Although I am a somewhat recent convert into the world of strong female celebrity memoirs, I have recently read had 3 of them read to me by the authors through the fascinating experience that are audiobooks, and I must admit I have been converted. It’s always a breath of fresh air to have an intelligent woman talk to/at you for 4-6 hours about funny little anecdotes that may or may not carry some underlying lesson about the world.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I have never seen an episode of 30 Rock, not do I watch Saturday Night Live or did so at the time she worked there, so I really had no expectations starting this. I didn’t know what Tina Fey’s kind of humor was. It just seemed like the world overwhelmingly recommended everyone in the world and their mothers read this if they were into memoirs. So I bit the bullet and bought it.
To be honest, I don’t think Tina Fey set out to write a feminist book. Many people say it is a feminist book, but I don’t think that’s the point at all. I think it was just unavoidable. When a woman enters a male-dominated industry and lives to tell the tale, it is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife she will invariably end up facing sexism and touching upon the subject when telling her story.
All I can say is that she touches upon a myriad of issues that are in no way, shape or form limited to gender in a such a funny and nonchalant way that it takes a while to process and understand just how inspiring it all really is. I’m all for the self-deprecating-honest-truth-using-humor-as-a-deflection-mechanism tone she uses in this book, so really, it was right up my alley, but I think there’s tons of good stuff there for everybody.
I highly recommend this for just about anyone who has a pulse. Also, if there is any choice in the matter, go for the audiobook – it is well worth the difference.
I’ve read this already (and loved it) but didn’t listen to the audiobook — might have to seek it out!
:)
I think you made the right choice going in with zero expectations. When I read this for CBR4 (my god that’s a long time ago) I went in thinking it would be *funny* and not realizing I was reading a memoir. I’ve gotten my head on straight in the intervening years and think I would enjoy this more now. Her feminism is the parts that I loved best, and they really are just an outpouring of how she lives.
I also agree about listening when you can. They’re always better. I really like long form interviews, and the best memoirs feel like that to me.
That is very true – I always end up disappointed in books (and films, and life) when there’s too much expectation on them.
Same here. Wrong expectations going in, so I didn’t end up liking it very much.
I think I started it and didn’t finish. I should try an audiobook memoir, I do love podcasts… In the past I have found that my mind wanders too much during audiobooks to enjoy like I do when I read, but maybe the memoir would do the trick.
Hey Zirza, I emailed you – did you get it?
Got it, just haven’t gotten around to taking a picture yet. :)
I personally think memoirs were made for audiobooks, especially when they are read by the author. It just feels like a conversation, rather than 100+ pages of someone describing their life.
I had some difficulty with fiction on audiobooks in the past, though. I kept having to rewind because I got distracted and missed things.
(Really boring non-fiction – such as when my bookclub decided to read The 7 habits of highly effective people, I will happily get on audiobook and then not rewind when my mind wanders…)
I do audiobooks via my phone, so when my mind starts to wander I can switch over to a podcast. It doesn’t usually happen with memoirs, but sometimes you are just done listening to someone’s voice for awhile.