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Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Book Review and Giveaway: Bossypants by Tina Fey

Live from New York its.... Tina Fey!
This is a fast and entertaining collection of life experiences and views; not quite a memoir but that genre fits.

Bossypants 
by Tina Fey
  • Hardcover: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Reagan Arthur Books; 1st edition (April 5, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0316056863
  • ISBN-13: 978-0316056861
    Genre: Memoirs
    My Rating: 4.0

Book Description
Publication Date: April 5, 2011
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.

(Includes Special, Never-Before-Solicited Opinions on Breastfeeding, Princesses, Photoshop, the Electoral Process, and Italian Rum Cake!)

Review:
I don’t watch a lot of TV and it has actually been years since I watched Saturday Night Live (SNL) so I didn’t recognize Tina Fey as an actress.   I actually thought this book was comedy fiction.   Instead it is real life shared with great wit. The author sets the tone immediately by jumping into very up-beat humor. The attitude is very positive and tolerant on many subjects, especially liberal and moral issues.

Ms. Fey is an actress who became the head writer and a performer on SNL during the late 1990s to 2006.  She then became the producer, as well as a writer and performer, in 30 Rock (a show I have never seen.) Anyone who has watched and enjoyed crazy SNL skits can certainly appreciate the wacky and satirical level of humor and entertainment that are reflected in Bossypants. I could picture Ms. Fey in the SNL sketches where she portrayed Sarah Palin with Amy Poehler as Hillary Clinton.

The book covers the author’s childhood with her protective and penny-pinching father, her early employment trying to break into some of the “male” jobs, including the early years at SNL when women were not given prime roles. She also shares fun views on Photoshop (note the arms on the book cover), being thin, being fat, mothering issues like breast-feeding and differences with the nanny, and more fun snippets of her life.

I was turned off at times by swearing and some graphically blunt descriptions. And sorry, but I really don’t want to know about men peeing in cups or fecalists at photo shoots... although I guess these are interesting and little-publicized tidbits. For me some of this falls close to what I consider “toilet” humor which I don’t enjoy. (Okay - I admit, I’m sort of a prude.)

The book moves very fast both in print and on Audible.  Ms. Fey does the narration and the same upbeat pace carries in her fast narration. [What did disturb me on the audio was the almost vitriolic use of a phrase taking God’s name in vain. That is personally offensive to me and I switched back to the print to avoid any more negative from that.]  If the language won’t bother you and you like audio, you might very well enjoy her energy in the audio version - although you might want to get the Audio book which includes a pdf. Otherwise I would say go with the book which includes pictures that add interest.


Thank you to Little Brown and Company for this book to read and review.



This also falls into my New Authors and ARC challenges for 2012.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the Review Print Copy:
1. Tell me if you recognized Tina Fey by name or visit the author's website and tell me something of interest you found there.  This is required for entry.

2.  For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

3.  For two entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Four total entries possible.)

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on January 20, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
The WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on January 21. 
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

37 comments:

  1. I do recognize Tina Fey by name. I love her!

    lag110 at mchsi dot com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/lag32583/status/156719362517123073

    lag110 at mchsi dot com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Of course I regognized her name. LOL.

    And I am a gfc follower for 2 entries.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sure do recognize Tina Fey. She did a great Sarah P.

    Gmapeony

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you for the great giveaway! :) I actually know Tina Fey as an actress rather than a writer so it will be interesting to read about her book about her life. :) I'm a new follower too! Thanks! allicat0818[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Totally recognize Tina Fey - loved her on SNL and 30 Rock
    msboatgal at aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. already a follower
    msboatgal at aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I've been a fan of Tina since she was on SNL and of course her show 30 Rock.

    I'm already a follower.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I recognize Tina Fey by name from SNL. I love watching her but I don't watch 30 Rock for some reason.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I am a GFC follower

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I definitely recognized Tina Fey by name :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. GFC Krystal Larson
    edysicecreamlover18@gmailDOTcom subscribed

    ReplyDelete
  13. Sure I recognize Tina Fey by name. Bet this book is a hoot.

    lovesthemets@yahoo.com

    Natalie's Mama

    ReplyDelete
  14. I recognize her from 30 Rock, and SNL, and particularly as Sarah Palin on SNL
    Tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/robinlscott/status/157662701588451329
    fb post: www.facebook.com/robinscott4/posts/129822700470500
    robinlscott4 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. forgot to mention that I found it interesting that she appeared as herself on king of aces of cakes in 2010 and in spongebob squarepants as herself in 2009
    robinlscott4 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I recognize Tina Fey. We love SNL.
    Follow as Renee G on gFC
    rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  17. I recognize Tina by name. We actually have the same birthday! 18th May!

    pixiesprinkles@hotmail.com

    Thanks! =)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Following via GFC as ThePixieSprinkles

    pixiesprinkles@hotmail.com

    Thanks! =)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Tweeted about the giveaway as PixieSprinkles3 here:

    https://twitter.com/#!/PixieSprinkles3/status/157716323378536448

    pixiesprinkles@hotmail.com

    Thanks! =)

    ReplyDelete
  20. I recognize her like most people - from SNL! I love her so much! Thank you so much for this giveaway!!

    +1 Long Time Follower!
    +2 Tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/PelicanJL/status/157802438055825409

    ReplyDelete
  21. I do recognize her!

    tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. I LOVE Tina Fey! She is one of my favorite comedy actresses. 30 Rock is one of my husband's and mine favorite shows. She is a really interesting woman!

    +1 I'm a follower via GFC - Val.

    My email is redfearnv at gmail dot com. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  23. 1. Tina Fey's daughter has a very Greek name - Penelope Athena.
    2. I'm following :)
    3. I don't have a twitter account.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I recognized Tina Fey's name from SNL and 30 Rock. I follow your blog. Thanks for the giveaway.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  25. greetings
    thanks for the great funny book giveaway.
    Would love to snag a copy.Watched her on SNL
    Learned that Two days ago, Tina Fey was nominated for her Bossypants audio book at the Grammy's.
    follow your blog by gfc as dayleb
    twitter Jan 14
    vinci777 DAYLE
    Reviews By Martha's Bookshelf: Book Review and Giveaway: Bossy Pants by Tina Fey goo.gl/9s7ou
    5 minutes ago Favorite Reply Delete

    ReplyDelete
  26. +1 Yes I do recognize Tina Fey by name. Very funny lady!

    +1 already follow via gfc - mamabunny13
    +2 facebook share
    http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/mamabunny13/posts/346160105412059
    mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  27. I did know Tina Fey's name from Saturday Night Live but also her recent movies

    ReplyDelete
  28. I didnt know her actually, well until i googled her :p

    deathangel_vampires{at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  29. Yes I recognized her by name mostly from the last election from when she spoofed Sara Palin on SNL though I am not a typical SNL watcher ( I don't stay up that late unless I'm into a good book! :) ) also from the movie Date Night with Steve Carell who is my favorite funny actor!

    ashleylittlehandprintsdaycare@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. Already a gfc follower ashleylittlehandprintsdaycare
    ashleylittlehandprintsdaycare@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  31. + 2 entries shared on fb
    https://www.facebook.com/ashley.siegle/posts/153899391388002

    ashleylittlehandprintsdaycare@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  32. 1. Recognized her by name - love 30 rock!
    2. Already follow GFC - Sari Berry
    3. and 4. shared on FB - http://www.facebook.com/saristrawberry7/posts/222596551159640

    Thanks - I'd love to win this!

    ReplyDelete
  33. I recognized Tina Fey from SNL. I currently follow through GFC as Stacy T.

    the imagine tree at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  34. Yes, I've seen Tina Fey on SNL and 30 Rock but don't watch either now.

    Old GFC Follower, and old email subscriber
    Tweet
    https://twitter.com/#!/misskallie2000/status/159860013182091264
    FB(Brenda Hill)
    https://www.facebook.com/#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=252691774800937&id=1424713340

    misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  35. I do recognize Tina Fey by name. I love her on 30 Rock!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Yes, I recognize Tina Fey by name! Love her on SNL and 30 Rock :)

    +1 gfc follower

    chibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete

Your comments are always appreciated!

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