I was lucky enough to receive a copy of Mindy Kaling’s Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) via Birchbox. Beyond receiving the book, I am not being compensated for this review.
I am not overly funny. I can be sassy and a little sarcastic, but if I was put in front of a crowd and asked to do stand-up, I’d end up stumbling over my words for a while before I finally found a story to tell. I can be funny, but I’m not funny.
Apparently, while reading Kaling’s Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, however, I managed to convince myself otherwise. I could imagine myself writing similar stories about things that had happened in my life, making people laugh, and suddenly being as hilarious and endearing as Kaling.
I don’t know if this is my own complex or a result of Kaling’s excellent story-telling skills, but I like to think it’s a combination of both. Kaling writes as if she’s sitting across from you at her favorite New York bar, sipping on your favorite beverages and laughing so loudly that the bartender actually considers calling security. She’ll show you the narcissistic photos on her blackberry and tell you about how terrible Rainn Wilson really is, and when you leave you’ll feel as if you’ve known her your entire life.
Kaling’s book is probably one of my favorite things I’ve read in a while. Kaling reminded me that life is a series of related and unrelated chaotic and hilarious events, and that it doesn’t always have to be about the tough moments or the frustrating moments. Sometimes you just need to see life for what it is and live day by day.
The thing I love about Kaling is that she is so unapologetically herself. She loves beauty and clothes and comedy and is just as confused about romance and “hooking up” as the rest of us (read: me) are. Kaling’s book is perfect for twenty-somethings, because she speaks our language and is telling stories that most of us will relate to, regardless of the fact that most of us are not cute, funny ladies who live in L.A. I’d give my left leg to have coffee with Kaling, and hear her share more stories (or even tell these over again).
If you haven’t yet read Kaling’s book, pick up a copy at your local library or the neighborhood bookstore. I promise, it’s worth it.
Have you read Kaling’s book? What were your thoughts?
You can find Kaling’s book online HERE. To read my reviews of other books, visit my READ WITH ME page or come back every Monday for more book discussions.
