Fey’s comical observations of adolescence are something that everyone can relate to. Besides candidly describing her awkward years and bad luck with boys, including how she unintentionally remained a virgin until the age of 24, she addresses some issues that many young women face today. In a chapter entitled “All Girls Must Be Everything,” Fey recalls one summer where she spent a week with her cousins in Wildwood, New Jersey. One day, while on the beach, she hears her cousin make a snide remark about the width of a woman’s hips. She then goes into a laundry list of attributes that women in American society are expected to have in order to be seen as beautiful. Fey’s self-deprecating nature and approach to all things concerning vanity is when she is at her funniest.
During many chapters of the book, Fey talks about her current home life. She mentions her composer husband and the comedic antics of her 5-year-old daughter, but we rarely ever see a glimpse of her innermost feelings. Not that Fey owes any of us this type of information, but during chapters that seem as though they should be more revealing (like the chapter where she talks about her debate on whether or not to have another child) she seems as though she is afraid of sharing too much for fear of being vulnerable. Goodness knows this book is meant to be humorous, but it would have been a nice change of pace to see a sadder and maybe darker side of its author.
Tina Fey has reached a level of success that many comedians, both male and female, only dream of achieving. Bossypants is a hilarious look into the life and thoughts of one of our generation’s most revered women and makes it easy to see why Ms. Fey is where she is today.
Article comments
1 - DonnaFaz
I love Tina Fey. Her writing is hilarious! Another author I really enjoy is Barbara Silkstone. She writes these outrageous books that are takes on fairytales. Wendy and the Lost Boys is one title. London Broil is another. If you like Tina Fey, you'll like these books.