one you are already living."

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2 people found this helpful

A future classic

Its like reading a classic. The future generations are gonna look at this book the way we look at pride and prejudice.
The shift in the narrator just for Mark's chapter was absolutely beautiful. Really made the point of 'NPC' hit home.
For someone who grew up with gaming/online culture this book is a truly unique and fantastic read.

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Good storytelling

Good storytelling, tight plot, not the best book I have read, but will keep you engaged. Good book to read during your free time

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