The instant New York Times bestseller from “queen of the geeks” Felicia Day, You’re Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) is a “relentlessly funny and surprisingly inspirational” (Forbes.com) memoir about her unusual upbringing, her rise to internet stardom, and embracing her weirdness to find her place in the world. When Felicia Day was a girl, all she wanted was to connect with other kids … with other kids (desperately). Growing up in the Deep South, where she was “home-schooled for hippie reasons,” she looked online to find her tribe. The Internet was in its infancy and she became an early adopter at every stage of its growth–finding joy and unlikely friendships in the emerging digital world. Her relative isolation meant that she could pursue passions like gaming, calculus, and 1930’s detective novels without shame. Because she had no idea how “uncool” she really was.
But if it hadn’t been for her strange background–the awkwardness continued when she started college at sixteen, with Mom driving her to campus every day–she might never have had the naive confidence to forge her own path. Like when she graduated as valedictorian with a math degree and then headed to Hollywood to pursue a career in acting despite having zero contacts. Or when she tired of being typecast as the crazy cat-lady secretary and decided to create her own web series before people in show business understood that online video could be more than just cats chasing laser pointers.
Felicia’s rags-to-riches rise to Internet fame launched her career as one of the most influen-tial creators in new media. Ever candid, she opens up about the rough patches along the way, recounting battles with writer’s block, a full-blown gaming addiction, severe anxiety, and depression–and how she reinvented herself when overachieving became overwhelming.
Showcasing Felicia’s “engaging and often hilarious voice” (USA TODAY), You’re Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) is proof that everyone should celebrate what makes them different and be brave enough to share it with the world, because anything is possible now–even for a digital misfit.
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I love reading books that can make me laugh out loud. It’s only awkward when I’m reading on an airplane.
Felicia Day – love her! This memoir was a great read. Felicia’s writing style is delightful. Not only that, her writing style is very much in her “voice”, which is charming and funny.
Even if you’re not into memoirs, read this one. If you’re not familiar with Felicia Day, become so – and fast!
Felicia Day is someone very down to earth that you want to root for! She genuine and kind in a world full of self obsession. She’s deserved all her hard earned success! A very funny memoir!
When I picked this up on a whim at the library, and found Day’s introduction charming and entertaining, leading me to read the rest.
The book as a whole is a fun, quick read. Felicia Day is delightfully nerdy; I was surprised at how familiar her escapades were, even though I’m ten years older than she is. She was a Puzzle Pirates addict at one point, having started perhaps six months or a year before I did. (I can date this because she mentions the distilling puzzle had just been added when she quit, and it was a recent addition when I started.) She was also an authentic WoW addict; the role she wrote for herself in “The Guild” is drawn heavily from her own life.
She also shares some good insights on the process of Creating Stuff, as well as how she handles various struggles in her life: with gaming addictions, depression, anxiety, and overwork. It’s all written in a personable, humorous style. She has a way of laughing at herself that I found very relatable. The whole book is; I’d definitely recommend it.
I adore this book. Let me state clearly that I am in the Felicia Day fandom, so that is certainly a reason that I loved it. I never knew before how much Felicia and I have in common. There was a time that I was homeschooled. I’ve met online friends in real life.
Attention writer friends:
Chapter Six is a must read! You’ve been there (or you probably will be at some point). There’s a paragraph that starts with “And all that time I was lying” — which you have to read it. Go, do it now! Oh, and if you are a NaNoWriMo novelist, there are pages for you. (“I’d accomplished my goal. But I had to be ruthless with myself…”) It’s like one of those motivational emails we get. She should be one of our celebrity guest authors.
The end of chapter 4 has the best inadvertent advice I’ve ever read. “When the system you want to be a part of so badly turns you into someone you’re unhappy with and you lose sight of yourself, is it worth it?”
My assistant geeked out after she read this book too. Apparently, she and Felicia have both played Puzzle Pirates.
I was experiencing flashbacks as I read this. When The Guild went from YouTube to Xbox— I remember that! Brought to me by Sprint, I think.
This book is like reading a memoir by your acquaintance from work that always says “hi” in the break room… and now here’s all this cool information that shows you should have made an effort to become best friends.
In Chapter 9, readers will love Felicia (if they don’t already). The part about the picture with the tweet mounted on the back of the frame. That bit will own every non-stone heart out there.
My husband got me this for Christmas and I absolutely loved it! I liked Felicia before reading this book, now I admire her just a bit more. I’m trying to figure out how to get to a convention to meet her.
Her writing is witty and endearing. I identify with her on so many things, I’d love to sit down and talk to her about them. It’s obvious she’s smart and uber-talented.
I felt like she was honest and open about the experiences that shaped her and made her into the wonderful quirky lady she is.
It’s real, raw, funny, and relatable the stories she tells.
I recommend this book to anyone who’s sitting on the fence wondering if they should pursue a crazy, creative endeavor. Felicia Day’s tale of her life story is warm and funny, with plenty of bumps along the way. Her journey of putting together The Guild with spit and chickenwire is inspirational. It lit a fire under me and made me realize I can do it, too. Reading this book helped me realize we all have the capability to make our own magic.
Brilliant as an audiobook!