Book Review: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And other concerns) by Mindy Kaling

I just finished this book; after a long month of it tossing and turning in my bag and slowly gathering dust by my bedside whenever I would forget to bring it with me, I just had to sit and write this review before the words fade out. By sitting I mean by sitting in the car with my mom to pick my brother up from HIS toastmasters meeting.

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (and other concerns) by Mindy Kaling
Genre:  Biography, Humor
Synopsis:Mindy Kaling has lived many lives: comedienne, actress, obedient child of immigrant professionals and, now, writer. With a blend of witty confessions and unscientific observations, Mindy writes about everything from being a timid young chubster afraid of her own bike to living the Hollywood life, dating, friendships and planning her own funeral - all executed with several conveniently placed stopping points for you to run errands and make phone calls.

Review

I picked this book up thinking, "Oh this seems pretty short and easy to read, I'll just take a couple of days to finish it". Mindy has pointed out herself that the reader, being me at this point, would finish the book in 2 days. She would normally be right if I wouldn't keep forgetting that the book was there, bookmarked at page 10, waiting for me to continue reading. 

I had expected this book to be hilariously funny, like laugh-out-loud-for-five-whole-minutes-funny, but it wasn't, and I'm not disappointed. I'm pretty happy with the way it is. And is it just me or did anyone else imagine or hear Mindy's voice the entire time they were reading this? No? just me? 

Mindy's book showed most of her fun sides when it comes to friends, work and family. She spoke about her life growing up and how she made it as a writer in Hollywood. We learned about how she can be sarcastic, laid back, straight forward and just speaks her mind and we also learned how Mindy isn't shy about how famous she wants to be. Leaving hints, notes, and sometimes straight forward statements like "I want to be so famous..." or something along those lines.

It is the kind of book that can be an inspirational one once really thought about in that way. How Mindy has thrived to become the funniest and the greatest writer in comedic history. I honestly love her confidence and how she can just not give a sh*t. She is one of my hollywood role models. <3

But the one issue I had with her book was the references. I had never watched the Office, being the UK or US version; perhaps I had watched a few scenes here and there, but nonetheless I had never actually sat and watched a full episode. Perhaps I was too young to know and understand her other references about the old movies and actors. Most of the time Mindy would go "Do you remember that scene?" and I would think "umm no, but okay let's pretend I do" and just read on. This just puts a barrier between me and the book, like a language barrier or a social barrier where one doesn't get with the program or isn't apart of THAT clique. When it came to the references I DO get, that's when it was funny and felt that connection. 

Other than that, I am pretty happy with how the book was written. It was written in a form of a long long long letter with chapters. I feel like I know Mindy in person now because of it, but she might think I'm a weird fan stalker for saying that now if she read this...

Anyway, it's an awesome book, fun and easy read. I always have a smile on my face whenever I would continue reading, despite the reference barrier. A recommended book if you want a simple, fun read about someone else's real life story.