Ellie Kemper

This was an impulse borrow based entirely on the title and cover, and it turned out to have been a good impulse. The book consists of short essay-like chapters that move from her childhood to the present day, and each chapter is anchored by a keyword (e.g., Hulk, Bridesmaid). Kemper writes about her experiences with humour and candour—and despite not having seen her work, I felt that her personality really came through on the page. I laughed out loud in several places (written, as she show more would, like “Hahahaha!” rather than “LOL”—that chapter was my favourite) and will have to suggest this book my coworker who likes Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. My rating is probably best described as 3 stars for the writing (“I liked it”) with an extra half star for the profusion of laugh-out-loud and relatable moments I wasn’t expecting. show less

MY SQUIRREL DAYS, by Ellie Kemper, is a delightful collection of Ellie's musings about growing up, struggling as a young actress, and finally feeling such bliss at becoming successful as well as becoming a mother.
This book was exactly (which is rarely the case) what I thought it would be and wanted it to be. Ellie's writing is spirited, intelligence, whimsical, and downright funny. It is clear through this book that despite her happy, bubbly exterior that seems to never have a sad thought, show more that inside Ellie has smart, anxious and driven energy that has guided her life. Each chapter tells of a story in Ellie's past, from young girl to just a couple of years ago, and has a certain amount of sarcasm and a lot of self-deprecation, in a hilarious style that reminds me of David Letterman. And by the way, her passage about being on Late Night with David Letterman is a highlight of the book.
Ellie Kemper has a unique wit, and in MY SQUIRREL DAYS, her style and humor is on full display. I challenge anyone who reads this book to not laugh out loud constantly.
Thank you to Scribner, Ellie Kemper, and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! show less

I guess I wasn't expecting as much as some other readers were, but I found this book thoroughly charming. There's nothing juicy or explosive about it; it's just a collection of humorous autobiographical anecdotes by a talented comedic writer. Each essay is titled with a one-word modifier ("Redhead," "Kimmy," etc.) and shares a story from her distant or more recent past. I thought the writing was very good and there were many laugh-out-loud moments. Her style reminded me of Dave Barry or show more David Sedaris: self-deprecating and ironic, sending up her own foibles and insecurities in a realistic and relatable way. Will this book change your life? Of course not. But will it brighten your day? Absolutely; and couldn't we all use a little bit of extra sunshine wherever we can get it? show less

Whether you pick this up because the squirrel caught your eye, or you are already a fan of Ellie Kemper, you are in for a treat. This book of memoir-like humorous essays show that she has both an acute wit and memory. I laughed out loud at a few of the things she detailed and enjoyed reading through them all. Starting in Missouri, I enjoyed the pieces about her childhood and even a few visual aids, no doubt retrieved from her family home. She's pretty honest about some of the ease at which show more she was able to pursue improv classes after college graduation--but don't worry, some menial labor, albeit delicious sounding, is in there too. show less