Girl Walks into a Bar...

Comedy Calamities, Dating Disasters, and a Midlife Miracle

By: Rachel Dratch

Narrated by: Rachel Dratch

Length: 5 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

In this side-splitting memoir, the former Saturday Night Live star recounts the hilarious adventures and unexpected joy of dating and becoming a mother when she least expected it - at the age of 44.

Anyone who saw an episode of Saturday Night Live between 1999 and 2006 knows Rachel Dratch. She was hilarious! So what happened to her? After a misbegotten part as Jenna on the pilot of 30 Rock, Dratch was only getting offered roles as "Lesbians. Secretaries. Sometimes secretaries who are lesbians."

Her career at a low point, Dratch suddenly had time for yoga, dog-sitting, learning Spanish - and dating. After all, what did a forty-something single woman living in New York have to lose? Resigned to childlessness but still hoping for romance, Dratch was out for drinks with a friend when she met John.

Handsome and funny, after only six months of dating long-distance, he became the inadvertent father of her wholly unplanned, undreamed-of child and moved to New York to be a dad. With riotous humor, Dratch recounts breaking the news to her bewildered parents, the awe of her single friends, and the awkwardness of a baby-care class where the instructor kept tossing out the f-word.

Filled with great behind-the-scenes anecdotes from Dratch's time on SNL, Girl Walks into a Bar is a refreshing version of the "happily ever after" story that proves female comics - like best sellers Tina Fey and Chelsea Handler - are truly having their moment.

©2012 Rachel Dratch (P)2012 Penguin Audio

Sincere and heartwarming

Rachel's story is easy to relate to, from the struggles of dating and parenting. And I enjoyed the humour and how she performed it.

A Fairly Enjoyable Light listen

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I'm not necessarily sure this book was necessary but I enjoyed Dratch's tales enough. Especially towards the end it does seem like there's a lot padding to get a story, which is already pretty short. I'm not sure I would have enjoyed this as a book, it would probably seem too flimsy, but Dratch's performance on the audiobook adds to it. It's not a ton of insider SNL info so if that's what you're after don't look here. This is really her story of her experiences and rejections from the entertainment industry, and her relationship with her baby daddy and experiences of motherhood in her 40's.

Any additional comments?

Based on her book I don't want to compare Dratch to Tina Fey but I did listen to Bossypants first then this based on the Audible recommendation. It is in the same vein as Bossypants but shorter and focuses more on her more recent personal life - but they have had very different experiences. There are stories of early improv days and SNL but That's not the focus.

not as good as i wanted it to be

Is there anything you would change about this book?

She thinks she is funnier than she is, which makes for a kind of painful listening experience.

Would you be willing to try another book from Rachel Dratch? Why or why not?

Her insights and observations into the world are surprisingly dull, and now that she has talked about showbiz and SNL, there is nothing else I care to hear her opinion about. Tina Fey: please write 50 more books! I want to hear your thoughts on anything. R.D. does not have the same genius for writing, just some similarities in life experience.

Amusing, even if you are half a fan.

Love Rachel's take on life, love and Hollywood BS. Recommend to all women with even a little sense of humor.

Hilarious!

What did you love best about Girl Walks into a Bar...?

The honesty in the book is great. Rachel Dratch has a self depreciating style that doesn't make you feel bad for her or question her confidence. She also answers a question I had been wondering...."What have you been doing since SNL?"

What other book might you compare Girl Walks into a Bar... to and why?

Tina Fey's Bossypants. Rachel talks about Tina in the book & they're friends.

Which scene was your favorite?

Phone calls from her agent reenacted.

Any additional comments?

I listened to this book on the train & had to keep myself from cracking up out loud. At times I had to pause the book so I could enjoy a good laugh without missing anything!

Rachel Dratch is my newfound hero

Any additional comments?

I absolutely loved Tina Fey and Amy Poehler's books, and am SO happy I gave Rachel Dratch's a shot too! She's absolutely hilarious, her performance reading this book is on point, and I literally was laughing out loud!

A new fan!

What did you like best about this story?

I did not know much about Rachel Dratch before this book. I had seen her on a few SNL episodes (I'm not a big fan of SNL) and on the first season of 30 Rock and then hadn't thought much about her since. Within the first few minutes of her book, I knew I was a fan of not only the book, but her too! She's got a fantastic sense of humor (especially about herself) and while her book is very funny, its also exceptionally honest. I really appreciated her openness about her self, her personal life, and her career.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed a lot. But more than anything, I felt like the book ended with her happy and better off than the beginning. Being so invested in her story, I deeply wanted that for her.

Wa wa wa

I enjoyed the end about her child Eli and I am so happy she had a baby. I was starting to think that Rachel Dratch had in fact turned into Debbie Downer!

I LOVED THIS BOOK!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would recommend this audiobook to anyone! If you are a fan of Rachel Dratch or not either way even the first chapter in you will love her so much! It was funny and a beautiful story about her life. I highly recommend it.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Girl Walks into a Bar...?

Well I don't want to say spoilers, the whole book is memorable!

What about Rachel Dratch’s performance did you like?

Her voice and tone and enthusiasm was amazing!

Learned things I never knew about Rachel Dratch

Would you consider the audio edition of Girl Walks into a Bar... to be better than the print version?

Yes, I think all Celebrity memoir audio books are better than the print edition, because they take less time and it is read by the celebrity.

What other book might you compare Girl Walks into a Bar... to and why?

Bossy Pants

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I didn't know about Rachel Dratch's son and her relationship with the father, it's a very interesting story. I relate to her experiences in dating, so it was moving to hear her story of how she finally found a lasting relationship. It was also interesting to hear her experiences in Hollywood.