It’s all insightful and engaging without any of the salacious gossip that most recent SNL missives have been known for. There must have been struggles in breaking through such a notorious boys’ club, but Fey is all about taking the high road. She acknowledges, for example, that the scar she has on her cheek is the result of a stranger slashing her as a young girl, but offers no further details. She knows that if she goes any deeper, that will become any interviewer’s focus when the book comes out, and she would rather keep things light and genial. She offers a refreshingly normal take on everything from photoshoots to parenting to answering her most vicious critics on the internet. One obnoxious post (cited on the back cover) calls her “an ugly, pear-shaped, overrated troll.” Her response? “To say I am an overrated troll, when you have never seen me guard a bridge, is patently unfair…I am certainly one of the most dedicated trolls…I always ask three questions, at least two of which are riddles.”
I’ve always liked Tina Fey, who I first encountered in the aforesaid ’08 election season. Now I like her even more. It makes me feel happy to learn that someone I really like is as nice as she appears to be. Careers have been made on much less than her infamous S.P. impressions. I Must read her book. You should generate a lot of positive vibes for “Bossypants” with your excellent review.
Thanks, Melody! I have admired Tina for a long time, and find her pretty inspiring. As you said, it’s nice to see such a genuine person succeed in an industry that does not always favor “real” or “nice”. She tells it like it is, which is always a great thing, plus she’s funny while doing it.