Compulsive Reader reviews Happiest Days. Also, Hardbacks!

The Compulsive Reader reviewed The Happiest Days of Our Lives, and says:

Frequently, I found myself smiling at memories of my own that reading
this book evoked. Ah, yes, I remember the weekend-long Dungeons and
Dragons marathons with my fellow geeks. I, too, grin like an idiot at
the thought of my fictional relationship with the cute girl in 10th
Grade that didn’t even know my name. There are few geeks our age that
don’t flinch in terror recalling the institutionalized bullying that is
dodgeball, with the flying, red-rubber spheres of shame.

Wil’s writing style is very easy-going, almost conversational.  He is a master storyteller who takes the ordinary aspects of all our lives, wraps them
in nostalgia, and sets them on a dusty shelf in the sun to fill the
room with rainbows.

The nostalgia, however, is one of the small weaknesses of this book.
While not over the edge, the combination of nostalgia and optimism
could get overwhelming in a longer book. Even in the unhappiest of
memories, Wil finds elements of hope and beauty.

If you want to get a paperback, you should order now, because the signed, numbered, limited edition hardbacks go on sale at Noon PST, on Sunday November 18.

Because PayPal refuses to address their multiorder shipping problem, and because I know so many people are waiting for autographed books to give as holiday gifts, I’ve made an executive decision: I will halt paperback orders for one week, or until the limited edition hardback sells out, whichever comes first. This will make it possible for me to ship signed books everywhere, so they will arrive in time for the holidays. I’m still working on a more sustainable long-term solution.

If you have any questions about the hardcover, post them in comments. I’ll be chained to the computer for the next two hours or so, and I’ll answer as quickly as I can.

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46 thoughts on “Compulsive Reader reviews Happiest Days. Also, Hardbacks!”

  2. Ooh, and I like The Compulsive Reader’s tagline:
    “Reviews of books by some of the hottest writers working today, exclusive author interviews, literary news and criticism.”
    That’s you!

  5. Okay — the hardcover is what I’ve been holding out for. Just so I’ve got the concept clear here — no preordering, we’re all going to be online on Sunday and start the mad rush at 12:00 PST (3:00 out here in Jersey). Correct?
    I don’t need a digital wristband or anything.

  7. Apologies if this is a really dumb question. I am a total noob when it comes to signed books. Please be kind, ya’ll.
    Does signed mean just your autograph? Or something personalized for each order?
    OK…I realize personalization might be impossible because of how long it might take. I can’t remember what the print run was…

  8. “…because the signed, numbered, limited edition hardbacks go on sale at Noon PST, on Sunday November 18.”
    HAWESOME !!!
    im soooooo hexcited – hehehe 😀
    all i want for christmas is a signed copy of Wils 3rd book !!!
    YIPPIE !!!
    🙂

  9. bjimba: That’s correct. It’s a first come, first served kind of system. There are no reservations.
    Timewalker2099: In fact, we have. It’s the one we’re looking at right now.
    Sally J: There are no dumb questions, only dumb people who post incorrect dates on their blog. This is limited to 300 books. I wanted to limit it to 200, but that made the per unit cost so high, nobody would ever buy it. Because I’m looking at getting 300 books out in time for the holidays, it’s not going to be possible to personalize these.

  11. jason: US and Canada is $45 plus shipping. Everywhere else is $50 plus shipping. Hooray for inflated postal rates and time-consuming customs forms! Freedom is on the march!

  13. Horace Rumple: Eventually, yes. Right now, I’m too busy trying to fill orders and get the cart system worked out to plan any readings and signings. The Coolidge Corner Theater is on my list for sure, and so are Powell’s in Portland, Mysterious Galaxy in San Diego, and somewhere in Austin, probably Book People.

  14. Thanks for the latest update about the limited signed hardback books for sale this Sunday at noon PST. Do you have any upcoming dates that you’ll be signing books in person again?

  15. Powell’s in Portland? I am so happy to read that this one is on your list. Believe me, I will be there. If I were to order a signed hardback and receive it and then bring it to your Powell’s in Portland date, would it be ok with you to get your additional personalized autograph on that same book?

  16. kinikia07: Of course! I still sign first edition Monolith Press copies of Dancing Barefoot when I go to cons and other speaking engagements, which always makes me feel really good.

  17. I am putting a reminder on my cell phone right now! This is my Christmas present to myself so I hope I get one or I will be really disappointed when I don’t see it under the tree 🙂

  19. Wil are you going to be doing any book signings where you have the hardcovers in stock? Since we live within 10 miles of each other, I’d rather come out and do that instead of taking someones opportunity to buy it if they cannot come down.
    That said – if there are no more planned local signings, screw all you outta staters!

  20. Erm. My comment is a bit like Horace Rumples. So if all signings are under the same umbrella, don’t feel obliged to reply – but if you are doing local signings with the hardcover, a comment would be appreciated 🙂

  21. ZiggyNJ: Yeah, New York is on the wishlist. What I’d love to do is something that includes Philly or Pittsburgh (Eventful will decide where) on a trip that includes New York, Boston, and somewhere in the DC area. It won’t happen until spring, though, because traveling in winter to New England SUCKS.
    LucidApathy: I’m not sure what I’ll be able to make happen locally, but it’s likely that there will be something in Los Angeles within the next couple of months. It’s awesome that you don’t want to take someone’s copy, by the way.

  23. just wanted to say that i’m reading my copy now. gonna crawl into bed early with it tonight! 🙂 thanks for resending it when the USPS stole my first copy (their standard of service lately has really sucked.) i was wondering what was taking it so long to get here!

  28. whoooo. almost out of my price range. Almost.
    I wonder if its a coincidence that Abba’s ‘Waterloo’ just came on (currently my dance-around-like-an-idiot song).
    Im pleased that you were able to work something out, and I cant wait!

  29. Three quick things:
    1) COME BACK TO CANADA! Starshine and I will be there if you do. lol
    2) Will the signed, numbered, limited edition hardbacks be ordered via the same page as the paperbacks?
    3) How much will shipping on them be?

  32. Wil, I was going to order both a hardback and some paperbacks at the same time to save the shipping costs. Looks like I was waiting for naught, right? No adding paperback copies to my hardback order? I guess that comes under “cannot combine shipping at this point.”

  33. So here’s my problem. I’ve been waiting for the hardback to go on sale but here in Qatar noon is 11:00 pm and I’m asleep since I have to be at work at 6:30 am. Can anyone help me out?
    Thanks

  34. Mr. Whea-ton (I pronounce it like Clin-ton, how I imagine Kang & Kodo would pronounce it) – thanks for the heads up! Last time I tried to order you still weren’t accepting orders to Soviet Canuckistan, which I see you’re now accepting. Many thanks!

  35. woohoo – just ordered my version. can’t wait to read it. also, wil, i’m not sure what it takes to get a signed version but it doesn’t really matter to me – i’m just looking forward to the book.

  36. Hey there Wil, I just ordered my book; and I can’t wait to read it!I’ll have to wait until you come out to my neck of the woods-NW Indiana (Hey, a girl can dream, right?) to get it signed. 🙂

  37. Well, as always, there’s Good News and Bad News.
    The Good News is that YAY, I’m so HAPPY there will be autographed hardcovers! I’ve been holding out for those, too.
    The Bad News is that I’ll be driving Sunday afternoon and not near teh innernetz until probably something like 6pm Pacific Time, so I’m likely to miss out. 🙁
    If any kind soul would considering buying two, I would pay your cost plus an extra $5 for shipping to me (beyond the $5 Wil would charge to ship it to you). Actually I would pay more than that, but it’s not fair to Wil to ask anyone to buy a book and then immediately post it on eBay for max price the market would bear.
    Ah, well, I’ll probably just order a paperback once the hardcover kefaffle is over.

  39. Wait! I just saw that the hardcover goes on sale at noon PST. That’s 3pm EST. I’m going to be on a train to NYC to see a play (one that isn’t affected by the stagehand strike). Damn! No one I know is going to be home at that time, being the weekend before Thanksgiving everybody is shopping for the holiday. Sigh. I’m sure you’ll be sold out by the time I get home after midnight. I guess I’ll just have to settle for the paperback.
    I hope you had a fine lunch date with your wife.

  40. Wil – can you point me at a post that details your problem with the Paypal thing? I use their free “cart” system at my site, and I’m trying to figure out what isn’t working for you. I’m also trying to figure out why you have a page with several line items (one for each country) when the Paypal system can be setup by you to apply the correct country’s shipping cost all by itself (magic!). Maybe I can help? Email at yogi AT wonky DOT net if you want.

  41. I ordered a book during International Week a couple weeks ago. Do you know when you’ll get to that pile?
    A Danish reader who can’t wait.

  42. “traveling in winter to New England SUCKS”
    Ahhh… memories of New England winters.
    *looks out window*
    Meh. Same crap, different continent.
    Hope I can beat the rush to get a signed copy! 😀 Already set my alarm for it!

  43. On a random note, I’m probably the only geek who actually enjoyed dodgeball in school. I may not have been a jock, but I was an absolute master at dodging. If only I’d had any kind of throwing arm, I’d have been unbeatable.
    Sorry. The talk of hating dodgeball made me think of that. I’ll shut up now.

  45. Signed copy. Damn.
    You’d think I would have learned by now to check on these things first. Instead, I buy the paperback version, not even checking to see if there was or would be a hardcover (my preference). *SIGH* Ah, well. C’est la vie. Or, as we say here in BC, “Dude, what the hell were you thinking?!” 😀

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