Review: Is Everyone Hanging Out without Me?

Is Everyone Hanging Out without Me? And Other Concerns Author: Mindy Kaling and Michael Schur Genre: Humor Essay Publisher: Random House Audio Release Date: November 1, 2011 Audiobook: 4 hours and 37 minutes Narrator: Mindy Kaling Source: Free from E-Library

Book Description

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?”
Perhaps you want to know what Mindy thinks makes a great best friend (someone who will fill your prescription in the middle of the night), or what makes a great guy (one who is aware of all elderly people in any room at any time and acts accordingly), or what is the perfect amount of fame (so famous you can never get convicted of murder in a court of law), or how to maintain a trim figure (you will not find that information in these pages). If so, you’ve come to the right book, mostly!
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.

Review

This book was Mocha Girls Read book club book of the month for the month of July.  It has been nominated several times but this is the first time it has won.  And I have to say that I am happy this book has moved from my "One Day" TBR list to my "Finished" list.
Actress, producer, comedian, writer Mindy Kaling gives us a glimpse into her life.  Only a glimpse.  Starting at her childhood and the awkwardness of being the different child to her big move to the Big Apple, Mindy's book is full of funny moments, insight on singlehood, relationships and just bits and pieces of humor.  For some reason I was under the impression this book would be more of a memoir.  Each chapter could be a stand alone short story because they were not extremely cohesive.  
But I have to say that it is light, funnnnnyyyyyy (like LOL! funny) and a great summer read.  
Oh by the way I have never seen a single episode of The Office but I think if I have I would have a better understanding to her Office references.  
As I was listening to the audiobook a question popped into my head.  "If I was not in the entertainment business, would I understand what she is talking about?"  From other reviews I see that most people get her references to working in the writer's room.  She gives the readers enough information to understand and to just follow along.  But I think if you really knew the dynamics of the entertainment industry and the various personalities you would roll on the floor laughing.  
I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to readers as a light summer read and I would be interested in reading something else by Mindy.
One more thing, if you know me I don't like authors to narrate their own books, but this is the exception to that rule.  Mindy read it as if she was sitting in my living room chatting me up.  I feel like one of Mindy's BFF's now.  Great job!   

Reviews by Other Bloggers

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Recommendations

I recommend this book to young adults and older due to some adult subject matter and adult humor.

Challenges

This book is number 13 in my Diversity on the Shelf Reading Challenge
This book is number 22 in my Audiobooks Reading Challenge
This book is number 16 in my New To Me Author Reading Challenge