Bossypants by Tina Fey — 288 pgs

In this jovial and unabashed new memoir from Saturday Night Live alum Tina Fey, the actress and writer shares a host of hilarious stories about her family, her early life and friendships, and her eventual rise to fame in the television industry. Tina tells her history with a wry and self deprecating verve that makes every revelation seem as if she is herself performing the acts of her life to a eager and playful audience. Whether she’s sharing her memories of her zany experiences at theater camp or giving us the lowdown on her farcical beauty regimen, Tina’s wry and unaffected delivery will have even those readers who are comically challenged wiping away tears of laughter. This isn’t your standard memoir that shares the linear progression of a life; rather it’s a collection of witty and punchy anecdotes of a woman who is unrepentantly amusing and down to earth.

This was a book I chose to experience on audio, as I had heard that Fey narrated the audio version herself, and I have to conclude that I made the right choice. One of the things I most loved about the book was that Fey’s delivery was spot on throughout. She never devolved into yelling or using over the top voices, which is something I really appreciated. She told her story with a matter of fact tone that was not only winning but made the story easy to relate to, despite the worlds of difference between my life and hers. I liked her style a lot, and think that if you choose to read this book, the audio is definitely the way to go. Fey is wise and witty and chats with her readers in a very convivial and conversational way, making these stories seem like they’re being shared by a close girlfriend instead of a major television star.

So, was it funny? Oh my gosh, yes! A lot of the time I was listening to this book, I had a big dumb goofy grin on my face, or was giggling. I took this audiobook to the store with me while I went about my grocery shopping business and I got the weirdest looks from people because I was bobbing my head along with glee at Tina’s remembrances and truisms. I found her stories to be wacky and strange, but they never came near that invisible line that crosses into contrivance. There were so many things to enjoy with this book, but one of my favorite chapters had to do with the strange coolness of her father, Don Fey. I also liked the bits about her stint at theater camp and her first job experience working at the front desk of the Y. The section on her honeymoon experiences on a cruise almost made me wet my pants. It was all funny and told with a simplicity and straightforwardness that highlighted just how naturally funny Tina Fey really is. I had worried a bit that the book would get tiresome and be somewhat over-the-top, but it all played out just perfectly.

Though the book didn’t really tell the story of Tina’s life in the way most would expect, it did relate anecdotes her childhood, teenage years and adulthood, and it did so with the unmistakable zest of a woman who isn’t afraid to laugh at herself and the people around her. Fey was never cruel though, and I appreciated that. Many of the people she chooses to highlight in her stories were people who had some kind of substantial impact on her life. There’s even a brief skit that comes directly from Saturday Night Live that showcases Tina playing the ubiquitous role of Sarah Palin and Amy Poehler playing Hillary Clinton. It was utterly hilarious.

If you’re the type of reader who shies away from audiobooks, I would recommend you take a chance on this one. It’s very easy to listen to and laugh along with, and it’s broken up into small parts that are very easy to digest when you only have a few minutes to spare for listening. It’s also funny as all get out and had me in stitches and wanting to share quotes with
everyone I encountered. I loved this book, and would have to heartily recommend it to those readers who love well timed comedy, or for those who are interested, even tangentially, in Fey’s life.