In this humorous memoir, Tina Fey writes about a plethora of topics and stories, all the way from her childhood in Pennsylvania, to her starting her comedy career in Chicago, to her success all over the world. By telling her own stories with witty commentary, Fey also provides a lot of advice about femininity, love, career, and growing up. It is incredibly engaging right off the bat. The cover of the book pictures Fey with a suit, tie, bowler hat, and two large male hands holding her head up. This gives the reader a good idea of the central themes of the book. Fey is one of the most prominent females in the industry, and was a pioneer for women in comedy. The cover is not only humorous, but can be considered commentary about how she is in a very male dominated field. Even the title, “bossypants” is a funny yet accurate representation of Fey’s life. Fey also does a good job of engaging the reader with the first page. With the first line reading “welcome friend”, Fey establishes a very casual tone that makes you feel as if she is a dear companion or an older sister writing to you. She cracks a few jokes, asking the reader why they bought the book. This also says a lot about the structure of “Bossypants”. It is not organized in a way that is especially formal, which to me, makes it easier and more enjoyable to read.
There is not so much a “plot” as much as there’s a progression of stories, all told with a unique voice and moral. The stories progress from childhood to professional, which lets readers find different ways to identify with Fey, making the book relatable for many different kinds of people. That’s one of the things I liked most about the book. As a woman, one of the best pieces in the book was the commentary about body image. Fey says “But I think the first real change in women’s body image came when JLo turned it butt-style. That was the first time that having a large-scale situation in the back was part of mainstream American beauty. Girls wanted butts now. Men were free to admit that they had always enjoyed them. And then, what felt like moments later, boom—Beyoncé brought the leg meat. A back porch and thick muscular legs were now widely admired. And from that day forward, women embraced their diversity and realized that all shapes and sizes are beautiful. Ah ha ha. No. I’m totally messing with you. All Beyonce and JLo have done is add to the laundry list of attributes women must have to qualify as beautiful. Now every girl is expected to have Caucasian blue eyes, full Spanish lips, a classic button nose, hairless Asian skin with a California tan, a Jamaican dance hall ass, long Swedish legs, small Japanese feet, the abs of a lesbian gym owner, the hips of a nine-year-old boy, the arms of Michelle Obama, and doll tits. The person closest to actually achieving this look is Kim Kardashian, who, as we know, was made by Russian scientists to sabotage our athletes.”
This excerpt is also a good example of the language Fey uses. Again, it’s very casual and relatable, creating a relaxed tone for everyone to enjoy. You often times forget that you are reading a real book, because it seems more like an editorial or essay. Another positive of the casualness of the book is that you can read at whatever pace you want. You can read a few stories and stop, or you can read the whole thing in one sitting. The lack of “chapters” and “cliffhangers” makes it a much more lighthearted read. There is such a strong presence of voice, which is a huge positive in my opinion. Also, it really helps that you are already familiar with Fey and her persona. She has a very strong voice and distinct sense of humor, it makes it even more enjoyable. Even if you have never heard of Tina Fey or her work before, you will find it witty and thought provoking. There is also a lot of interesting information about Fey’s professional life, such as her time with saturday night live, and 30 Rock. The lack of plot or characters does not hurt the value of the book. To me, it is driven by heart and smart humor. You learn a lot, you laugh a lot, and relate to a well known celebrity more than you thought you would. I would recommend this book to anyone of any walks of life, because everyone can take something from it as a “self help” book, as well as a incredibly entertaining and lighthearted read.
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Top reviews from other countries
Georgiana89
Amusing read with some surprisingly profound bits mixed in
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 28, 2015Treacle
Love Tina but only 'really liked' her book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 12, 2012evonwise
Entertaining but not laugh out loud funny!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 27, 2022
