Bossypants by Tina Fey

from goodreads

3 stars

When I was young and playing with friends if one of us was too bossy, we would be like "you aren't the boss of me, quit being bossy!" I don't think I ever said that to my parents, not even as a teenager. Now my husband and I have a 7 and 5 year old who are always letting us know that we aren't the boss of them. It is usually around bed time when we say they need to stop talking and go to bed right now. Their response of late as been, "you aren't the boss of my body, only I can decide when to go to bed". Oh the joys of parenthood. I think my kids think that my husband and I could be labeled as bossypants. But I think we all know who really personifies that label.

Synopsis

Tina Fey gives us a quick look into her life growing up, being part of Saturday Night Live, and creating her own show, 30 Rock. She is down to earth, funny and makes you realize a lot of luck goes into life.

My Thoughts

This was my second time reading this book. I liked it better the second time round. The first time I read it I was expecting to be rolling on the floor laughing the whole time. While it was humourous I didn't find it all that funny. While reading it the second time I had lower expectations and so enjoyed it more.

I think one reason why it was not my favourite is that she had to make everything into some weird joke.  Like she could be talking about some mundane thing and then put a sentence in about picking her nose or something like that, and I was like what, where did that come from? Now I am all about jokes, and laughing and being witty. But, if you are getting bombarded by one-liner after one-liner it gets kinda old. I like the parts in the book where she is telling a story, that is funny, and it is well crafted and you are laughing along with it.

I think my favourite story is when she is describing her fashions of the early 90s. She described wearing bike shorts, a baggy t-shirt and using a fanny pack as a belt! It was hilarious, and I think I probably wore that ensemble too! (Except I would have been ten, so it is okay to have weird fashions, in your twenties, for shame.)

Her take away message is to chill out. Do what you can to live the life you want, but don't beat yourself up if you aren't living the perfect life right this second. It will come.

If you want something that is simply gut busting, this book isn't it, but, if you want mildly humouous observations about life and the things we all go through, this book's for you.