You're Never Weird On the Internet (Almost) (a book review)

You're Never Weird On the Internet (Almost) by Felicia Day

Released: August 11, 2015
Publisher: Touchstone
Pages: 272

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 "homeschooled 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.

Felicia’s short-ish life and her rags-to-riches rise to Internet fame launched her career as one of the most influential creators in new media. Now, 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.

Goodreads

I can't shout this book from the rooftops enough. Felicia Day is so incredibly honest about her life and work while also being hysterical and making me laugh every few pages. I could relate to so much of it, and each chapter I read continued to inspire me.

I’m also a homeschooled, nerdy, fangirl of a teen who looks to the internet for a lot of her relationships when her real life friends don’t get all of her fandom quirks. (Not to say that my real life friendships aren't important, because both are incredible and extremely important, but there's something special about connecting with someone--even if that person is in Australia or across the country--over something you love deeply enough to fangirl about obsessively.) I write fan-fiction, some of my best and probably lifelong friends are through blogging and a “Supernatural” roleplay that’s been going for six months now (I play Dean Winchester as well as two original characters, a hunter named Isabel Walker and a librarian named Emma Sparks who got dragged into the whole mess by being Sam’s best friend), and I’ve been trying for what feels like forever to make it in the novel writing world.

Lately I’ve felt a little stuck and discouraged creatively, and I found myself nodding through the entire chapter of how Felicia struggled through writing the pilot of “The Guild” (one of the many things she's created that I absolutely adore). By the time I read the Acknowledgements, I was tearing up a little bit (I still am as I write this). Not only has this given me the push I need to keep going, but now I want to buy several copies of this book and shove it into the hands of everyone I know who's ever felt weird or wanted to create something and share it with the world but doesn't know how.

I guess I'll just leave you all with an emphatic "READ THIS BOOK" and hope that you pick it up someday. I'm sure everyone who flips through will find something with which they can connect.

 

Meet the author:

Felicia Day is a professional actress who has appeared in numerous mainstream television shows and films, currently recurring on the CW show "Supernatural", and recently completing a two-season arc on the SyFy series "Eureka".

However, Felicia is best known for her work in the web video world, behind and in front of the camera. She co-starred in Joss Whedon’s Internet musical “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog,” which was ranked in the “Top 10 Best TV of 2008” by Time Magazine, Entertainment Weekly and People Magazine and won an Emmy in 2009. She also created and stars in the hit

web series “The Guild,” which is currently in its sixth season. “The Guild” has won numerous awards for web video excellence, most recently garnering a PGA nomination for best web series in 2011. She has expanded the brand into numerous merchandizing opportunities, including a hit comic book series with Dark Horse Comics.

Her production company Knights of Good produced the innovative web series “Dragon Age” in conjunction with EA/Bioware in 2011 and in 2012 she launched a funded YouTube channel called Geek & Sundry. Since launching in April 2012, the channel has garnered over one million subscribers and over 200 million views. In 2014, the company was sold to Legendary Entertainment. Felicia continues to work as creative chief officer with her company, as well as develop television and web projects for her to write, produce and star in.

Connect with Felicia Day:

Website: http://feliciaday.com/

Twitter: @feliciaday

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FeliciaDay
Tumblr: http://thisfeliciaday.tumblr.com/

What's something you're struggling to do creatively? What are your favorite parts about the internet?  Leave a comment!