You're Never Weird on the Internet by Felicia Day Review

Title:  You're Never Weird on the Internet
Author: Felicia Day
Pages: 262
Published: August 11th 2015 by Touchstone
Source: Library
Links: Felicia Day.com,   Geek and Sundry

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.

I can't stand non-fiction, but every now and then I will give one a chance.   I love Felicia Day ever since I discovered who she is.  When I think back about how I discovered her I can't exactly remember.  I think it may have been when her music video Do you want to date my avatar came out.  For those of you who have no idea who she is.. basically she is a a geeky girl who is really just present on the internet. She has branched out and has had some cameos in shows (Supernatural, Eureka).  I have seen Felicia Day twice now.. once at the San Diego Comic Con and then again at the Denver Comic Con.  It was the San Diego con that really sold me on her.  It was when she and Wil Wheaton were launching Geek and Sundry (a geeky youtube channel).  I just knew she was cool like me.

Throughout the book Day talks about playing video games (especially World of Warcraft (WOW) which inspired her internet show The Guild), being homeschooled, going to college, acting, and all that jazz. After reading the book I just can't figure out how she made money before The Guild to pay rent! She would just be at home all day playing WoW.  She did a couple commercials she said, but how does that pay a year's expenses!  I like how in depth she is about her Guild years.  How the youtube videos kind of went viral and then she had so much pressure to make it bigger and better.

She had a small section about dealing with anxiety.  I had heard about this section and was quite curious about it.  She kind of talks about dealing with anxiety and depression but goes on to say that she finally went to the doctor and it was her thyroid.  Honestly I felt a little let down by this.  It was a perfect opportunity to talk about mental illness and the fact that taking meds and getting help is not embarrassing.  Alas.. it was her thyroid.  Meh.  She did recommend though going to therapy and that it can be a huge help.  So there is that.  She does talk about her insecurities about being an internet persona.  By being on the internet everything you do gets commented on and she gets a lot of negative comments.  I can't imagine reading that everyday.

One of the most interesting parts of the book for me was a section about #gamergate.  This was a big ordeal on the internet a while back.  It is a long history so if you are dying to know about it google it, but basically #GamerGate" is an online movement ostensibly concerned with ethics in game journalism and with protecting the "gamer" identity.  One of the main things that resonated from it for me was the hate against women who played video games. Day wrote a Tumblr post on it and then things got crazy for her.  People on the internet of course publishing her home address and phone number.  I just don't know why it's a big deal that girls play video games.  Who Cares!

Anyways... this was a great book.  I am so glad I read it.  I think I made it through this non-fiction book because Day is interested in a lot of things that I am interested in.  She included funny pictures throughout the book so it was also kind of funny to read though it wasn't meant to be a comedy. I would recommend this book to everyone!!

5 stars!

Holy Smokes UPDATE:  I got a little love on twitter for this review.  Including some likes for Felicia Day herself and Geek and Sundry.  I'm popular!  They are the last two on who favorited my Tweet.  I'm so stoked!