Bossypants

I tried to read a book written by a comedian a few months ago, and I ended up abandoning it. (That’s why I don’t give one star reviews on goodreads.com or amazon.com. If I dislike a book that much, I’m not going to finish it. Why would anybody keep reading a book they hate unless it was a school assignment or something?) I love the comedian that wrote that other book (so much that I won’t tell you who it was). But I found that the other comedian’s humor was just silly when one is reading it as opposed to listening to it. Sometimes the delivery is what makes a joke truly funny. I was incredibly pleased to find that was not the case with Tina Fey’s book. There were occasional moments when a joke would have probably been better delivered aloud, but on the whole, Bossypants was a real pleasure to read. Now that I think about it, it makes sense. After all, Fey is a writer. She wrote for years for Saturday Night Live, and she’s currently writing for Thirty Rock now.

I also really appreciated that Fey shared significant moments of her life. When some comedians talk about their lives it feels as if they are probably making it all up just for the sake of comedy. I feel that I learned something about Tina’s struggles as an awkward kid and the love and acceptance she found in a summer theater program. Her anecdotes about writing, producing, and performing were very enlightening, and I absolutely adored her stories about being a new mother.

One thing I always loved about Tina Fey’s delivery of “The Weekend Update” on SNL was that it was so smart. I found myself admiring her wit as well as her humor. So it came as no surprise that she had some very important points to make along with the comedy and biographical information. Fey uses Bossypants as a forum for her opinions on sexism, tolerance, parenthood, and many other serious social issues. With Fey’s trademark witty humor, it didn’t feel like a lecture at all. It felt like listening to a girlfriend talk about things that bother her, albeit a very funny, clever girlfriend.

I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone who is ultra-conservative. But seriously, what ultra-conservative is going to say, “Tina Fey? Yeah! I think I might just love that book!” Ha! Fey discusses subjects such as same sex marriage and her spoofs on Sarah Palin. It’s no love fest for Palin, and Fey is most certainly a liberal, but Fey expresses herself very respectfully. Even an ultra-conservative, diehard Palin fan would have trouble finding anything to be really upset about. (I don’t think they would enjoy many parts of the book, but I don’t think they would be particularly offended either.) Those of you who have watched skit, TV episode, or movie with Fey in it and found yourself genuinely belly laughing will probably really appreciate this book. Her target audience is clearly women, but male fans will find plenty to enjoy as well.

I didn’t include a summary in this review. It didn’t really fit the format of the book. But here are some of my favorite highlights from the Bossypants.

Tina Fey…

On her anxiety issues: “I’ll be ready for it to happen and that way it won’t happen. It’s a burden, being able to control situations with my hyper-vigilance, but it’s my lot in life.” (I LOVE this one. I too have this super power!!)

On “Me Time” activities as a parent: “Go to the bathroom a lot…Say you’re going to look for diaper crème, then go into your child’s room and just stand there until your spouse comes in a curtly says, ‘What are you doing?’”

On Photoshop creating unrealistic expectations: “Only people over seventy are fooled by Photoshop… ‘Why can’t we accept the human form as it is?’ screams no one. I don’t know why, but we never have…If you’re going to be mad about Photoshop, you’ll also have to be mad about earrings. No one’s ears are that sparkly!”

On her prayers for her daughter: “When the Crystal Meth is offered, may she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half and stick with Beer…And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 A.M., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back.”