Why Not Me?

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As a person who has seen every episode of the office more than once (okay, fine, more than 5 times) I already think Mindy Kaling, writer and actor who plays character Kelly Kapoor, is really funny.

I think Mindy Kaling is so likeable because while she's achieved an amazing amount of professional success she's not afraid to also be vulnerable on certain topics, particularly being a single mom in these essays. She's also not afraid to talk about what it's really like to be a celebrity and is refreshingly honest about the people who work for her, from assistants to her baby nurse Rose.While Kaling doesn’t shy away from bringing culture into the story – Devi’s cousin Kamala is in the throes of navigating an arranged marriage set-up; Devi has her textbooks blessed at the mandir, which she also attends for Ganesh puja – it isn’t the defining and only driving force behind the show. Audiobooks can be dangerous. During a recent road trip in which I listened to this audiobook, I had plenty of time to consider the pros and cons of vehicular suicide. Pro: I would be relieved of Mindy Kaling's screechy voice and vacuous musings forever. Con: I would never again be able to eat cheese. My instinct for survival prevailed. Barely. I suffered through this book in its entirety, so that I would be able to write a justifiably flaming review. This essay... oh man, it was 1am when I started it, and I thought (and still think) that Kaling might actually be psychic... Because this is practically the script for Ghostbusters that came out in 2016: The cliff notes version of my thoughts on Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me is that I enjoyed it, but Kaling was very clearly being selective with what she wanted to share and what she wanted to leave out, and the whole thing felt slightly incomplete. Overall, it was funny but ultimately unsatisfying. I was curious to see what direction she'll be taking with this book that hasn't been done in her previous one. I mean it's somewhat a biography.. what is more to tell than what has been told and what we already know about Mindy? apparently a lot. Her book is more anecdotes about past experiences or fictional stories she made up. You seriously feel like she is directly speaking to you. Her choice of photos and captions are stellar.

Devi is Indian-American. But Devi is also so much more than that.’ Photograph: Isabella B Vosmikova/Netflix Just no. But once again she had a redemption arc by admitting that everyone in Hollywood lies about the fact that doing a sex scene is “uncomfortable” and “just another part of the job.” Nope, Mindy freely owns that “sex scenes are the tits.” Hehehehehe. I'm happy to report, therefore, that Why Not Me? is a much more focused and tightly-constructed memoir. Kaling's first book was a mishmash of funny essays and stories about her childhood and time spent working in Hollywood; Why Not Me? has a much clearly defined thesis: how Mindy Kaling achieved her success as a writer/actor/producer, what contributed to this and what didn't help, and how she grapples with that success.Even though Mavis was my secret friend, she is the only one I hope I see again. She’s the only one I wonder about. I hope she wonders about me too.” That’s right, Mindy. I may no longer find you relatable as I did in Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me , but we’ll always have . . . . Ok, I officially have a girl crush on Mindy Kaling. She is just so cool. I love the fact that she is completely honest about all her failings and even embraces them. This would definitely be the type of person I would want to be friends with. This book was extremely funny and a light, easy read. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants a good laugh. I especially loved her list for alternate titles to the book (The Girl with No Tattoo, Harry Potter Secret Book #8... hilarious).

When Mindy first introduced her childhood friend in this book, I was worried that Mavis would only appear this one time, but I’m glad they became good friends. Talking about how she had decided to ditch her two best friends, but then got indignant because they were hanging out together without her. What kind of narcissistic bullshit is that? and while i liked the first of this little series enough and even found some moments entertaining, the rest and especially the last to essays/stories of this a little series makes me think that kaling is an incredible insecure and jealous and at the same time self absorbed and selfish person that believes that everything she does should could more because she did it. In its best moments, this book is a response to all the people who ever looked at Mindy Kaling and sneered, "Why should you be on TV?" Kaling's response: "Because I work really hard and also, why not?"

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaan. I was really hoping I’d like this one more. I mean, Mindy and I have quite a bit in common and I thought we could possibly be kindred spirits. We both enjoy testing out new inventions . . . Context is so important. If this question had been asked by a white man, I might actually have been offended, because the subtext of it would have been completely different. When an adult white man asks me, 'Where do you get your confidence?' the tacit assumption behind it is: because you don't look like a person who should have any confidence. You're not white, you're not a man, and you're not thin or conventionally attractive. How were you able to overlook these obvious shortcomings to feel confident?'