Fey wears the 'Pants' and she wears them well
Memoirs and autobiographies of famous people and celebrities don't normally spark my interest. I suppose that might be because I don't want to take the time to read something written by someone who doesn't write for a living. As a comedy writer, Tina Fey happily doesn't fit into that category. I've been watching her weird and excellent sit-com 30 Rock for years now, and though it's dipped in quality, I always appreciated her hard work and ability to keep it up.
In Bossypants, Tina Fey says she gets many people who ask her, "Is it hard for you, being the boss?" The answer lies in the pages that follow, and eventually amounts to: "Kind of, since you keep insisting on asking me." But more importantly, Fey is interested in telling us her life stories, especially those which shaped her into the person she is now. Along with embarrassing encounters with the opposite sex, she writes about her father's influence on her, career challenges (both general and gender-related), a honeymoon gone almost tragically bad, and the trials and rewards of being a mother. Less a biography than a collection of stories told in a very very funny way, Fey is a low-key presence, able to look back on her life with maturity, honesty, and a dose of cynicism.
There's not very much for me to say, because I don't want to keep writing, "This part was so funny!" over and over again. If your abs are in need of exercise, I'd recommend picking up this book. Fey's dry wit emphasizes the weirdness of some of her adventures and encounters, both as a docile adolescent and a reasonably well-known, respected comic actress and writer. She does at times get serious, such as when she learns a lesson at a young age about treating others with respect. She attempts to counteract any reputation she has as "glamorous" or "iconic" by emphasizing her awkwardness with her celebrity stature. The story of how she fell into the role of Sarah Palin for Saturday Night Live sheds new light on Fey's work ethic, approach, and ability to juggle (sorry, Tina) responsibilities both professional and personal. Her exasperated response to those who think a woman has it harder in the industry is refreshing, as well as telling of the amount of scrutinization she's subjected to. The only piece in the book that doesn't work is a short chapter where Fey "answers" stupid criticisms made by Internet commentators with brittle sarcasm. She's obviously frustrated, but I wish she didn't feel obligated to waste her time with these idiots.
Bossypants is a great book. Even better - it reads fast. I gobbled this up in one afternoon. If you are a fan of Fey, a fan of comedy, or just looking for a funny book, you will enjoy Fey's first (and hopefully not only) memoir. Rating: 5 embarrassing yearbook photos out of 5.
There's not very much for me to say, because I don't want to keep writing, "This part was so funny!" over and over again. If your abs are in need of exercise, I'd recommend picking up this book. Fey's dry wit emphasizes the weirdness of some of her adventures and encounters, both as a docile adolescent and a reasonably well-known, respected comic actress and writer. She does at times get serious, such as when she learns a lesson at a young age about treating others with respect. She attempts to counteract any reputation she has as "glamorous" or "iconic" by emphasizing her awkwardness with her celebrity stature. The story of how she fell into the role of Sarah Palin for Saturday Night Live sheds new light on Fey's work ethic, approach, and ability to juggle (sorry, Tina) responsibilities both professional and personal. Her exasperated response to those who think a woman has it harder in the industry is refreshing, as well as telling of the amount of scrutinization she's subjected to. The only piece in the book that doesn't work is a short chapter where Fey "answers" stupid criticisms made by Internet commentators with brittle sarcasm. She's obviously frustrated, but I wish she didn't feel obligated to waste her time with these idiots.
Bossypants is a great book. Even better - it reads fast. I gobbled this up in one afternoon. If you are a fan of Fey, a fan of comedy, or just looking for a funny book, you will enjoy Fey's first (and hopefully not only) memoir. Rating: 5 embarrassing yearbook photos out of 5.
Comments
Post a Comment