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Cannonball Read IV: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling

By pyrajane | Books | July 17, 2012 |

By pyrajane | Books | July 17, 2012 |


Mindy Kaling is a badass. She’s never fit neatly into any category, so she made her own. Her childhood stories are laugh out loud hilarious and she has that great storytelling gift where she captures the moment the way she saw it as a child with the understanding she now has an adult.

I love how she never seemed to realize that she wouldn’t be able to do what she wanted. It seems like it never occurred to her to be nervous or unsure. If she didn’t get a part or didn’t find anything she liked, she’d write something for herself. This becomes painful when she and her writing partner sell a sitcom, have to audition for their own parts, and then don’t get them. But she shrugs it off and moves on to the next awesome thing.

I really liked the parts where she talks about The Office, especially how everyone assumes she’s just like Kelly Kapoor. No one asks her co-workers what she’s really like because obviously she writes down what she thinks and says in real life and then gets in front of the camera and starts talking. She presents a neat list of how she differs from Kelly, nothing that she would never fake a pregnancy to save a relationship.

She does write about how frustrating it can be when you don’t fit into the Hollywood box. People Magazine names her one of their Most Beautiful People, then doesn’t bring any clothes that will fit her when she shows up for her photo shoot. After a quick and angry cry in the bathroom, she walks back in, points to a dress and calmly explains that they will have to take it apart to make it fit her. And they do. Total badass. And check out the dress. They were going to stick her into some navy blue, shapeless thing. Kelly Kapoor never would have forgiven her.

She is crazy talented and is perfect to write, direct and act on The Office. I’m glad she continues to assume anyone who doesn’t think she’s amazing must not understand what amazing means. Her book is great, her work is great and she is awesome.

For more of pyrajane’s reviews, check out her blog, pyrajane.wordpress.com

This review is part of Cannonball Read IV. Read all about it.