Welcome to the first Blogger Book Club of 2013!
Confession: I had never heard of Mindy Kaling before reading this book. I don't watch the office. I didn't even realize she had her own show. That being said, her book is freaking hilarious! So even if you don't know who she is, read it.
Here are a few of my favorite parts:
The intro Q&A was the perfect primer for a Mindy newbie like me. Thank you Mindy! For those of you who have always loved her, was there anything new in the intro?
I appreciate the way Mindy embraced her figure. The Duante stories were horrifying. And yet, so relatable. Did anyone really survive middle or high school unharmed?
Her dad's line, "What are you doing? Open your eyes!" when he was teaching her to ride a bike is priceless. I loved that the same thing needs to be shouted at me again and again as I take new risks in life. Good ole' Mindy, always with a metaphor up her sleeve. (even if it was completely unintentional).
Climbing back down the ladder at Morses Pond, again laughing out loud. Not at Mindy, but about how I have so been there. How is she so stinking relatable?
Don't Peak in High School:
I want Mindy to write a high school graduation address like Baz Luhrmann's "Wear Sunscreen" except maybe deliver it to freshman the night before their first day of high school. I love that she calls out "Mr. Cougar Melloncamp."
I cheered when Mindy decided to be better friends with Mavis. "One friend with whom you have a lot in common is better than three with whom you struggle to find things to talk about." Yes Mindy, yes!
Skipping ahead to Matt & Ben & Mindy & Brenda. Mindy broke Brenda's nose! Oh my goodness. I actually broke my best friend Gloria's jaw in college. I didn't know other people did things like that. I feel so much less awkward about life. Mindy and I should be BFF now, right? Have you ever broken someone else's bone?
Shooting the Mindy & Brenda script: "I believe they were fashion bloggers who worked at a cupcake bakery and were constantly referring to their iPods (This was 2004, when iPods were the white-hot reference.)" So here we are in 2013 and it doesn't actually seem like things have changed all that much...
Why does loving romantic comedies = the admission of mild stupidity? Disagree Mindy, disagree. But I am glad you fessed up to loving them yourself. What are some of your favorite romantic comedies?
Mindy's take on the film representation of the career woman has me eating out of the palm of her hands. Every book I read that referes to career women and/or working moms in even the most remote way hooks me. It is my place in life so I gravitate towards it. How about you? Do you fit the film version, "barking orders into your hands-free phone devices and telling people constantly, I have no time for this!" Or are you like Mindy?
I found the differences between Kelly and Mindy really intriguing. But to be honest, I didn't know there was a character on the show named Kelly. Blaspheme, right?
The Mindy Greg dynamic was fascinating. Especially when she "got kicked out" of work but didn't think of it as being fired.
Franchises Mindy would like to "reboot." A League of Their Own, The Hulk, Oceans Five, Van Helsing, Ghostbusters. Do you agree? What would you reboot?
And, now that this might be the longest book recap ever, I am going to stop and admit that I didn't quite finish the book. But I hope to finish reading before this goes live so I can contribue on the last third in the comment section. p.s. I also know that this book gets compared to Bossypants a bit. Even though my Dad grew up in the same small Greek community as Tina Fey (yes, really), I don't really follow her nor have I read her book.
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This article about high school, dovetails nicely with Mindy's high school references. On Surviving High School and Finding Grace
ReplyDeleteRelatability: Yes!It's funny because if you were write down my likes, interests, goals and compare them with Mindy's we might look like we have nothing in common... but I still I find her so relatable! I think it is just the whole young adult (or anyone really) finding-your-way-in-the-world/figuring-stuff-out/stumbling-through-failures-and-successes thing.
ReplyDelete"on't Peak in High School: Yes. I love all her witty here's-something-helpful-that-no-one-tells-you type of wisdom. I think its that and the way she tells her story that feels similar to Bossypants.
Also, no, I've never broken anyone's bone! Haha. Love that you share that experience though.
I too have never seen The Office, or really even known that Mindy existed, but that did not stop me from enjoying this book!
ReplyDeleteI find it horrifying that a size 8 woman would feel FAT!! And that stylists would have a hard time finding clothes that flatter her figure... I might be speechless.
I think it says so much about her values that she was able to choose one real friend over a group of friends where she felt safe. I think most people would choose safe every single time; especially in high school.
Then later in life when she was told to leave, stormed out, then returned with her head held high; this continues to show how deep her values run!! And it seems like her parents were (and still are!) the foundation for these rich values. Every story that was told included a phone call or visit to her Mom. Thanks Mom!
As a former high school teacher I wanted all of my students to read this book. Too bad I don't teach anymore! But dang I just loved how putting off the stupid things high schooler's do (when she talks about the song Jack and Dianne) to work hard and study and how it was so rewarded in the long run. My students would tell me how lucky I was, but I'm not sure they ever believed me that hard work (and staying out of trouble) was the best way to have what I have. It would have been nice for a (like you mentioned) very relatable person like Mindy to have confirmed it for me! Loved this book, love that I finally got it for Christmas (after asking for it for at least a year!) and love that you did this book in January so I didn't have to worry about reading a book during a month when I had so much going on! :)
ReplyDeleteSo I knew and loved the shit out of Mindy before this book came out, so I was super jazzed about it. I mean she's hilarious AND she's Asian. I relate more to her than I do to other women in Hollywood because she's Asian. There aren't too many of us out there, so to see her doing so well just brings joy to my heart. Her parents reminded me of my mother, and her references to MA just immediately pulled me in. I knew exactly what she was talking about. I loved reading about exactly how she became Mindy Kaling of "The Office" fame. It's amazing because we often don't remember that it takes struggles to become a successful woman comedian. But she gives me hope that a slightly awkward Asian girl can make it big and end up super sexy.
ReplyDeleteBecause she's super sexy.
I just finished it yesterday and . . it was okay. I posted my review here. I have to agree with you on how relatable she is, though (at least in the beginning of the book). It's always nice to hear someone was older than me when they learned to ride a bike! lol
ReplyDeleteCan't wait for Unbroken!
I started Is Everyone Hanging Out With Me, but like most things I have started lately never finished it. I must try again!
ReplyDeleteMarlene Detierro (Tony Lama Cowboy Boots)