Bossypants by Tina Fey- Audio CD
- Publisher: Hachette Audio; Unabridged edition (April 5, 2011)
- ISBN-13: 978-1609419691
Back-of-the-box blurb: Before Liz Lemon, before “Weekend Update,” before “Sarah Palin,” Tina Fey was just a young girl with a dream: a recurring stress dream that she was being chased through a local airport by her middle-school gym teacher. She also had a dream that one day she would be a comedian on TV.
She has seen both these dreams come true.
At last, Tina Fey’s story can be told. From her youthful days as a vicious nerd to her tour of duty on Saturday Night Live; from her passionately halfhearted pursuit of physical beauty to her life as a mother eating things off the floor; from her one-sided college romance to her nearly fatal honeymoon — from the beginning of this paragraph to this final sentence.
Tina Fey reveals all, and proves what we’ve all suspected: you’re no one until someone calls you bossy.
She Is Too Fond of Books’ thoughts: I loved this audiobook – it was pretty near perfect!
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Tina Fey’s Bossypants is billed as a memoir, and it does encompass some typical turning-point stories. She discusses the parenting styles of her mother and her father, what she learned from each, and how she may (or may not) have picked up some of their traits. In more than one section she refers to the scar on the left side of her face – one that remains from a knife attack by a stranger when she was a young child. Fey doesn’t go into detail about the attack, but she does talk about people’s reaction to it – both when she was a child, through the years, and now; she says that she can tell a lot about a person by how he “deals with” the scar (is he obviously uncomfortable ignoring “the elephant in the room,” does he pepper her with questions about the attack, or ask if Fey is going to “do something” about the scar, or is he mature enough to simply see past the scar?
Fey’s stories cover her professional experiences – from improv classes, to touring with Second City, working at Saturday Night Live, and the process of getting 30 Rock produced. Fans of these shows – and of Fey’s comedy style in particular – will enjoy the connections she makes, and the references to people and sketches that are familiar to viewers.
Because Tina Fey is a comedic writer and actor, you’d expect Bossypants to be funny – and it is! It has its serious side, too; Fey takes on sexism in the workplace, diversity, body image (the known evils of Photoshop), and other relevant topics. Yes, she’s funny, but she makes sure we know how hard she’s fought to get where she is (and that the battle isn’t yet over for women).
Her narration is perfect! It was so right to hear these stories in her spoken voice that I believe I’d prefer the audio over a printed edition (I haven’t read the printed edition for comparison, and to do it now would be unfair. ”You can’t put the toothpaste back into the tube” as J would say).
It’s not a straight reading of the print edition; Fey refers to “this audiobook” and “your listening device” as well as directing listeners to the fifth disc in the set, which contains .pdf files of illustrations from the print edition. This bonus disc allows listeners to view to the bowl haircut, the ugly suit, etc.
Due to an occasional curse and mature themes, I kept this one on the iPod and didn’t play it in the car around young ears. Nothing so offensive that I wouldn’t share it with my mother, though.
I have to get to this one soon. I picked up a copy at BEA.
I read the paper book and it was utterly hilarious, but the audiobook sounds even better. May need to try that one out too.
(Totally creeped out by the arms on the cover, same as you.)
I read the book and really enjoyed it – I imagine Fey’s narration is just about perfect. I’ll add your review to the Reagan Arthur Books Challenge blog.
I totally agree – Bossypants is definitely funny, but what I loved about it was how smart it ones and the more serious issues it tackled. Great review.
I am creeped out by the arms too. ha ha ha. I love a good memoir tho, and funny to boot? I can’t wait to read it.
So glad you loved this one!!!
I have read many, many good reviews of this book, and it has been recommended to me a lot over the past few weeks. I am not really a Tina Fey follower, but I think that this books sounds like something that I might like. Especially since it’s not all about slapstick moments and comedy. Great review, Dawn! I am glad that you enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading it!
I think this would be a fun book…glad to see there is a serious side as well.
Hi! It’s Megan from Hachette Audio. Just wanted to chime in to say how much I agree with your review. I LOVED listening to the audiobook, laughed out loud throughout, and will happily listen again with friends on a roadtrip. One of my favorite things about this title in particular was the specific-to-audio spin she gave to appropriate parts that you mention. None of the aspects of Bossypants were phoned in, which is extraordinary with such a busy celebrity – she did funny voices, sound effects, and gave real thought to making the experience of listening a fun and unique one. Definitely a title I feel lucky to have worked on! Thanks for the great review!
Can you believe I’ve never seen Tina Fey in anything? I do know who she is (I don’t live all the way under that rock), but I don’t watch SNL anymore, and I’ve never watched 30 Rock.
I am listening to this right now ansd just LOVING IT!! I think the audiobook is the way to go for this one … her voice and cadence just add so much. I need to dig out my PDF though … I didn’t see it and I got it from Audible. I hope I can because I need to see the before and after Photoshop pictures. Plus you get to hear the first Sarah Palin skit she did … you’re not going to get that in the print version.
I am starting Bossy Pants today – I finished up Rococo by Adriana Trigiani (read by mario)this morning – and it is AWESOME!
Oh man I need to get my hands on this. I ADORE adore adoooore Tina Fey and I’ve heard such amazing things about this. Awesome!
I READ this book, and the whole time felt like, “this would be much better if I was listening to it.” I don’t think her genius translated well to the purely written form. It was only an “OK” read for me.
I’m anxiously awaiting my turn for the audio at the library. I need something that will make me laugh.
I’m really excited to listen to this one – glad you enjoyed it!
I am looking forward to this one and think I’ll go the audio way. Tina is just too good to pass up!
Why does she have man hands?
LOVED it! Posting my review this week. (Does this count toward our Reagan Arthur Challenge?) Next up on my listening list – Rococo.
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