From goodreads:
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?”
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.
Pages: 222 (hardback)
Publisher: Published November 1st 2011 by Crown Archetype (first published January 1st 2011)
Rating: 7 out of 10
Source: Checked out of the library
Date Completed: September 28, 2013
I was excited when the Boston book club selected Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling. I had been curious about the book and, as a fan of the Office, wanted to get some details about what happened on set. While I enjoyed the book overall, I wish that it had been more consistent. Some sections I really loved and others were just okay. Because I had read excerpts of the book that were published in magazines or read during interviews and/or heard about different sections, I also felt a bit like I do when I go see a movie and realize that the previews gave away the major plot points.
Nonetheless, I loved laughing (instead of crying which I have done WAY TOO MUCH recently with my book choices) as I was riding while using public transportation. The chapter about high school and first real friend reminded me of my first best friend Sonja. (If you reading, hello Sonja! I am excited to talk with you again!) Kaling captures the desire to transform into some cool person and then realizes that the best friends are the ones with whom you can be yourself while still striving to be better. My other favorite chapter was the one of types of women in movies who are not real. It was both funny and sad. One of the reasons I am hoping that Kaling has continued success is that I want her to write more women who are relatable, funny, and realistic-- just like her!
I am counting this book for the 2013 South Asian Reading Challenge as Mindy Kaling is South Asian
P.S.-- She is hilarious on twitter. You should follow her: @mindykaling