Title: You’re Never Weird on the Internet (almost)

Author: Felicia Day

Edition: Paperback

Seasonal Reading Challenge: Task 15.1 #2 – Read an autobiography or memoir.

Blurb: From online entertainment mogul, actress, and “queen of the geeks” Felicia Day, a funny, quirky, and inspiring memoir about her unusual upbringing, her rise to Internet-stardom, and embracing her individuality to find success in Hollywood. The Internet isn’t all cat videos. There’s also Felicia Day – violinist, filmmaker, Internet entrepreneur, compulsive gamer, hoagie specialist, and former lonely homeschooled girl who overcame her isolated childhood to become the ruler of a new world . . . Or at least semi-influential in the world of Internet Geeks and Goodreads book clubs. After growing up in the south where she was “home-schooled for hippie reasons,” Felicia moved to Hollywood to pursue her dream of becoming an actress and was immediately typecast as a crazy cat-lady secretary. But Felicia’s misadventures in Hollywood led her to produce her own web series, own her own production company, and become an Internet star. Fleicia’s shortish life and her rags-to-riches rise to Internet fame launched her career as one of the most influential creators in new media. Not, Felicia’s strange world is filled with thoughts on creativity, video games, and a dash of mild feminist activism – just like her memoir. Hilarious and inspirational, You’re Never Weird on the Internet (almost) is proof that everyone should embrace 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 mentioned in another post how much I enjoyed this book, but it does deserve a proper review. I got this book as a Christmas present and finished it by the morning of December 26th. That alone should show you how much I loved it. Could not put it down.

I don’t read nearly enough memoirs, which is sad because I usually really enjoy them when I do. I also think that being able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes is a very good skill to have, and what better way to practice that than to read about their experiences.

I also appreciate when someone can write about themselves in a brutally honest way. Felicia does this well, with a self-deprecating humor that is a joy to read. But she doesn’t pull any punches either. She is very clear about how she had an addiction to video games, which is one of the addictions that doesn’t get talked about very much, but which can also completely take over your life.  She has had issues with anxiety and depression, both of which led to not just mental health issues, but physical ones as well.

I loved The Guild, so it was fun to hear about the creative process, especially since it seemed so effortless, but was actually a LOT of hard work. I think that’s one of the things that I admire most about Felicia – there was something she wanted to do, that she really believed in, and she went for it. No one was looking for a tv show about video games, so she made one herself. That takes guts! No matter what obstacles came her way, she found a creative way to overcome them and surrounded herself with people who understood her vision and became as passionate about it as she was. That is good advice for anyone in a creative field.

I would definitely recommend this book, even if you are not familiar with Felicia or her work. I think you will really like her as a person, and then want to seek out the things that she’s done. My GoodReads rating: 5 stars.

Categories: Blog Every Day January, Books I've Read

Tags: book reviews, books, felicia day, you're never weird on the internet