Mindy Kaling

Where have all the good books gone? 

Book Reviews

You may have noticed that book reviews on My Pen, My Voice are virtually non-existant right now. I assure you that this doesn’t mean I won’t write them anymore, nor does it mean that I haven’t been reading. Like all readers, I go through reading lulls from time to time. I either eat a book up or nurse it over a two to three week span. Sometimes I’ll even carry around a book for months and read random passages, short fragments, and chapters whenever the mood strikes me.

That’s the best thing about books though; regardless of how, why, or when, they’re always there for you to open them up. Recently I devoured Room, had my mind blown by Big Magic, laughed through Why Not Me, and nurtured M Train. Each book offered up a different experience that I enjoyed equally, so why haven’t I reviewed them? It’s mostly due to time constraints. The last month or so has been insane and book reviews deserve thought and dedication.

Although each of these books deserve a separate, all I can offer right now is this: read them. Whether it be slowly, quickly, or in fragments; they won’t disappoint.

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xoxo,

Vanessa 

Challenge ACCEPTED.

Book Reviews, Just for Fun, Lifestyle/Personal

I work at four o’clock. I wonder if I can finish the @MindyKaling book before then…

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7:58 AM – 25 Nov 12 ·
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I literally just finished Mindy Kaling’s Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns). I think that if I were a few years older and a comedy writer Mindy and I could totally be friends besties.

What I love about this book is that it is less about Mindy being an awesome comedy writer, successful actress, producer, and sometimes director, and more about what it took to get there. She talks about her all-time lows, her breakups, her writing, and even has a chapter set for her funeral arrangements. I won’t put this book on my Top 5 Books That Changed My Life List BUT I did thoroughly enjoy her thoughts, honesty, advice, and insights into a world that I was unfamiliar with – comedy writing.

Here are my five favourite moments/thoughts/chapters in her book:

  1. Advice for girls who want a career like hers: “(1) learn a provocative dance and put it on YouTube; (2) convince your parents to move to Orlando and homeschool you until you get cast on a kids’ show, or do what I did, which is (3) stay in school and be a respectful and hardworking wallflower, and go to an accredited non-online university,” (page 31).
  2. The entire chapter entitled Best Friends Rights and Responsibilities
  3. Her plea to reboot A League of Their Own: “…I would only reboot this movie if I can play the Rosie O’Donnell part…” (page 123). Actually the entire chapter on the franchises she would like to reboot.
  4. The entire chapter entitled How I Write
  5. Mindy’s memorization of the good-bye scene from The Sound of Music. In fact I loved everything about her chapter entitled Good-Bye.

For someone who didn’t get addicted to this book, I liked a lot of things about it. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about it – the only reason I purchased it is because I love her new show.

Mindy, you cured my Friday night migraine and you made my Sunday relaxing and enjoyable. Thanks for the laughs, the stories, and the advice (on boys, friends, life, and writing).

Your story has inspired me to keep going, keep writing, and not sweat the setbacks because they all lead somewhere.

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Love Always
Vanessa Xo