humour

bossypants. bossypants. bossypants.

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cover image from audiobook pdf

If you follow me on Twitter and have already seen my multiple tweets about Tina Fey's book, Bossypants, well here it is again.

I particularly loved hearing Tina Fey narrate her own book. As far as I'm concerned, it was the only way it could have been done. I believe everyone – especially women – should read/listen to this audiobook. I was already a huge fan of Ms. Fey (and of her show, 30 Rock) this book just mutliplied it by a thousand. Her clever and humourous insight into the endless issues all/career-driven women face today is not to be missed. Her whip-smart, Gen-X brand of feminism is the best I've read in decades. There's also valuable advice to all women – and all of it wrapped in laugh out loud humour (mostly from her own confessions). She makes it ok for us to laugh at ourselves and at the absurdity of it all. Among them is the one where she tells women to make STATEMENTS instead of questions when we speak – as in don't say everything in question form. Speak in statements if you want to be taken seriously. I also love her for the chapter entitled All Women Must Be Everything. In fact, I love all of the chapters on women's bodies. I won't give spoilers away but it's the best, most truthful and most hilarious piece of writing about women's bodies I've read in a very long time. Oh, her description of how in any given nail salon in Manhattan there are at least eight Tracy Ullman characters represented had me laughing out loud during my commute home from work. She then proceeds to do a couple of the voices herself. It's funny because it's true.

I can't say enough about this book. I love Tina Fey. I am about to listen it it a second time. Go download it already! 

like i give a frock

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Yesterday afternoon over colada locas, lots of laughs and devious project scheming at The Rocking Horse Cafe, my friend Nichole gave me this fabulous book, Like I Give A Frock. The title and subtitle alone had me intrigued. Fashion Forecasts and Meaningless Misguidance? C'mon, that's freaking funny. It's also a beautifully-bound book with a cloth cover.

I started to read it this morning and I have to say that I have never laughed out loud like this EVER while reading a book. As I read it on the subway post-dance class, I realized I was laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. Yes, I looked like one of the crazy people that most riders try not to make eye contact with on the way home from work. It is as hilarious as it is beautifully illustrated (by Kat McLeod). I am now the newest and biggest fan of Michi, the book's scathingly sharp, humourous writer.

So thank you, Nichole. You made my day.

Here's one of my favourite excerpts so far:

Eyes Up
You can say what you like about fashion-- it's frivolous, indulgent, fun-- but it can also be downright evil. Take the jumpsuit, for instance. Is the distance from shoulders to possum standard across all women? I think not. One girl's comfort zone is another's camel toe. So when faced with a friend in a changing room asking if the jumpsuit is splitting a most valuable asset apart, keep your eyes up, take a deep breath, and blame the designer!







All images from Chronicle Books