Tickled Pink: A Comic Novel

by Rita Rudner

Mindy Solomon absolutely has to leave Miami. Florida is bad for her head and her hair. She dreams of a dancing career on Broadway and moves to New York, but after a string of failures and mishaps, she realizes that she needs to rethink her grand plan. Finding herself spending way too much time in the comedy club where her future ex-boyfriend works, she nervously goes up onstage one night. People laugh. Not in the places where Mindy thought they'd laugh, but hey, it's a start.
Mindy and her friend Ursula Duran, a man-magnet model-slash-actress-slash-deeply troubled woman, soon embark on a wild ride that ricochets from New York's East Side Hotel for Women to the comedy circuit, auditions, photo shoots, film premieres, cable TV specials, Hollywood studios, late-night TV talk shows, and beyond. Surrounded by sleazy agents, sleazier lovers, and Ursula's even sleazier mother, the two find that life writes a few punch lines they weren't expecting...but through it all, they somehow manage to have the last laugh.
Rita Rudner has crafted a debut novel that is not just funny, but moving and insightful. With its insider's viewpoint of the world of stand-up comedy, Tickled Pink is also, at its core, a touching tale of love, loss, female friendship, and forgiveness.

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Chick Lit, Novels

320 pages, Paperback

First published October 30, 2001

About the author

Rita Rudner is an American comedienne, writer and actress.

Rudner and her producer husband, Martin Bergman, wrote the screenplay of the film Peter's Friends, in which she also acted. She is the author of the best-selling I Still Have It; I Just Can't Remember Where I Put It, Naked Beneath My Clothes, and the novels Tickled Pink and Turning The Tables. She has written several screenplays with her husband and a play called "Room 776" which premiered in Las Vegas in 2008.

Reviews

[FeralGreenKat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite not quite knowing what to expect from this book, I truly enjoyed it. I bought it at her book signing in Portland several years back. We were all somewhat surprised that rather than doing the typical book signing, reading a few quips from said new novel, etc., she started with a 60 minute stand-up routine which had us all laughing throughout. Then she took questions from the audience, demonstrating her friendliness and quick wit to the crowd. I got to speak with her briefly, and even the message she wrote in my book was quite funny (though really only makes sense if you were there, and in response to something I had said, so I won't share). Needless to say, I AM a die-hard Rita Rudner fan. I preferred "Naked Beneath My Clothes," as the short-essay format seems to be more entertaining to me, but this novel gives a humorous and realistic perspective of the world of stand-up comedy. I enjoyed it.

[melydia · Rating 2 out of 5]

The subtitle, "A Comic Novel," should have been left off the cover. I was expecting a laugh-a-minute romp, which this is not. It's the story of two girls who run away to New York to make a better life for themselves: Mindy the dancer-turned-comedian (more or less Rudner in disguise) and Ursula the ubergorgeous model. There is quite a bit of humor, mainly in the form of one-liners, most of which are likely far funnier on stage than in print. Most of the drama comes from misunderstandings and people not talking to each other, which is a pet peeve of mine when it comes to plot devices. The final few chapters felt forced, as if Rudner got stuck and decided she needed a disaster or two in order to wrap things up. It's not a bad book, just not a very good one. I suppose die-hard fans of Rudner's stand-up comedy may enjoy this (and indeed, her routines are pretty funny), but readers unfamiliar with her will probably want to pass this one by.

[Doris Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It kept me pleasantly entertained throughout. I greatly admire the clever author. Lots of smiles, some laughs. I had trouble putting it down until it was finished.

[Lea Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a true I have no idea how I will like this because my young daughter picked this for me to read and her criteria at that time was ‘This book is pretty and pink!’ I had to read it because there was no way I could say no after seeing the excitement on her face as she brought me this book.
Well turns out she picked a good one. I remember enjoying reading this book and laughing and having fond memories of the book as well as how it made it to me.

I have seen others post they don’t know about this one - I can say take a chance on this one. The inside is just as cool as the outside cover.

[Sharon Falduto]

The stand-up comic has written a book! The main character is a stand up comic, begging the question, "how much of this is autobiographical?" She has a good writing style and a fresh voice, her characters are compelling, and it was a good story. I hope she writes more novels.

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amusing story of a comedian and her model friend.

[Julie Laumark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like many others who've reviewed this book, I expected it to be funnier. Instead, it was filled with stereotypical, shallow, show biz types. I wasn't won over until the final chapter when Mindy & Ursula prove that they are head & shoulders above the rest of the cast of characters in this book. It was a fluff read, definitely autobiographical, & the writing could have been better. In the end, friendship triumphs & the good guys win. Nothin' wrong with that!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few years ago I went to Vegas for my birthday and saw Rita Rudner's show. She is hilarious. I believe this was her first novel (not first book, she has a collection of funny stories called Naked Beneath My Clothes). This book wasn't what I expected...great humor, but a ton of other emotions mixed in. It is really well written and a great quick read.

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read, which was good since I couldn't put it down. The inside look into the life of a comedian was really interesting. I thought the characters were great and there were some really good themes throughout. There was comedy, drama, love, sex - definitely one I'd recommend reading.

[Bev · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book-on-tape from several years ago. I don't remember a lot about it except that I enjoyed the humor and was pleased to see that a stand-up commedienne could write a decent book. I always thought of Rita Rudner as clever and creative. If I recall correctly, she narrates the book herself, and her delivery is top-notch.

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was not the laugh riot I expected from Commedianne Rita Rudner. I was looking for something light and amusing to read when I picked it up which I am sure colored my reactin to the book. But the story was well written, the characters engaging, and I learned a lot about behind the scenes in the stand up comedy business.

[Dorkie Mcdorkerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a birthday present quite a few years ago and was hesitant about it.
But after reading it I do have to say its my go to book when I'm feeling down.
It just puts me in this "roll with the punches and you can take on anything do anything" mind frame.
A pretty quick read that's witty,makes you laugh and feel good all over.

[Steven Kogan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dark comedy, but far more dark at some places than comedy. While it could just be a memoir about a comic's journey, it seems to come across more as a self-denigrating account of how life screwed over good people and rewarded bad ones. Enjoyable and funny, but the negative humor got to be burdensome at times.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have had this book on my bookshelf for 15 years and finally decided to read it. Glad I did.

It was an enjoyable book. Not sure why it was required to put a comic novel on the cover as it was not a very funny book. With that on the cover I thought it was going to be a more fun frivolous read but it covered some far from funny topics.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up at the library because it was pink(I also picked the one next to it because it was black). I felt like I was listening to a fictional characters therapy setion. It felt a wee whiney, funny parts yes, and I think it tries and end with a message.....it's lost on me!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did the audio for this. Knowing she is a writer and a comic I was very curious. And it did have laughs and kept me interested in the story, which was extra interesting since it was about the business of comedy. You don't have to be a Rita Rudner fan to enjoy this story.

[Laura Edwards · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay. Rudner is definitely better at stand-up than writing a book. If I want to read something that makes me laugh, I'll pick up Hiaasen or Voinovich or even Elinor Lipman. Those three authors can make me laugh out loud.

[Doug · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun read that could have used a bit more editing.

[Shana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read, funny, if you like Rita Rudner, you will enjoy this chick lit book

[Kristal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got an autographed copy at one of her Vegas shows

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and a very enjoyable read. It's like a chic flick buddy comedy in literary form. A funny book by a funny woman. One of my favorite books.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun! Not too flighty and not too serious. The perfect book to read anytime, no matter how you are feeling.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

good book with fun characters.

[Les · Rating 1 out of 5]

Should have been funny, but failed.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was FUNNY, and rather clever as well (i guess that's what you get when you have a stand-up comic author a novel). It was a good read.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took me back to when I was living in New York. I could really relate. Pretty freakin hilarious too.

[Wendy]

rereadMay 2006

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

a very fun read. Probably a 3.5, really, but better than a 3. I totally picked it off the shelves because of the cover.

[Marissa Morrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an engrossing and fun book. It reads a lot like a movie, which is to say that what it lacks in depth gets made up in obvious plot devices.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny book. Well written! It was a good story that I really did enjoy.