The Happiest Days of Our Lives
jewel November 9th, 2007
I’ve finished reading Wil Wheaton’s new book, The Happiest Days of Our Lives. What a journey. It’s a collection of stories about growing up in the 70′s and 80′s.
Before I give my review, I have a confession to make. I liked Wesley Crusher. I know he was the most hated character on Star Trek, but I liked him. He was awkward and didn’t fit in with people his own age but didn’t really fit in with the adults either. I felt like that when I was growing up too, and even though he was a fictional character, I was glad to not be alone. Of course, looking back, I know I wasn’t even close to being alone in that regard. Being a teenager is awkward, I’d wager, for most people and fitting in is tough. Thankfully, I got over the not fitting in part of life and was ok with the being me part. But I digress..
I received this book yesterday. When I opened the package, I immediately sat down and started reading and I didn’t stop until there was no more to read. Wil Wheaton’s writing style is fluid and vivid. He took me back to several childhood memories of my own and he captured very well what it was like growing up in the 70′s and 80′s.
He has fond memories of playing D&D. I’ve never been a gamer. I always liked the idea of role playing games, but I’ve always been a little too self conscious to actually enjoy playing them. Many of my friends, when I was in high school, however were avid gamers and I did enjoy watching them play and visualize their stories as they unfolded. Sometimes I would just close my eyes and see the action. Good times.
There were many times while reading various stories that I burst into laughter. And one story brought me to tears. It’s a more recent story and it brought me to an also more recent memory of my own. It was about his cat Felix. Thinking about it now has me a bit choked up, actually. Mixed in with his story are memories of my beloved Merlin and the Queen Bitch Feedback, both of whom are now gone.
I looked forward to reading this book because I so very much enjoyed his last two. Wil Wheaton does not disappoint.
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