Why Not Me?

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As a self-described “latchkey kid of busy immigrant parents in suburban Boston,” Mindy Kaling developed a deep love of books. “I wasn’t allowed to watch TV or play video games, and I was not particularly good at musical instruments or sports,” she says. “Reading was my only pastime.” The solitary hobby allowed her to “go on adventures” and “experience romantic entanglements that fogged my glasses,” she says. It also inspired her to become a writer. I don’t actually understand the meaning of generosity. It means giving to people and expecting nothing in return. It doesn’t mean giving to someone with the expectation, or even hope, that they will regale you with praise for being such a generous person.” Here's my thoughts on why I didn't care for it (and I guess I'm a lone wolf, here!) Mindy Kaling tried to come across like a good friend, and listed one of the reasons to read the book as: 'What else are you going to read after you finish Chelsea's book?'...Ummm...I know Chelsea isn't for everyone, but it's not easy to be funny like she is, and don't assume you can do it.Don't be so presumptuous! I felt Mindy was trying to imply some kind of intimacy with the reader that she hadn't earned.Like she was saying: "Nudge, nudge, you know what I mean! Right?" - but I really didn't. 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?"

After reading Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me, I fell fast and hard for Mindy Kaling. However, by Season 3 of The Mindy Project I was more like this . . . 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. Kaling has written a second book that’s funnier, sharper and more confident than her 2011 collection of personal essays and pop culture riffs called Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns). Even the title of that initial effort implied that Kaling was trying to find her place; the tone of this new one announces that she’s found it and is more than comfortable inviting people to spend time with her there.” — Washington PostI think the essay about her baby nurse "Help Is on the Way" was my favorite overall. Kaling touches on her mother's death and what having a newborn is actually like. All the essays made me laugh but that one also came pretty close to making me cry. What did I like? I liked the conversational tone, the funny stories, the pictures, learning about her climb to becoming a comedy writer, some insightful moments, the emphasis on family, her love of comedy and creation, and her all round positive and "be a good person" attitude. interests may change, people may grow, things may shift, but one thing is for certain: i will always love mindy kaling. Mostly because when my white friends laughed at the depiction of the Indian “aunties” toddling along the footpath in their kameez-and-sneaker combos, or the exaggerated Indian accent of Jess’ mother screeching “You don’t even know how to cook dhaal”, I couldn’t tell if they were laughing with me or at me. There was something about the unexpectedly kind way she said that that made me happy to be with her, and not them. For some reason, I immediately thought about how my parents had always been especially fond of Mavis, and here was this moment when I understood exactly why: she was a good person. It felt so good to realize how smart my parents had been all along. “Are you kidding me?” I said. “We have to go home and film this sketch.”

stars! I love Mindy. Her essays are honest and relatable, they are fun to read and they teach you life lessons. In this particular essay, Mindy wants to be a big shot but what does it truly mean to be one? 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. This book, on the other hand, was just an exercise in banality. I found literally nothing in this book interesting or funny. The lists in particular were excruciatingly dull. This kind of memoir is why I don't read memoirs. Her 'observational humour' about how guys (apparently) take a long time to tie their shoes. Really? That's the gem you chose to include in this? Spend hours following a difficult recipe, hate the way it tastes, and throw it out to go to McDonald’s

Publication Order of Nothing Like I Imagined Books

It has been said many times, but it is true: Steve Carell is a very nice guy. His niceness manifests itself mostly in the fact that he never complains. You could screw up a handful of takes outside in 104-degree smog-choked Panorama City heat, and Steve Carell’s final words before collapsing of heat stroke would be a friendly and hopeful “Hey, you think you have that shot yet?” Mindy Kaling is an actor, writer, producer, and director. She currently stars in the Hulu original comedy series “The Mindy Project," which she also writes and executive produces. I would like to thank Blogging for Books for a print copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.* The conversation about me and my show is so frequently linked to the way I look that people who are deciding whether or not to watch my show must think subconsciously, Oh, that's that show about body acceptance in chubby women, because that's all they seem to hear about it. And my show is about so much more than that! It's about the struggles of a delusional Indian thirtysomething trying to scam on white dudes!"

Was my culture just a spectacle for the white majority, or were they meaningfully connecting with a diverse narrative? To be sympathetic, Jess had to be a pretty-but-not-too-pretty, nice, likeable Indian girl, defined by her culture and her inability to fit into the western world. Where did this leave me, as a fellow Indian girl, who was less compliant, less likeable? I think she has a great sense of humor and she seems to be a very inspirational person to a lot of people and I think that is just great! Plus, bonus content! An up-close-and-personal look at what Mindy does all day, including “executive producing” and gift wrapping.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. so she does it to someone and is sulking and talking about how she never even got a thanks for doing it.

Searching for Coach Taylor - 4 Stars - In this essay we explore single parent pity and what it means to have a husband or partner. Mindy handles it with her trademark wit and grace but makes some other really great points about the things you give up or have to negotiate about too. 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.

I laughed out loud multiple times during this, but particularly when she talked about babysitting for some rich parents and eating a lot of their kid-friendly food: And since we're already on topic, Mindy Kaling writing about her childhood and coming-of-age was one of the funniest and relatable things I've read as of late. Which is why the title essay was one my favorites: Why Not Me? is all that we’ve come to expect from the creator and star of The Mindy Project: refreshing, confident, genuine, and, yes, absolutely hilarious.” — Refinery29 Whining about married people who say that it's hard work, because she doesn't want it to be like that.