I Spent Shelter-In-Place with Comedians

My gratitude for books has certainly been revived here lately.  While I'm trying to be an informed and engaged member of society, I'm really enjoying those opportunities to just shut everything off and get lost in someone else's story.  
For some reason the last few months, I've gravitated toward memoirs and tell-all books from the world of comedy, which is certainly one of my favorite worlds.  I try to look at the lighter side of things most of the time, and definitely try not to take myself too seriously.  I've been learning a lot about others like me (but who are actually, like, professional-level funny).
​Anyway, here's what I've finished up lately:

Bossypants by Tina Fey
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​Sometimes I’ll have a book on my “Want to Read” list for so long that then I almost feel like I’m avoiding it somehow.  For example, Bossypants by Tina Fey.  I like Tina Fey in general, and I had heard great things about the book, but I just never grabbed it for some reason.  When I saw it was a Kindle deal recently, I thought, “At this point, should I even bother?”  But I’ve been in a bit of a streak reading about comedians and actors.  I decided to finally pick up Bossypants to continue the streak and honestly, I want the comedy right now.
It was great!  I loved reading about her relationship with her father, her time coming through the ranks at Second City, and her experiences with Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock (which I’ve still never seen).  Tina has always felt very accessible, and her book is definitely set up like she’s right there with you, cracking jokes.  I’m glad I read this one, even though it took YEARS to get around to it!

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The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s: An Oral History by Andy Greene
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I’ve been so excited to get my hands on this book, and I finally did – digitally – when it was on sale via Kindle.  The Office is everything (minus the last two seasons, obvs).  This book is great because it tells the story of The Office from a zillion perspectives.  This also made for a lightning quick read, in my opinion.  Initially it started out a little, “This happened and then this happened and then this happened.” But soon it became more interesting as everyone dealt with initial failure and then success, and then egos, and then Steve Carell leaving the show.  Even more than Seinfeldia, this book had me constantly wanting to watch The Office.  Also, I’m not sure how Jeff felt about me sharing tidbits from the book pretty much round the clock.

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Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

Modern Mrs. Darcy raved about this book, which is really just a collection of short stories from the same town and with a central character tying everything together, but I found it to be one depressing chapter after another.  The best part was the interview with the author (and the main character!) at the end. 
For anyone keeping track, this is my first dud in a long while.
But it won a Pulitzer, so what do I know.
 
Next up – I’m finishing up a book about kids who catch on fire when they’re riled up!  Good stuff.

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