I had trouble trying to figure out what I liked most about Tina Fey’s best seller. I hesitate to call it an autobiography because while it does feature the Emmy winning writer/actress/Mom telling her life story, it also contains a peek behind the creepy curtain of television and a healthy dose of “female empowerment.”
In fact, I think Fey might be one of the few people out there who can drop the c-bomb and effectively complain about the way Hollywood treats female performers while also telling stories working Moms can relate to even if they don’t have a nanny and a car service. That’s Bossypants for you.
As I went through the book, I found it hard to reconcile what I see on TV – Fey and Amy Poehler taking over their shows, Julie Bowen killing on Modern Family – and the stories Fey told about executives still drawing a direct connection between their carnal feelings for an actress and her employability. If you don’t like coarse talk, be prepared. I said it a lot nicer than Fey does.
But I guess it’s not a surprise that she tells stories of women getting the short end of the stick. We want to see the strength of her and Poehler and the now-celebrated Melissa McCarthy, but I bet they could all tell similar stories of the sausage making which would make us hug our daughters and tell them they are wonderful and talented and fantastic no matter what anyone else says.
If these stories have you wondering if you want to read the book, I implore you to not focus on them. Her “women good, Hollywood executives bad” angle is necessary, but doesn’t cover the whole book. The book also provides a look at how the whole Sarah Palin impersonation happened, how 30 Rock came to be and truly shows how someone as famous as Tina Fey can be as normal of a person as a television star can be. Her stories of rushing from eastern PA to eastern Ohio to celebrate Christmas with her in-laws cracked me up.
The book checks in at a reasonable length and really does provide an easy and funny look at what actually happens in the life of a multi-talented entertainer who is scared to death of offending her babysitter.
It is a great book. I recommend getting the audiobook even if you’ve read it. It is, quite simply, Tina Fey reading her book to you but peppering in little comic asides as she does.
I have heard the same thing. I know a lot of podcasts have deals with Audible for a free audiobook. I may have to sign up for it just to get this one even though I zone out when listening to audio books in the car.