The library was working at top speed, so I got both “Ready Player Two” and “Armada” by Ernest Cline on Thursday and Friday respectively.
As promised, I’ll now subject you to my reviews.
“Ready Player Two”
A direct continuation of “Ready Player One,” not surprisingly, but Cline’s writing started getting Stephen Kingish in that where George Carlin’s seven words were used sparingly in “Ready Player One” they became far more common than they needed to be in “Ready Player Two.”
The plot was good (but a bit of the same-old same-old), and the continuity of characters from one story to the next was also without flaw.
In both books, Cline keeps the real world and virtual world completely separate so all you have to do is enjoy the story lines occurring in both.
Having said that, while I liked the expansion of the characters and the challenges given them in “Ready Player Two,” the ending was almost as flat and contrived as that of “Huckleberry Finn.”
I read it, I enjoyed it up ’til the ending and would say it’s worth the time to read it after reading “Ready Player One” just so you know what Cline intended for his characters.
There is, apparently, a movie going to be made of this one too. If I find it online after release, I’ll at least start to watch it, but if it more closely follows the book than “Ready Player One” – the movie – did, I probably won’t finish it.
Armada
Cline is stuck in a rut.
Different character names, different adversaries, but all the real variation of a video lottery terminal when it comes to the “different” games it says you can play on it.
They aren’t, the screen, read plot, is the same as his first two books and will take your money at exactly the same rate no matter what is spinning on the screen.
I read enough to have predicted the major plot points long before Cline wanted the reader to be “surprised” by them.
If I’d read this as my introduction to Cline chances are I wouldn’t have read the first two.
If Cline writes another title, I’ll get it and attempt to read it. All of my favourite authors with multiple books have had at least one book published that I didn’t like, and Cline may find his muse again.
They’re accurate so you can sing along as you listen.
Bimbombey
Jimmie Rodgers
Bimbombey, Bimbombey
On the way to Bimbombey
There’s a hill on the way to Bimbombey
There’s a house on the hill and a girl in the house
On the hill on the way to Bimbombey
A house on the hill and a girl in the house
On the hill on the way to Bimbombey
There’s a store in Bimbombey
There’s a ring in the store in Bimbombey
That’s where I’ll buy the ring for the girl in the house
On the hill on the way to Bimbombey
I’ll buy the ring for the girl in the house
On the hill on the way to Bimbombey
Once I get to Bimbombey
You can bet I will stay in Bimbombey
That’s where I’ll settle down with the girl in the house
On the hill on the way to Bimbombey
I’ll settle down with the girl in the house
On the hill on the way to Bimbombey
Hey, the bow is in the neighbor’s yard, so it must have been the neighbor’s fault….right?
It certainly couldn’t have been the very picture of innocence Cleo. Nope!
Without looking at Susan’s reply, I’m fairly confident I recognize him. It’s the shape of his mouth. Now lets see if I’m right. Be right back
Yep, I was right. One of my favorite actors, and I hope that isn’t too much of a clue.
.
How do they do that without biting their tongues in half?
I’ve often wondered the same thing!
The library was working at top speed, so I got both “Ready Player Two” and “Armada” by Ernest Cline on Thursday and Friday respectively.
As promised, I’ll now subject you to my reviews.
“Ready Player Two”
A direct continuation of “Ready Player One,” not surprisingly, but Cline’s writing started getting Stephen Kingish in that where George Carlin’s seven words were used sparingly in “Ready Player One” they became far more common than they needed to be in “Ready Player Two.”
The plot was good (but a bit of the same-old same-old), and the continuity of characters from one story to the next was also without flaw.
In both books, Cline keeps the real world and virtual world completely separate so all you have to do is enjoy the story lines occurring in both.
Having said that, while I liked the expansion of the characters and the challenges given them in “Ready Player Two,” the ending was almost as flat and contrived as that of “Huckleberry Finn.”
I read it, I enjoyed it up ’til the ending and would say it’s worth the time to read it after reading “Ready Player One” just so you know what Cline intended for his characters.
There is, apparently, a movie going to be made of this one too. If I find it online after release, I’ll at least start to watch it, but if it more closely follows the book than “Ready Player One” – the movie – did, I probably won’t finish it.
Armada
Cline is stuck in a rut.
Different character names, different adversaries, but all the real variation of a video lottery terminal when it comes to the “different” games it says you can play on it.
They aren’t, the screen, read plot, is the same as his first two books and will take your money at exactly the same rate no matter what is spinning on the screen.
I read enough to have predicted the major plot points long before Cline wanted the reader to be “surprised” by them.
If I’d read this as my introduction to Cline chances are I wouldn’t have read the first two.
If Cline writes another title, I’ll get it and attempt to read it.
All of my favourite authors with multiple books have had at least one book published that I didn’t like, and Cline may find his muse again.
Marilyn McCoo: Robert Wagner
“Bimbombey”
If I’ve heard it before today, I didn’t remember it at all. I like it.
Here’s an oldie I also like from 1956.
I definitely remember Green Door, but Bimbombay apparently left me unimpressed in my childhood.
Here are the lyrics to “Bimbombey.”
Jimmie Rodgers
Bimbombey, Bimbombey
On the way to Bimbombey
There’s a hill on the way to Bimbombey
There’s a house on the hill and a girl in the house
On the hill on the way to Bimbombey
A house on the hill and a girl in the house
On the hill on the way to Bimbombey
Jing-a-ling-a-lyoh (Jing-a-ling-a-lyoh)
Jing-a-ling-a-lyay (Jing-a-ling-a-lyay)
Jing-a-ling-a-ly, jing-a-ling-a-ly
Jing-a-ling-a-lyay-ay-ay
Jing-a-ling-a-lyay (Jing-a-ling-a-lyay)
There’s a store in Bimbombey
There’s a ring in the store in Bimbombey
That’s where I’ll buy the ring for the girl in the house
On the hill on the way to Bimbombey
I’ll buy the ring for the girl in the house
On the hill on the way to Bimbombey
Jing-a-ling-a-lyoh (Jing-a-ling-a-lyoh)
Jing-a-ling-a-lyay (Jing-a-ling-a-lyay)
Jing-a-ling-a-ly, jing-a-ling-a-ly
Jing-a-ling-a-lyay-ay-ay
Jing-a-ling-a-lyay (Jing-a-ling-a-lyay)
Once I get to Bimbombey
You can bet I will stay in Bimbombey
That’s where I’ll settle down with the girl in the house
On the hill on the way to Bimbombey
I’ll settle down with the girl in the house
On the hill on the way to Bimbombey
Jing-a-ling-a-lyoh (Jing-a-ling-a-lyoh)
Jing-a-ling-a-lyay (Jing-a-ling-a-lyay)
Jing-a-ling-a-ly, jing-a-ling-a-ly
Jing-a-ling-a-lyay-ay-ay
Jing-a-ling-a-lyay (Jing-a-ling-a-lyay)
Bimbombey
Bimbombey
Bimbombey
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Eric A. Sandstrom / Hugo Peretti / Luigi Creatore / Mack David
Bimbombey lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
I remember both of them very well!
😊
As long as we’re mentioning old songs from the Fifties, here’s one I remember
The Browns – The Three Bells 1959. – YouTube
Of course from my Grandparents Depression era radio, I thought they were singing “turtle love”.
Your link goes to a much newer version, by a group called the Isaacs…
The one you heard on your grandparents’ radio was probably actually sing by the Browns…..
Like this…
It was supposed to have been The Browns version the link went to.
Here’s another one I really liked, and still do.
The Jamies – Summertime, Summertime (Audio) – YouTube
Perhaps Cleo should narrow her focus to two or three sports. Hard to be the master of all.
Well – she did hit the “Bull’s Eye” on her chosen target. – It’s not her fault that Claude had decided to wear those specific trousers today!
You’re a DOG, Cleo…. and a cartoon dog, at that.
When you want to hide the evidence, you’re not supposed to throw it over the fence….
You’re supposed to eat it.
…
Have you ever heard a cartoon kid say “The dog threw my homework over the fence?
Of course not.
…
Nice halo, though.
Big Lots?
I guess I’m odd man… um… person… out when it comes to the music though.
I think we had that exact record of Bimbombey… I recognise the stripes.
I’d forgotten it, but as it played, I suddenly remembered almost every word.
…
We had a few other Jimmy Rogers records on Roulette as well… and we kids played them over and over…
We especially loved Honeycomb…
I can’t say any of it reflects my taste today… but it’s pretty harmless stuff.
…
I didn’t remember “Green Door” …
and I don’t think anyone would want to call a song by that title today, especially one that keeps repeating the phrase “behind the green door”…
Not since the early 70’s, when that became the title of a world famous… or world infamous?… movie…
so well known that it was discussed in the newspaper,
and became familiar to people who ordinarily would never have heard of such a film.
Poor Jim Lowe.
I loved Jimmie Rodgers’ songs. Something about them was so ‘catchy’.
Oh, m’gosh….I remember “Honeycomb”, too!! Hadn’t thought about it in years, yet I recalled many of the words.
Definitely remember “Honeycomb.”
Wikipedia says the movie was named after the song.
ice cream sandwich day
coloring book day
Strange things are going in on that scene.
Is this from a coloring book titled something like “Can you find X things wrong?”
BUNNY!
“Non Sequitur” is cute today.
Good morning Balladeers, (((((Plods))))) and Miss Susan.
Good Monday morning Cleolympians!
Had a nice weekend with a BFF I haven’t seen in over 4 years.
And now back to our heroine trying to gain backyard olympics gold-en retriever.
National Ice Cream Sandwich and Coloring Book Day.
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Y’all have an ice cream sandwich for breakfast and color away! (((((HuGz!)))))
.
Too many rings, too much skin contact.
OMD – yes!
Wow! Just, wow!
AND STOP EATING THOSE CRAYONS!
Here we see the portrait of “Cleo The Innocent”!
Hey, the bow is in the neighbor’s yard, so it must have been the neighbor’s fault….right?
It certainly couldn’t have been the very picture of innocence Cleo. Nope!
can you identify this 91 year-old?
That’s his face, so it has to be.
But wow, I didn’t realise.
Edited to say…. since then I looked him up… And yeah, it’s him. Hard to believe!
Wow! I didn’t even recognize him! (but, then again, I don’t even recognize myself in the mirror anymore….lol)
Another, WOW!
I feel so old.
I had to peek at Susan’s solution because I couldn’t solve this one. The closest I came was maybe Alan Alda.
Me too!
Without looking at Susan’s reply, I’m fairly confident I recognize him. It’s the shape of his mouth. Now lets see if I’m right. Be right back
Yep, I was right. One of my favorite actors, and I hope that isn’t too much of a clue.
Funny, for me, it was his eyes.
I only felt sure enough to post my guess after i covered the bottom of his face with my hand.
For me, it was the originally posted version – with his name above the picture…
I guess that would have helped!
I remember reading about this somewhere. Truly bizarre and kind of creepy.
I remember someplace that in one species the males brain just kinda dwindles away to nothing over time.
Isn’t that in all species??
(Oh, no ~~ did I just say that out loud??)
You did indeed! (but, I was thinking it!)
Different brain…
I can’t seem to open it…
How will I color anything?