I've been slacking a bit in my reading so I'm combining the last few months into one post. You'll notice a bit of a commonality in some of these books: memoirs and humorous antidotes from strong, funny women. I didn't mean to read a handful of similar books; perhaps it's a theme that's drawing me at this moment in time but I'm finding these autobiographies fascinating. How did these women get to where they are today? How have their lives dictated this path? What makes them so interesting?
My life? Feels a little boring in comparison. But I want to believe a little bit that we all have interesting lives and stories to tell, enough to write our own memoirs if so desired. If I were to go through and pick out the embarrassing moments, the poignant memories, the scattered life lessons from my time line could I create an interesting tale? And what would it say about me? I really have no idea - this is just crazy stream of conscious rambling on my part. Of course, the books listed below are best sellers because they are written by famous people who we already know something about and want to know more about and the chances of me writing a memoir that the population at large wants to read are slim to none. (I say this because working in publishing has taught me that people have a huge need to tell their stories; but not all these stories can or should be published. As heartbreaking as that might be).
Enough with the blabbing; on with the books.
Shannon's Highly Mathematical Ranking System For Judging Literary Quality
1. HOLY CRAP. WHAT WAS THAT.
2. Meh.
3. Good book, I'll add it to my collection
4. LOVED IT.
5. OMG. FLAIL. I WANT TO MARRY THIS BOOK.
1. I Know I Am But What Are You - Samantha Bee
I've always liked Samantha Bee and admired the fact that she is one of the few female correspondents for The Daily Show. This book intrigued me because we don't often see the "real" Samantha Bee behind her television persona. I don't know that this book showed me that but also I don't know that it necessarily needed to. It's written from a very self-deprecating place (another common theme in these books) and I appreciate that because it makes her more human. There's a backwards insecurity to self-deprecation that I get and understand; I relate to it and use it myself, especially when referring to those horrible awkward years that lasted way too long. So, do I get her as a person any better? Not necessarily. But I very much enjoyed laughing and cringing my way through this book and I think I'll enjoy her presence on The Daily Show all that much more in the future.
RATING: Good book, I'll add it to my collection
2. Bossypants - Tina Fey
If you don't love Tina Fey then... well, I don't know what to say about you except that there is something wrong in your brain. Really, go see a doctor about that.
Much like Samantha Bee's book there is a infusion of self deprecation that pours off these pages that are part autobiography/part humorous essays/part life lesson manual. I loved reading about her days in Chicago, the way in which the Sarah Palin impression came about and the writing process of 30 Rock. There were more than a few moments that made me laugh so hard I had to stop reading, then re-read and laugh myself into giddiness all over again.
Through it all there is an ever present underlining of intelligence and self-awareness, especially when it comes to what it means to be a woman in her industry. She gets asked a lot about what it's like being the boss of so many people. But does Donald Trump ever get asked that? Why is it SO impressive just because she's a women? Because it's unusual? Or because of this idea that it's harder for a woman to be boss? This is honestly something that I've never really given a lot of thought to but I have to think it's a little bit of both. It IS unusual. So many of the writing staffs in Hollywood are dominantly male, the majority of CEO's are male, the majority of congress is male - a woman in her position IS impressive. The times, they are a-changing but it's a slow change and the pre-conceived notions about gender roles are so embedded into society that it's a legitimate wonder if we'll ever get to a place where a woman of power is seen as equal. With the likes of Tina Fey around though I have to think we're moving in the right direction.
RATING: LOVED IT.
3. My Boyfriend Wrote a Book About Me - Hilary Winston
As a single woman in Southern California with a cat, this was one of the most relatable books I've ever read. I felt like I could have written some of these chapters and I found myself feeling better about some of the experiences I've had because I'm not alone! And I do the same weird things! And I close myself off in the same way! And I had the same almost word-for-word experience at Build-A-Bear! I want to run around and scream "SOLIDARITY SISTER!" But why oh why does it have to be so hard for some people?
I think I was expecting this to be MORE humorous than it is but that's not a complaint at all. There are some darker moments here, some bittersweet morsels that are funny only in their sadness and the way she relates them. Why I'm surprised by this I don't know because Hilary is a writer for Community and that show is most definitely a mix of funny and dark and heart. (Also, it's super interesting to wonder about the ways in which she influenced the character of Britta. The same emotional and broken beats are there in both women.)
HIGHLY recommend this one for the single ladies.
RATING: LOVED IT.
4. Being Written - William Conescu
Is this what I get for breaking the pattern? Probably. The premise is very interesting: a Stranger than Fiction-esque sort of story where the main character knows he's in a book - Daniel Fischer's been continually relegated to the background but when he finds himself in the midst of a new story he attempts to take matters into his own hands; he wants a starring role. Okay? Sounds good and interesting.
But what it delves into is just... meh, weirdness. Daniel starts to believe that he IS the main character, that he's meant to be the hero and get the happy ending but this belief leads him to do awful and slightly creepy things all in the name of the "story." He's left at the end believing that everything is about to go his way when on the contrary, it is very heavily implied that if this book does have a happy ending, it is not for him. He's the antagonist and the antagonist is due for a comeuppance.
So, I get it. It's interesting and intriguing and it makes me think but in order for me to really be drawn into something I have to care about the characters and at least root along with them. I can't here and it leaves me feeling cold.
RATING: Meh
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