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

Nice Listen

I enjoyed this book. I like comedy memoirs a lot and Rachel Dratch has long been a favorite comedian of mine, especially during her time on SNL. The book was good but just not among my favorites. I loved hearing her read it herself (I think that's key for a memoir). It was a good, short, fun listen.

not my cup of tea

enjoyed some other female comedian's books had high hopes as I enjoy Rachel but the book just wasnt my cup of tea. Got about half through before I gave up on it.

We would be friends

I love Rachel Dratch and think she is one of the funniest comedians ever, SNL, movies, tv shows and even commercials. I love to see her on tv and in movies. I could not stop listening and the first two hours seemed like 30 minutes. Not only is she funny but the book kept my interest as it was refreshing to hear a story from a celebrity who didn't fill in time with stories of getting high or so drunk they blacked out and couldn't remember who they spent the night with. I felt as if Rachel was telling a story so similar to mine that it kept my interest. I would love to see her in more roles. She has a way of story telling that is unpredictable and funny. Right when I thought "that is how she met THE ONE." Nope twist and turn and yet I was not surprised as I have been there too. If we had been in high school together I do not doubt we would have been friends.

Not a SNL Fan but discovered this on a whim

Very great book. Love her humor and perspective on the world and her life. A great read.

Fun

Well read. Funny. Honest. It was a good time. Great success. Great story. Thank you. You did a great job.

Good, A Little Weird, Not Great...

If you could sum up Girl Walks into a Bar... in three words, what would they be?

Not Tina Faye.

Any additional comments?

I loved Rachel on SNL, and even the random characters she played early-on during 30 Rock. She narrates this herself, and does a great job. My wife and I got this one, because we listened to Tina's book. A lot of this book is more sad than funny, because she has had so many terribly awkward situations in her life that you feel bad for her initially. However, there are some good lessons in here and some great stories that will make you chuckle.

If you are like my wife and I, and are purchasing this book because you listened to Tina's book and laughed your face off... go ahead, you will be glad you did, but do not expect it to be Tina's book. Rachel is very funny, and this book (and her life) is different from Tina's, which is is fine... but just keep that in mind. The book is a little more emotional, and gets a tad bit weird toward the end (you will have to listen for yourself).

On an additional note, for all of my SNL and 30 Rock fans, reading this book after reading Tina's book gives you a great depiction of what is like to be on SNL and what it is like to hone the skills to even have the opportunity to audition for SNL. There is also some great background information about 30 Rock that I was not aware of.

I almost had to pull over

Any additional comments?

I listened to this book while driving, and I almost had to pull over because I was laughing so hard. Great performance by Dratch. The story included some healthy animosity towards Hollywood. I didn't finish this entire book because towards the end she described her pregnancy ad nauseum and I lost interest by that point. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the rest of it, especially the bit about Breaded Human Fingers.

What a delight!

This was one of the most enjoyable books since Bossy Pants. I plan on listening to it over and over again.

Rachel is a true genius with words and setting scenes. It's a laugh out loud book about a very down to earth woman.

Girl did great!

Really enjoyed this audiobook. Rachel's narration was perfectly pitched at every turn. Some moments are quite tender and vulnerable but you never feel sorry for her because of the manner in which she expresses her emotions. A true modern day heroine.

Hilarious!!

If you could sum up Girl Walks into a Bar... in three words, what would they be?

Funny. Real. Smart.

What does Rachel Dratch bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I loved the sound effects and the random music she played to accompany certain parts of the book.