Fresh from winning the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor and finishing the fifth season of 30 Rock, Tina Fey is now a published author. In her first foray into prose, not script, writing she’s done a good job. As a humor book, Bossypants is funny, although there aren’t as many laugh out loud moments as a David Sedaris collection or a Steve Martin New Yorker piece (and I think that is who she probably saw as her competition). As a memoir, the book probably isn’t as honest as it could be, although in Fey’s defense she is writing at the height of her fame and success when a) she doesn’t have as much perspective on what’s happened to her as she will later in life, and b) she needs to be careful about biting the hands that feed her with any really shocking revelations or strong opinions that will alienate people she has to or may work with.
If you are looking for a breezy funny read, you should definitely pick a copy up or borrow the book from a friend … but if you just want a sense of it so you can sound on top of your reading at the next Mensa meeting or fit in a a cocktail reception … here’s your homework, already done for you.
Cover: Am I the only one who is getting sick of Tina Fey doing anything / everything to make herself seem weird or ugly when she has control over her photos. She’s intelligent, hilarious, and gorgeous … time to get comfortable with the last of those facts and stop downplaying it.
Copyright Page: Ms. Fey is such a good business woman, she had her company copyright the book so it will never enter the public domain. Here’s hoping her comedy is just as fresh in 2111!
Dedication: Yes, there is even a joke here.
p. 3: Fey gets all the advice for making it as a woman in a male-dominated workplace out of the way at the top. Surprise insight for this male reader: “don’t eat diet foots in meetings.” I didn’t know I had to hold that against the fairer sex, so thanks for the heads up.
p. 5: Is that a Two and a Half Men joke? Wow, now I really want to know when Fey’s deadline for the manuscript was — because either this is a testament to Harper Reagan’s quick turn-around time or further proof that even luck is on her side.
p. 8-9: You wanna know about that scar?
p. 15: Young Tina realizes she is a woman when a guy drives by in a car and shouts “Nice tits!” at her. This is immediately followed by her first un-ladylike act.
p. 23: Fey’s list of bodyparts for which she is grateful, followed more or less immediately by the admission that she lied about at least one.
Continue reading PAGE TURNER with Greg Maughan: “Bossypants” by Tina Fey
