My Squirrel Days

By: Ellie Kemper

Narrated by: Ellie Kemper

Length: 6 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

Comedian and star of The Office and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Ellie Kemper delivers a hilarious and uplifting collection of essays about one pale woman’s journey from Midwestern naïf to Hollywood semi-celebrity to outrageously reasonable New Yorker.

There comes a time in every sitcom actress’ life when she is faced with the prospect of writing a book. When Ellie Kemper’s number was up, she was ready. Contagiously cheerful, predictably wholesome, and mostly inspiring except for one essay about her husband’s feet, My Squirrel Days is a funny, freewheeling tour of Ellie’s life - from growing up in suburban St. Louis with a vivid imagination and a crush on David Letterman to moving to Los Angeles and accidentally falling on Doris Kearns Goodwin.

But those are not the only famous names dropped in this synopsis. Ellie will also share stories of inadvertently insulting Ricky Gervais at the Emmy Awards, telling Tina Fey that she has “great hair - really strong and thick”, and offering a maxi pad to Steve Carell. She will take you back to her childhood as a nature lover determined to commune with squirrels, to her college career as a benchwarming field hockey player with no assigned position, and to her young professional days writing radio commercials for McDonald’s but never getting paid. Ellie will guide you along her journey through adulthood, from unorganized bride to impatient wife to anxious mother who - as recently observed by a sassy hairstylist - “dresses like a mom”. Well, sassy hairstylist, Ellie Kemper is a mom. And she has been dressing like it since she was four.

Ellie has written for GQ, Esquire, The New York Times, McSweeney’s, and The Onion. Her voice is the perfect antidote to the chaos of modern life. In short, she will tell you nothing you need to know about making it in show business and everything you need to know about discreetly changing a diaper at a Cibo Express.

©2018 Ellie Kemper (P)2018 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"If you're at all a Kemper fan already (I am, a lot), you will freaking love this audiobook. Her performance is infectious. Her energy is like a rocket ship blasting out of my ear buds and into my soul! Every time I would tune back in, I was re-energized by her joie de vivre. This woman loves life, loves her life, seems to love the life of those around her; hell, she probably even loves the life of the manager of the brunch spot that didn't quite get the lentil-to-kale ratio correct on her salad. Ellie Kemper is a happy person. But she's still a regular person too.... Though I've never met her, after listening to My Squirrel Days, I feel confident in saying that Ellie Kemper is my best friend!" (The New York Times Book Review)

Enjoyable

I was hoping there'd be more about Kimmy Schmidt but fortunately real life Ellie is Kimmy so that was nice.

Helped me through the sudden death of my dad

This review is more of a “thank you” to Ms Kemper. I had lost my dad suddenly in May of 2018. Nights were longer, days were darker, and life was generally sadder. I needed SOMETHING to lift my spirits. And that “something” needed to be personal and non-intruding.

I’ve always loved Ellie’s characters. Kimmy Schmidt is, obviously, more uplifting than most other characters by nature of the story. To read the back story as well as Ms. Kemper’s autobiography was something that brought me out of my own sadness at the time it was released. The audible version , read by Ms Kemper, is just plain perfect.

I laughed ugly, as I believe the author intended. I just wish it was longer. I hope Ms Kemper writes another book soon as we could all use some time away from the reality of the life we now live.

My best review is simple: Thank you Ellie Kemper.

Loved listening to this nutty gem

Ellie is hilarious in this ( and in everything she preforms) and I hope she writes more! Great storytelling and humor mixed together. Wish it was longer!!

I'm a fan!

I listened to this because I am a fan of the Office and I am also a fan of squirrels. Now that I have completed the book, I am very much a fan of Ellie Kemper! She is a genuine Midwestern girl (I can relate) and her outlook on the Hollywood experience is fresh and delightful. Its weird, I finished this book feeling the way her parents must feel, just really proud of her!

fun and entertaining time!

It is always great to heat the author reading their own material. Even better when it is someone as funny and entertaining as Ms. Kemper!

Ellie Kemper's true self

Struggled to finish, but my personal fandom for Ellie carried me through. The book drags, until she acknowledges Bridesmaids. I'm glad the topic came up when it did, otherwise I would have stopped.

funny

easy listen, didnt need to follow closely. not alot of substance but ellie kuemper makes everything funny.

This book wasn’t as great as Ellie is.

I love Ellie. She told some interesting stories and I frequently laughed and enjoyed her enthusiastic personality. I just felt like she was in character the whole time and it got a little old after a few hours of listening. I wanted to hear Ellie, but I feel like I was hearing Kimmy Schmidt instead.

Absolutely hilarious

Kemper’s book is very well written, but her spot on performance really takes it over the top. I cried laughing.

Ellie Kemper is a national treasure.

If you're looking for a personal hero, look no further. Ellie Kemper and her book are all you'll ever need to guide you through life's hurdles, big and small. Her personal story has it all... Powerful quads. Russian immigrants. A loyal walrus. Lame hands. Crucial questions about parenting: facing forward or away? To disinfect or not disinfect? Pope John Paul II. Peeing. And yes, squirrels. It also gives unprecedented insight into Ellie's inner life, teaching the reader/listener that if she accepts a cup of tea, wants to cuddle, or professes her love to you, she might NOT be, in fact, Ellie Kemper. Or something is very, very wrong. Buy a copy of her book. Buy an audio copy, so Ellie's soothingly urgent voice can guide you on your journey through her Squirrel Days. And your very own.