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aprileclecticbookworm's review
3.0
This is a short essay style memoir (5 stories that had been shortened or cut from Just a Geek) by Wil Wheaton. After the first story (dealing with the aftermath of an aunt passing) it was simple, light and very quick.
neyhart's review
4.0
Wil Wheaton's self deprecating humor works for me. I find him genuinely funny. I intend to listen to his other two books now.
ghostmuppet's review
5.0
I have been a big fan of [a:Wil Wheaton|37075|Wil Wheaton|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1356706649p2/37075.jpg] for many years (ok, there was that dark spot 20 years ago or so where he was basically invisible - but we wont go there). I even liked his character on ST:TNG.
I listen to his book [b:Just a Geek|6977415|Just a Geek|Wil Wheaton|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1255478397s/6977415.jpg|63710] just over a year ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. When he announced that his audio version of Dancing Barefoot was available, I purchased it straight away.
This IS a short book. It basically contains 5 extracts from his website. The narration was first class and as the stories were his own memories, the emotion was heart felt and is came across in the audio. The biggest story is his Star Trek one, however I remember reading this previously, but was good to have it on Audio form.
I appreciate that not everyone will like this audio. If you have read Just a Geek I would highly recommend you get this.
I listen to his book [b:Just a Geek|6977415|Just a Geek|Wil Wheaton|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1255478397s/6977415.jpg|63710] just over a year ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. When he announced that his audio version of Dancing Barefoot was available, I purchased it straight away.
This IS a short book. It basically contains 5 extracts from his website. The narration was first class and as the stories were his own memories, the emotion was heart felt and is came across in the audio. The biggest story is his Star Trek one, however I remember reading this previously, but was good to have it on Audio form.
I appreciate that not everyone will like this audio. If you have read Just a Geek I would highly recommend you get this.
nakedsteve's review
3.0
A quick 1-day read. It's the stories that Wheaton couldn't fit into Just a Geek, so the quality level there is just a bit lower. Not by much, but they do all still have that "new writer" smell to them. I think he writes much better now (2014 vs. 2003).
3 of 5 stars.
3 of 5 stars.
kagetsukai's review
5.0
This book made me laugh, made me weep, made me feel. Maybe it was "that time of the month" for me or something, but I somehow was very emotional while reading it. I had no idea Wil Wheaton was such a great writer!
hollowspine's review
4.0
These are the 5 stories left out of "Just a Geek" Wheaton's memoir. I haven't read Just a Geek, nor was I a follower of his blog, though maybe I should have been. I never really think of actors as real people, they're part of a different world that I sometimes get glimpses of, but overall it's a far off world from the mundane place I live.
I've seen Wheaton in Stand by Me and Star Trek, but I never followed his career after that point, until a couple years ago when I saw him on The Guild. Since then I've been encountering him everywhere, playing D&D during a sandstorm in Homeland, by Cory Doctorow, presiding over the OASIS in Ready Player One by Ernest Cline...well, everywhere! So bearing that in mind I thought I'd better read a bit about a person who seems to be fairly important (to say the least) in geek culture.
I wasn't sure what to expect, though certainly I imagined a bit of arrogance a certain bit of geeky I've known this since before it was cool hipster-ism, but I was surprised by Wheaton's down to earth and fan-friendly attitude, his honesty and his humor. I even found myself sympathizing and nodding along as I read, knowing the feelings that he spoke of, though I am just a boring geek who wouldn't have the opportunity to be insulted by WFS (thankfully).
After reading Simon Pegg's memoir recently as well, both by popular geeks who've done well, I find myself a little proud that geeks seem to be, in general, a good sort. However, at the same time, I also thought to myself, boy, I think I should read something...less geeky, I've been reading all sci-fi, geeky memoirs and apocalyptic fiction for a solid couple months now, I had a dream last night that I went to a Renaissance Festival and got sat on by a horse.
I've seen Wheaton in Stand by Me and Star Trek, but I never followed his career after that point, until a couple years ago when I saw him on The Guild. Since then I've been encountering him everywhere, playing D&D during a sandstorm in Homeland, by Cory Doctorow, presiding over the OASIS in Ready Player One by Ernest Cline...well, everywhere! So bearing that in mind I thought I'd better read a bit about a person who seems to be fairly important (to say the least) in geek culture.
I wasn't sure what to expect, though certainly I imagined a bit of arrogance a certain bit of geeky I've known this since before it was cool hipster-ism, but I was surprised by Wheaton's down to earth and fan-friendly attitude, his honesty and his humor. I even found myself sympathizing and nodding along as I read, knowing the feelings that he spoke of, though I am just a boring geek who wouldn't have the opportunity to be insulted by WFS (thankfully).
After reading Simon Pegg's memoir recently as well, both by popular geeks who've done well, I find myself a little proud that geeks seem to be, in general, a good sort. However, at the same time, I also thought to myself, boy, I think I should read something...less geeky, I've been reading all sci-fi, geeky memoirs and apocalyptic fiction for a solid couple months now, I had a dream last night that I went to a Renaissance Festival and got sat on by a horse.
roguemouse's review
4.0
I've only ever read Wil's blog posts - and heard him read "Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline - but had always planned to listen to his books. I might've started with the wrong one (it's hard to tell from the publishing date which book came out first and therefor which should be listened to first, especially since the stories in "Dancing Barefoot" are ones that simply didn't find their place in "Just A Geek"), but either way I'm really happy that I finally got around to it.
There's something unique about listening to a book read by the author. You don't have to imagine the words read in their voice - the timbre, rhythm, accentuation, etc. - and you can concentrate on what is being said and how; the emotions behind it. Sure, it's sometimes fun to read a book by a celebrity and imagine hearing their voice in our head, but I've recently been on a roll of listening to read-by-the-author audiobooks and lemme tell you - it's an amazing experience. It's like listening to a friend telling you their life's story.
The stories in "Dancing Barefoot" range from poignant musings on the fleetingness of life, through humorous recounts of fan conventions and the surprising impact they can have, to short, sweet études on love and romance. All of them had me smiling (some of them through glassy eyes). I was most touched by Wil's thoughts on Star Trek and his relationship with fans of the show - as a fellow geek myself, and someone who visits conventions both as a attendee-fan and an invited speaker, it's heartwarming to know that my deep love and appreciation for that community (sprinkled with the occasional wry eye-roll) resonates in other people as well. Especially those who have moved from one side of the autograph table to the other.
In other words: I recommend a listen to any geeks and/or fans of Wil's online presence, and am definitely looking forward to his other books.
There's something unique about listening to a book read by the author. You don't have to imagine the words read in their voice - the timbre, rhythm, accentuation, etc. - and you can concentrate on what is being said and how; the emotions behind it. Sure, it's sometimes fun to read a book by a celebrity and imagine hearing their voice in our head, but I've recently been on a roll of listening to read-by-the-author audiobooks and lemme tell you - it's an amazing experience. It's like listening to a friend telling you their life's story.
The stories in "Dancing Barefoot" range from poignant musings on the fleetingness of life, through humorous recounts of fan conventions and the surprising impact they can have, to short, sweet études on love and romance. All of them had me smiling (some of them through glassy eyes). I was most touched by Wil's thoughts on Star Trek and his relationship with fans of the show - as a fellow geek myself, and someone who visits conventions both as a attendee-fan and an invited speaker, it's heartwarming to know that my deep love and appreciation for that community (sprinkled with the occasional wry eye-roll) resonates in other people as well. Especially those who have moved from one side of the autograph table to the other.
In other words: I recommend a listen to any geeks and/or fans of Wil's online presence, and am definitely looking forward to his other books.
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