Wil Wheaton Books

...I got a little teary-eyed. This is an excellent book. It's funny and compelling and Wil shows what a great writer he is. I wanted more and I'm upset that I didn't buy "Just A Geek" first. I'll be remedying that as soon as I'm finished writing this review. If you just like a good story whether it be about Star Trek or just being a regualar everyday person, or if you want a good laugh, I recommed this book.

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Wheaton at a sci-fi convention in 2006. He was really nice and easy going. I picked up a smaller book that he had printed in limited numbers. I love how he spins his tales. It took me a while but I finally grabbed his book Dancing barefoot. His childhood storys and those of his current family are heartfelt and warm. His dealing with the memories of his Trek experience and coming to grips with his "Child Actor" status. If you are a trek fan or not doesn't matter the guy is a great writer and I can't wait for the next book.

I was very pleased with this book. Excellent writing, but it leaves me wanting more.

Whether you are a Star Trek Fan or not, this book is worth reading. As Wil tells his stories, you feel each and every emotion. After you finish the book, you a yearning for more, so go and pick up "Just a Geek". Enjoy it- I sure did!

Dancing Barefoot is one of those books that as your reading, you take a step back and say, "oh my god I totally understand this! This was me."

The book is a collection of stories that Wil had posted on his blog and compiled together. The stories are very inspiring and Wil shows his emotions in one of the most effective ways that humans do: through his writing. I was very touched after having read Dancing Barefoot and even inspirted enough to do some writing of my own.

If you're considering whether or not you want to purchase Wheaton's book, just read his blog and within 10 minutes of reading some of his entries your mind will have been set yourself.

I loved it, and look forward to Wil's next novel.

I somehow tragically managed to make my way to adulthood with never reading anything but the kiddie version of this book. When I found this book for super-cheap in the teachers' lounge book sale and I figured "hey, why not?" And thus I picked it up and immediately fell in love with the sheer Old-South charm that only Twain can deliver. Really, people, it is no wonder that this book is such a classic! It may not have the soulful human reflections of "Huckleberry Finn", but in the solemn concern for the pleasures of boyhood it certainly makes its own mark.

Mark Twain tells the story purely from a storyteller's view. No deep analysis of character that takes you right inside of Tom Sawyer's psyche, nothing blatantly philosophical. It is as if Mr. Twain lives to simply tells us into what trouble Tom is getting. He does not go out of his way to give lengthy, dull descriptions or even fully flesh out the details of just what Tom and his friends are doing. It gives it a charming, folksy style that allows for plenty of plot and action. Even, so the writing is unparalleled.

And it truly is a great story. It's fun! I don't know how many poor students have been tricked into believing it is not. It has all the great elements of a good boy story, what with the murders and buried treasure and faked deaths and hoodoo--not to mention the delight taken away by discovery of bacteria.

I'm also a huge fan of this Whole Story edition. It's beautiful, easy to carry around, and I guess I'm a sucker for the documentary feature.

Fantastic, fun story. Everyone should read it.

These audio books help children that are having trouble with the written word. I also use them in the car, so each trip we hear more of the story. The kids love them and I think it makes them interested in reading.

To understand America in the nineteenth century, you must understand Tom Sawyer. His life, so full of adventure set amidst the bustle of a changing nation, is in many ways the dream of nearly all male children. To spend your time swimming in the creek, gathering "treasures" and eating goodies is truly the good life. Tom's romance with Becky is also the way it is with most boys. Girls are universally considered to have some kind of contagious disease, when I was young, they had cooties, until you see that one perfect girl that you will share everything with.
The wonder and mischief of Tom and Huck are captured in this book, superbly illustrated by Michael Ploog. Tom is wide-eyed, freckled and has bulbous cheeks. Huck has a pointed nose, bright eyes and a suitably scruffy demeanor. With the exception of Sundays, the boy's clothes consist of a series of patches sewn over rags. This book is an excellent introduction to what is the tale of American youth of the nineteenth century, very appropriate for classes in English. Of course, after covering this book, the students should be required to read the original.

This book is a great example of what makes Twain one of America's most belvoed writers. Twain's unique sense of humor and his keen insights into human nature shine through in this book. Twain's style is wonderful, the characters are dynamic and the plot never hits a snag. Twain has created a novel here that is light enough on the surface to entertain young readers yet contatins enough substance to speak volumes to an adult audience. You are sure to love this one is you have read any of Twain's other works. If you haven't read Twain, delay no further--this book is the perfect starting point.

Ever since my dad first read this timeless classic to my sister & me as kids, while camping in our trailer during the summer, it has left its indelible impression upon my imagination. How I too wanted to shove off from shore on my "skiff" and have my own adventures down the Mississippi! I know of no other book that so wonderfully captures the essence and joy of carefree boyhood.

When I say "carefree", however, I am not forgetting the grim and serious elements of the novel. But these work just as well as the sunnier and funnier parts. In fact, just when the narrative needs it, a murder comes along which boosts the plot most effectively, giving it a shot in the arm. And speaking of the darker aspects, does not Injun Joe have to rank highly on the list of greatest villains in the history of literature? I can assure you that as a boy listening to the cave chapters, his menace was palpable and unforgettable.

Unfortunately, literary snobs have often found it fashionable to belittle Tom Sawyer as inconsequential and a 'lightweight' seen against the towering greatness of "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn". I couldn't disagree more. (I love Huckleberry Finn dearly and plan to review it soon as well). I read a quote in a foreword that I thought was very insightful: "Huckleberry Finn is a greater book, but not a better one." I think this is exactly so. Extol the greatness of HF by all means, but don't make the mistake of downgrading Twain's other masterpiece, just because its theme is not so weighty and grave. In fact, the episodic nature of the telling of Tom Sawyer fit Twain's particular brand of genius perfectly (whereas there were some sub par stretches in Huck Finn).

Loved it as a boy, love it no less as a man. Thank you, dad, for imparting such an enduring gift.

Wheaton has an interesting perspective on things due to his experiences as an actor, writer, voice actor, parent, spouse, and unabashed Geek. He uses his entertaining story-telling skills to share his observations and lessons learned.

As a regular reader of WWdN:In Exile, Wheaton's writer's "voice" has a conversational tone that I really enjoy. I am submitting this review primarily to reply to what several other reviewers have said about his conversations with his brain/himself. Others have said they find these annoying, but they're a part of Wheaton's delivery that I really enjoy. If you aren't sure if you'll enjoy his writing style, pop over to his blog and read a bit.

Wil is a great writer, learning to write about what he knows. This book provides a fascinating insight in the behind-the-scenes of Wil's life and of Star Trek TNG.

Like Mr. Wheaton's other book, I was very pleased with this one as well. I could relate to the "geekness", being a recovering geek myself.
Wonderful book.

"Just a Geek" by Wil Wheaton is an incredible book. Wil has proven himself not only a gifted actor, but a gifted writer. The book is raw and revealing. You feel every emotion right along with him. Tears well up when he does not land that role. You feel his love for his wife and stepsons. You experience the joy he finds in doing Star Trek conventions, meeting fans, and writing his blog. You will roll with laughter at the fireworks story. You see Wil, not as an untouchable Hollywood actor, but a real man, complete with all the trials, tribulations, and joys that all of us experience. My only complaint is with the foul language. This is not a book for kids, unless it is filtered by a parent, but it is a must-read, especially for the Gen Xer and Trekkie.

I bought this book because I started reading Wil Wheaton's blog and some of the articles he's been writing for various internet sites and found them to be very funny. So, I thought I was going to get a funny, behind-the-scenes look at Star Trek:TNG. I didn't get that. What I got was excerps from his blog over the past 5 years or so. And it really wasn't all that funny. I actually cried (yes, cried) a lot more than I laughed. But you know what? I wasn't disappointed. It turns out to be a peek inside WW's head and his journey from seeing himself as a washed up actor to being happy being a writer, family man, and "Just a Geek." It's really a much more human story that the average person can relate to (I know I did!) instead of being a gossip-fest.

Wheaton writes in an easy, conversational style sprinkled with interesting, occasionally brilliant descriptive turns of phrase. Is he the next F. Scott Fitzgerald? Probably not. But it is an easy, enjoyable read about a guy coming to grips with his life taking a big left turn that he didn't intend to take. Even if you don't know Wil Wheaton from Adam and have never seen a Star Trek episode in your life, you will enjoy this book, because it's not about being a Trekker. It's about being a human.

A few years ago I purchased the cassette tape version of this play and enjoyed it a lot. Unfortunately, I lost my copy and have wanted to listen to this play many times since then. I'm glad I purchased this item again and look forward to hearing it again.

After purchasing this audio novel I was initially upset because it was only an hour long. I much prefer my audio novels to be at least 2 hours long. With a foul mode in place I began to listen to the tape. In a few short minutes I was quickly swept up into the story, recogizing my favorite Star Trek actors as they played their parts. The audio novel although short has an excellant production quality. The story is concise and easy to follow. I would like to thank John DeLancie for directing this project and for the participaction of the other actors. I would not hesitate to recommend this audio novel and look forward to others from John DeLancy, Lenard Nimoy and the rest of the Star Trek gang. (The RAMA science fiction series would be great.) Please make them at least 2 hours though.

First off, I love this book and I was very mad to hear stuff like "All people who like it are stupid" I read one review where the person said "It shows how stupid Anericans can be" You misspelled Americans buddy! People did talk like that. I know because they still talk like that. I loved the language, and snobs who just turn their noses up and say "that's not proper English!" are obnoxious and pitiful! How is it hard to read? The bad reviewers called lovers of this book stupid when they couldn't even understand the book. Twain uses the N word so much because that's how people talked back then! Americans who insult this book are uncultured, know nothing about history and are complete snobs. I find Jim to be a kind, patient, fatherly figure, Huck to be an interesting main character and Tom to be lovable and funny. People say it's childish and that Jim is childish, but that's because the book is written through the eyes of Huck, a 13 year-old boy. You would have to be racist to call this book racist. MARK TWAIN WAS VERY ANTI SLAVERY! I'm really mad that people can be so ignorant as to want to ban this book. People say that Huck's adventure were boring, but they were not. He is a 13 year-old helping to free a slave and then there's all the stuff in between. How many 13 year-olds do you know who have ever travelled down the mississippi river constantly being hunted for, without any parents? I love this book, the characterization is flawless and all Americans should read this and enjoy it. Mark Twain was a brilliant writer and all you people who hate on this book and are mean to people who like it, I feel kind of sorry for you that you are such stupid snobs who can't even understand a dialect which is still used today. This book takes place at America's most shameful time in history and yet I am still proud that this is a book that represents america.

I was disappointed after reading this story. Of course the message is important and Mark Twain is a talented writer, no one can deny that. However I found it difficult to read this book with the dialoge and the plot wasn't really holding my attention.

Maybe I shouldn't have read Tom Sawyer before Huck, as it might have been to much Twain all at once. Words don't bother me in a story, it's the boring repetion the boy had, we all have dreams and children maybe more, but to act them all out over and over, I couldn't wait to finish the book. I think some books fit their period more so, maybe Huck being one of them, and it just may be the books controversy and popularity is because of a few certain words, and that is a same.

It's hard to write a review of your favorite book. It's hard to describe in words the wonderful hours I spent reading and rereading it. No other book has captured the joy of being a kid so well, and the adventures that the world has to offer. Through excitement and peril to lazy days spent on Huck's raft, this book absorbs you from start to finish.

The plot is superb and extremely well-written. Twain writes with a remarkable feel for dialog and description. This knowingness probably stems from the fact that the story is partly inspired by Twain's own boyhood. He himself lived along the Great River, and he knew all of its sights and sounds.

The characters are extremely well-crafted. I could always relate to Huck, who seems to represent boyhood personified. His wish for greater adventures, for fun - for the easy life - was something that enthralled me when I was young. I, too, wished to have a raft, to be floating down the Mississippi River with Huck.

However, this remarkable book is not so much an adventure story as it is a critique of the society of that time. Many not-so-childish issues are addressed, such as the evil of slavery.

The story is filled with adventure: Huck runs away from his abusive father, finds a canoe and sails to an island, where he finds a runaway slave named Jim. Together, they sail through the Mississippi River while danger hounds our protagonists every step of the way. There are twists and turns, but be assured that all will be fine in the end.

What I believe makes this book great is how Twain is able to make the reader feel as though he is with Huck. The story, told from Huck's perspective, complete with bad grammar, etc. is so convincing that you almost forget that Huck himself didn't write the book. A remarkable achievement in American literature.

The Dover Thrift Edition is cheap and unabridged, and I highly recommend it. There are, however, no pictures, but in a book as good as "Huck Finn", it seems as though one sentence is worth a thousand pictures!

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is one of those novels that could easily go either way in the minds of a reader. Some people find it either boring or offensive, particularly because of its excessive use of the "n word." Others balk at the unbelievability of the plot premises (such as carrying an escaped slave south rather than north). Still others find the excessively colloquial linguistic style distracting and difficult to read. Any or all of the above could cause a person to dislike this story.

I myself certainly noticed the shortcomings above (although I personally enjoyed the colloquial language and realized that the use of the "n word" was historically accurate and would have been used much as we today say "black" or "African-American"). However, I was able to largely overlook the problems of the novel and appreciate it on a more simple level: an adventure-filled journey down the river.

In addition, I appreciated the central device of Huck's character: he acts consistently against his conscience, which is representative of the deplorable attitudes that were prevalent at the time. Through his actions, we see that he is not truly racist, but that society has imposed racism upon him. We see that he is impressionable, and will allow bad things to happen for a while, but ultimately he will step in and try to stop them. In this way, he is representative of the "innocent" child, whose worse qualities are always a result of others around him rather than anything innate.

Overall, this book is worth reading as a parable on freedom and conscience, and deserves a place among the great American classics.

I mostly got this because of the Wil Wheaton story, "Cura te Ipsum."

While I found that satisfyingly good, I was surprised at how good the rest of the stories were, and how nicely the familiar characters and environments were translated to Manga form! A nice surprise and a good read.

This "Manga style" illustrated novel has several short stories or episodes centering around The Original Star Trek TV series. Each short story is written and illustrated by a different writer and artist. Because of this, each story has it's own unique style.

I think this concept is very interesting and has the potential to keep this series fresh and creative. The dialog in these books are pretty true to the Original Series and the artwork is very good too.

The stories in Volume 2 of this series didn't seem to be as good as the stories in the first volume. I was definitely left with a feeling that something was missing. And some of the illustrations of the characters didn't seem as recognizable. Also, the stories weren't very creative and some referred too much to previous TV episodes. I think this only makes hard core fans bored and new fans confused. Some of the stories seemed too similar to other plots already told within the Star Trek universe. The whole point of Star Trek was to boldly go where no one (or story) has gone before... not to rehash or revisit the past. Not all the stories are bad and for the most part, the dialog and art is very good... but I hope volume 3 will have better stories to tell.