Bossypants

Tina Fey's memoir is most unmemoirish. This is part of what interested me in it, an online review I was referred to that said: "One particularly snippy review argued that it failed to deliver because it was insufficiently 'memoir-ish.' Bossypants the review argued, failed to disclose enough of Fey's back-story and there was insufficient disclosure of her personal life." That intrigued me, because I couldn't work out why I needed to know anything about her personal life.

For me the lack of "personal detail" (do you think they wanted celebrity gossip; or maybe brand name dropping?), actually ended up making it more interesting than a standard memoir would have been. For a start, where does the truth start in this book? She quotes childish show more comments about herself online, and replies in brilliant snark. (While the snark is real, I doubt the comments were.) She makes up a guide to menstruation for teenage girls from the 1970s/80s which started off as ringing true in its awkardness but by the time you get up to the bit about drinking peach schnapps to help with the cramps, you know you're in Fey territory again. And her unwillingness to discuss her facial scar (yeah, I was thinking "what facial scar?" too) makes you realise that there's other aspects of her life that she's unwilling to discuss, she's just not going to tell you that she's not going to talk about them.

I was rather taken aback by the sexist nature of the industry she's working in - I never would have thought that women were somehow less funny than men (Jeez, get a bunch of women around and we can crack each other up within seconds), or that being a woman meant that one should somehow be intimidated in managerial positions, etc. I liked her forthright nature, I liked her sense of self-deprecating humour, I cracked up at the appalling photos of her as a child/young woman. (The 1980s were not kind to many of us.)

I mostly know Tina Fey from the fabulous "30 Rock" TV series that I occasionally catch, and usually love. So of the working parts of her life that she covered, this was most interesting to me, she's obviously drawn a lot of the stories, characters, and humour from her own life. I've never seen "Saturday Night Live", and I've only seen bits of her Sarah Palin impersonations online (if SNL is on Australian TV, it's nowhere I've seen). I understand they were important parts of her career, but without much knowledge of the finished product, I was less interested in her tales of those times. And there are many names I needed to Google afterwards, there was a lot of assumed knowledge about American comedy/pop culture. What she does uncover (or obfuscate with funny stories) of her personal life was great fun. I kept on thinking of her as Liz Lemon, so it was a shock to see that she's not Liz Lemon (husband! child!). show less

The best part, IMO, the prayer for her daughter. Yes.

“First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches.

May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the Beauty.

When the Crystal Meth is offered, May she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half And stick with Beer.

Guide her, protect her

When crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, show more walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called “Hell Drop,” “Tower of Torture,” or “The Death Spiral Rock ‘N Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,” and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age.

Lead her away from Acting but not all the way to Finance. Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes And not have to wear high heels.

What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I’m asking You, because if I knew, I’d be doing it, Youdammit.

May she play the Drums to the fiery rhythm of her Own Heart with the sinewy strength of her Own Arms, so she need Not Lie With Drummers.

Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen. Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long, For childhood is short – a Tiger Flower blooming Magenta for one day – And adulthood is long and dry-humping in cars will wait.

O Lord, break the Internet forever, That she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers And the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed.

And when she one day turns on me and calls me a Bitch in front of Hollister, Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, For I will not have that Shit. I will not have it.

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.

“My mother did this for me once,” she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck. “My mother did this for me.” And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental Note to call me. And she will forget. But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes.” show less

My brother recommended this to me. It’s one-part autobiography, one-part one-woman off-Broadway show, one-part pure funny. That’s three parts. Great insider information about comedy writing and -performance, too. Fey narrates the book herself, which was the right thing to do. I could listen to her forever. Great, great voice. Fey’s writing voice somehow keeps to the razor-edge between intolerably ironic (e.g., everything’s banal, nobody really loves anybody, ponies bite children and God won’t do anything about it, etc.) and warmly real. I simply don’t know how she does it. Magic? Skill? Probably both: skill at a high-enough level is pure magic to behold. That’s probably overstating things a tad (i.e., w/r/t this book). Fey show more is a clever, precise writer, too. Which is enjoyable. And she’s funny, too. show less

I'd initially decided not to bother with this book, even though it sounded funny, because I haven't really seen any of Tina Fey's work and I thought that might exclude me from great swathes of what she was writing about. Then I read a friend's glowing review of the audiobook and decided to give the paper version a try after all. The blurb on the back made me laugh, which seemed to bode well! Happily Fey has the same knack - like Caitlin Moran and Charlie Brooker - of making her writing accessible and hilarious even when the reader hasn't seen the sketches or shows being referenced, and I ended up really enjoying the insight into things like photoshoots and TV production, even when I wasn't familiar with the end results. There's also show more plenty about TV comedy, family and being a woman in the public eye, which I found thought-provoking and relatable even as it was making me smile. An easy, interesting and enjoyable read. show less

Tina Fey's memoir is a brisk and witty recounting of the many experiences that have informed her development into one of the most influential women in comedy. The writing is largely anecdotal although roughly organized chronologically. Her writing is filled with humour that often made me chuckle out loud but also provides her observations on serious issues such as the ongoing debate over women in comedy, body image and Photoshop, sexism, and being a working mother. The book primarily focuses on her life from high school onwards as she participated in community youth theatre, her time at Second City in Chicago, SNL, 30 Rock, and her brief return to SNL for the Sarah Palin sketches. A fast and funny read with occasional flashes of real show more insight, Fey's book is thoroughly worth a look. show less

Tina Fey's book is sharp, funny, and perceptive. I really appreciated her recounting of her TV and Second City experiences. Lots of other reviewers have quoted some hilarious excerpts. One of my favorites:

"I have observed that women, at least in comedy, are labeled 'crazy' after a certain age...I've known older men in comedy who can barely feed and clean themselves, and they still work. The women, though, they're all 'crazy'.

"I have a suspicion - and hear me out, 'cause this is a rough one - I have a suspicion that the definition of 'crazy' in show business is a woman who keeps talking even after no one wants to f*** her anymore...."

This is harsh, accurate stuff, which she then follows by mentioning that Betty White is an exception show more "because people still want to have sex with her". Tina Fey is very funny. show less

I picked up Bossypants by Tina Fey expecting a typical celebrity memoir, but it turned out to be a hilarious, surprisingly insightful mix of humor, career advice, and personal reflection. Tina Fey’s wit shines on every page, reading it feels like having a long conversation with a friend who can make you laugh until your cheeks hurt while also dropping genuinely thoughtful observations about life and work.

I loved how she blends her personal journey, from awkward beginnings to SNL and 30 Rock. with commentary on gender in comedy and the workplace. It’s inspiring to see someone navigate such a challenging industry with both intelligence and irreverence. Her advice on confidence, leadership, and carving your own path is scattered show more throughout in ways that feel natural, never preachy.

If I had a critique, it would be that the memoir occasionally leans heavily on humor at the expense of depth. Some chapters feel more like extended jokes than reflections, which can make the book uneven at times. That said, the laughs are worth it, and the occasional serious moments hit harder because of the contrast.

Overall, Bossypants is an entertaining, smart, and empowering read. It’s funny, relatable, and at times surprisingly moving. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a memoir that’s equal parts laughter and inspiration, especially women navigating careers in male-dominated spaces. show less