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The Happiest Days of Our Lives
by
Wil Wheaton (Goodreads Author)
Readers of Wil Wheaton’s website know that he is a masterful teller of elegant stories about his life. Building on the critical success of Dancing Barefoot and Just A Geek, he has collected more of his own favorite stories in his third book, The Happiest Days of Our Lives. These are the stories Wil loves to tell, because they are the closest to his heart: stories about bei...more
Paperback, 136 pages
Published
July 1st 2007
by Monolith Press
(first published 2007)
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Wheaton, former cast member of the Star Trek: The Next Generation and unofficial Grand Marshal of Emerald City Comicon, is back with another collection of nerdish memories and musings. Although I admit to being an eager fan-boy of his devoted affection for the popular arts, I was a tad disappointed by a few of his entries; if not a little perplexed by the poor editing – at least compared to Just a Geek.
“Blue Light Special”, which I heard Wheaton read live and on-stage at ECCC a few years back,...more
“Blue Light Special”, which I heard Wheaton read live and on-stage at ECCC a few years back,...more
Do yourself a favor and get the audiobook version. Wil is a great storyteller, getting better with each passing year. This comes across through his writing but is all the more powerful, laugh-out-loud funny, and touching (as in he might make you cry near the end; I did) when he tells you himself. Note that I say "tells you." Wil doesn't just read his words but adds weight and emotion. Now if only he could add sound effects like C-3PO's storytelling on Endor... :)
I listened to the audiobook version of this book while wrapping gifts and getting ready for the holidays. The book is a series of brief autobiographical essays and the audiobook performed by the author brings the stories to life. The audio version is occasionally interrupted by asides that are not in the printed version and discussion between the author and his friend the recording engineer -- these departues from the printed book add to the charm of the audio version and provide additional insi...more
I had the pleasure of meeting Wil at the Phoenix Comicon this year and I won't lie he was definitely the determining factor that made me force my I-don't-understand-this-sci-fi-business fiance into going with me last minute after all my friends bailed on me. I'm a huge fan of his blog, books and while I'm not a trekkie (it's all about the Wars) I love watching him act. I, not so secretly, wish that Wil was my stepdad. A girl can dream, because even if he claims to be "lame", I think he is the co...more
Wil sent me a signed early release under the condition I reserved its reading for my flight home from Iraq. I did, and it was well worth the wait.
Wil has such a great storytelling voice. I truly hope we see some more of these in the future.
Wil has such a great storytelling voice. I truly hope we see some more of these in the future.
I have to admit: I'm reviewing this based on the audiobook version. This is my first exposure to Wil Wheaton's writing (although like most of the world, I follow him on Twitter and through his blog).
This collection of stories about family, love, and all-out geekery is funny, poignant, and so relevant to my own 1970s/1980s experience, I could have hugged the author.
If you've read the book, definitely seek out the audio version. It has added "audio footnotes," in which Wheaton speaks off the cuff...more
This collection of stories about family, love, and all-out geekery is funny, poignant, and so relevant to my own 1970s/1980s experience, I could have hugged the author.
If you've read the book, definitely seek out the audio version. It has added "audio footnotes," in which Wheaton speaks off the cuff...more
There was so much awesome in this book that I find myself staggering at the avalanche of thoughts, memories, and feelings it evoked.
This book has been sitting in my den for years, propped up in front of all my other books, just staring at me. I was saving it. I don’t have a clue why I was saving it, but it was never the right time to read it. Apparently yesterday was the right day to read it. So I curled up on my couch and just read and smiled and nodded my head. I read “good parts” out loud to...more
This book has been sitting in my den for years, propped up in front of all my other books, just staring at me. I was saving it. I don’t have a clue why I was saving it, but it was never the right time to read it. Apparently yesterday was the right day to read it. So I curled up on my couch and just read and smiled and nodded my head. I read “good parts” out loud to...more
Apr 02, 2010
Alexander
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Every human being I know and quite a few I don't know.
Shelves:
geek-culture
The Happiest Days of Our Lives continues the tradition that Wil Wheaton started in the Audiobook version of Just a Geek Audiobook with what he and his friend David call "The Super Annotated Version" of the original printed version and more importantly it is Wil Wheaton's memories from his life (the way he remembers them, which I hear is different from how Wil Wheaton's mother remembers them...).
He starts us off with a nice introduction to his family and the dedication to his two sons, two boys w...more
He starts us off with a nice introduction to his family and the dedication to his two sons, two boys w...more
I started to write this review last night, and went looking for Wil Wheaton's blog, where many of the stories came from, so I can link to it from my review.
It was getting late, I was tired, and so I was a bit disoriented for a few seconds when I saw my own words flash up on the screen. At the time, his most recent story had excerpted my review of paper books. Wow, I thought. This never happens when I'm about to review Dickens. And actually, it's never happened before, ever. I'll admit to owning...more
It was getting late, I was tired, and so I was a bit disoriented for a few seconds when I saw my own words flash up on the screen. At the time, his most recent story had excerpted my review of paper books. Wow, I thought. This never happens when I'm about to review Dickens. And actually, it's never happened before, ever. I'll admit to owning...more
I just finished reading this, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm no book reviewer, but I found so many parallels between Wil's stories and my young life, growing up in the late 70's / early 80's in Westwood and Ayer, Massachusetts.
Full disclosure: I was not a Star Trek fan. I really don't know why. I've had many exposures to geekdom, but for some reason, I was not attracted to it, in any of its forms. Yes, I watched all of the full length motion pictures, and occasionally found myself watching an...more
Full disclosure: I was not a Star Trek fan. I really don't know why. I've had many exposures to geekdom, but for some reason, I was not attracted to it, in any of its forms. Yes, I watched all of the full length motion pictures, and occasionally found myself watching an...more
Picked up an autographed copy from Wil himself at the Penny Arcade Expo August 29-31 in Seattle, WA. Many nostalgic and mostly geeky stories that I can relate to as a child of the 70s and 80s.
Finished it yesterday (10/7). I liked this one a lot. The entire book is only 135 pages and it is broken up into a number of short to middle-length stories, so it's easy to read. The topics are all personal to Wil and involve either experiences of his own as a child or young actor (see "Stand By Me" and "St...more
Finished it yesterday (10/7). I liked this one a lot. The entire book is only 135 pages and it is broken up into a number of short to middle-length stories, so it's easy to read. The topics are all personal to Wil and involve either experiences of his own as a child or young actor (see "Stand By Me" and "St...more
A short little read, it took me all of about three or four hours over the course of a couple of days while on vacation. It can easily be put down and picked up at a later time without losing a bit of the story. Essentially, Wil took various posts from his blog and published them together as a longer novella. Lots of nostalgia for the 80's as well as heartwarming stories about his family, life in California, and his career as an actor. I had already read many of the stories from his blog, but it...more
Well, I've been a fan of Wil's blog for quite some time now, but this is the first actual hard copy book of his I've read. As with his blog, I just love how clearly he is able to articulate his experiences and insights. He has some keen observations on the human condition, and relates them so skillfully that I can literally go from tears during one story to laughing out loud in the next. I think maybe that's partly because I can relate to a lot of the things he refers to. I was a child of the 80...more
I have to admit that I never liked Wil Wheaton as an actor (or maybe it was just the roles he played), but his writing is powerful and heartwarming. A great book that speaks to the geek inside everybody ;)
(... and since he appeared as himself in The Big Bang Theory I even like his acting :D )
(... and since he appeared as himself in The Big Bang Theory I even like his acting :D )
As someone just a few years younger than Wil, I could relate to many of his childhood memories. But, the story that brought tears to my eyes was about his cat, Felix, who reminds me of my Alex.
Highly recommend reading for geeky children of the 70s and 80s.
Highly recommend reading for geeky children of the 70s and 80s.
As with the previous books of his, I really enjoyed this one. I must admit it lost my interest in the middle, while he was geeking over his action figures. While I can relate to comic books and D&D, action figures hold no appeal to me. Oh well =)
Wil Wheaton is a wonderful storyteller. I read his blog on a regular basis, and his same wit, charm, and compassion come through with this book. One day I'll have to get my hands on the audiobook version, as other readers have recommended.
I reviewed this book for The Compulsive Reader. I don't know if I'm at liberty to repost the text here, so instead, I'll include a link to it:
http://www.compulsivereader.com/html/...
http://www.compulsivereader.com/html/...
So cute! There's a lot about Wil's childhood, some amusing anecdotes about him making fun of Patrick Stewart's car, and some rather sweet (almost quite 'emo') moments of his as a father. I highly recommend this one.
I started reading this book right after Phx Comicon 2009...I read through "let go- a requiem for Felix the Bear". It broke my heart as I had just lost my own cat to illness. I put the book down.
Even in picking it back up, seeing the last page of the Felix story caused me to tear up slightly, but I focused on the next story and kept going.
It's an awesome book and definitely worth a read, especially if you have even an ounce of geek in you.
Even in picking it back up, seeing the last page of the Felix story caused me to tear up slightly, but I focused on the next story and kept going.
It's an awesome book and definitely worth a read, especially if you have even an ounce of geek in you.
I'm not a D&D or Trekkie geek-- I'm more of a Scrabble and Star Wars girl. So clearly, Wheaton can cross nerdy lines, because I laughed and I "aww"-ed and I liked this. More Wil will follow.
A series of wryly humorous, thematically-connected vignettes - about childhood in the 70s and 80s, and about growing up geeky - which really resonated with me.
Mar 08, 2008
Fran
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
geeks, readers of Wil's blog, Star Trek fans
Recommended to Fran by:
Wil Wheaton(!)
Wil's third book (I've only read this and his second) is awesome. Like his other books it consists of a series of short true stories, generally based on blog entries. Some stories had me close to tears - particularly the story of the loss of his cat. Another, one of which I'd recently read an excerpt of, tells of his introduction to D&D. There's only one story that really relates to Star Trek (another sad story), so if you aren't a fan of Star Trek you don't have to avoid it.
Wil is one of th...more
Wil is one of th...more
At this point if I can find both I plan to get both the autographed copy and audiobook.
Like his other books, The Happiest Days of Our Lives is a collection of stories from his blog. Short ones, long ones, and in between length ones. Wil Wheaton writes in such a way that despite the fact that he's simply writing stories about himself and his family, you genuinely care about Anne, Ryan, and Nolan. I look forward to whatever it is Wil Wheaton has on the go.
This is a collection of Wil's blog entries. I actually read the Subterranean edition, which contains some extra commentary by Wil. I'm not sure if it contains more stories or not.
I took my time reading this one. It was nice, you can read a chapter, put it down for a while, and come back later to a new story. Wil is a wonderful story teller. Some of the stories are about his childhood, others his Star Trek past, and my favorites are the ones that center around his family. While I borrowed this on...more
I took my time reading this one. It was nice, you can read a chapter, put it down for a while, and come back later to a new story. Wil is a wonderful story teller. Some of the stories are about his childhood, others his Star Trek past, and my favorites are the ones that center around his family. While I borrowed this on...more
I am reading this book little bit by little bit. It is a compilation of several short musing stories about growing up in the 1970-1980's. Like Just a Geek, this is a good night stand book or waiting room book. Chapters are short and read quickly in the few minutes before bed time or waiting for your name to be called.
Wheaton has a way of bringing back my own memories of childhood by telling stories of his childhood. And the best part is, since he is sharing HAPPY memories I tend to reminisce ab...more
Wheaton has a way of bringing back my own memories of childhood by telling stories of his childhood. And the best part is, since he is sharing HAPPY memories I tend to reminisce ab...more
Its a short book of recollections of his childhood, his family and his experiences working on Star Trek. His stories are funny and his senese of humor about his life is really amusing to read, particularly his interactions with his stepsons. The entires were taken from his blog. He has a few other books published as well, Just a Geek, and he’s collaborated on a few comic books and mangas. He has some fiction work pending in the next couple of years, including a wholly original comic book. I can’...more
Love the King Geek! DO IIIIIT!
(Finished <~ 2010-04-06 23:20:29 EDT)
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A worldwide audience may know him from recent roles as Evil Wil Wheaton on The Big Bang Theory, Doctor Isaac Parrish on EUReKA, or Fawkes on The Guild, but Wil Wheaton’s successful acting career began in 1986 with acclaimed roles in Stand By Me and Toy Soldiers.
He continued to build his resume through his teen years as series regular ‘Wesley Crusher’ on Star Trek: The Next Generation and opposite...more
More about Wil Wheaton...
He continued to build his resume through his teen years as series regular ‘Wesley Crusher’ on Star Trek: The Next Generation and opposite...more
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Jul 01, 2009 07:13am