Publisher: Crown Archetype
Publication Date: November 1, 2011
Source: Bought from B&N
Buy: Amazon, Barnes & Noble
The Summary
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Mindy Kaling has lived many lives: the obedient child of immigrant professionals, a timid chubster afraid of her own bike, a Ben Affleck–impersonating Off-Broadway performer and playwright, and, finally, a comedy writer and actress prone to starting fights with her friends and coworkers with the sentence “Can I just say one last thing about this, and then I swear I’ll shut up about it?”
Perhaps you want to know what Mindy thinks makes a great best friend (someone who will fill your prescription in the middle of the night), or what makes a great guy (one who is aware of all elderly people in any room at any time and acts accordingly), or what is the perfect amount of fame (so famous you can never get convicted of murder in a court of law), or how to maintain a trim figure (you will not find that information in these pages). If so, you’ve come to the right book, mostly!
In Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, Mindy invites readers on a tour of her life and her unscientific observations on romance, friendship, and Hollywood, with several conveniently placed stopping points for you to run errands and make phone calls. Mindy Kaling really is just a Girl Next Door—not so much literally anywhere in the continental United States, but definitely if you live in India or Sri Lanka.
My Opinion
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As you all know I don't really review adult books on this blog. Mostly that's because I read so many more YA books, that I don't have a lot of time. But there does come along a few adult books that I feel are relative and that many teenagers would read, and Is Everyone Hanging Out with Out Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling is one of those books.
If you don't know who Mindy Kaling is, then you may know her as Kelly Kapoor from The Office. If you don't know what The Office is, get off of my blog. Anyway, the book is a collection of short stories, well essays really, on Mindy's (I feel like I can call her by her first name now that I've learned her secrets) life and career. It is a riot, and I laughed so hard almost all the way through.
Mindy has a biting wit while recounting her life growing up (see photo below) up to her break through to NBC. She moves fluidly from hilarious to serious to hilarious, which makes the book so fantastic. The writing is very conversational and matter-of-fact. And because the essays are all over the place topic wise, the reader gets a real sense that ths is Mindy writing, not some ghost writer.
There are so many great essays, but my three favorites have to be "Best Friend Rights and Responsibilities", "Married People Need to Step it Up", and "Chubby for Life". Each of the essays looks at friendship, marriage, and body image respectively, and in such a true to life, crap your pants, funny way, that you cannot walk away without feeling like you and Mindy are now BFFs (hence the whole first name basis).
There are so many great essays, but my three favorites have to be "Best Friend Rights and Responsibilities", "Married People Need to Step it Up", and "Chubby for Life". Each of the essays looks at friendship, marriage, and body image respectively, and in such a true to life, crap your pants, funny way, that you cannot walk away without feeling like you and Mindy are now BFFs (hence the whole first name basis).
Overall, this is an amazingly warm, funny read that would appeal to fans of The Office, fans of feminists, or just fans of life, male or female. I'd put this up there with Bossypants by Tina Fay and Are You There Vodka? It's Me Chelsea by Chelsea Handler because it is just that funny, and I can't get enough of funny smart women writers, can you?
Extras
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| Back Cover |
Final Rating
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Book Cover: 5/5
Book Title: 5/5
Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Writing: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
Overall: 47/50: A
I think Mindy Kaling is so great. I think it just reinforces the idea of wanting Mindy to be your BFF! She'd be such a fantastic one. This book didn't disappoint either as it was really funny and touching. Wonderful review! :)
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