I realise now, I don't watch a lot of TV or basically I only watch the Kardashians (runs and hides in shame). All the TV references in this book I did not get, also I have never watched The Office and I therefore do not know who Kelly Kapoor is.Sad thing is the book didn't make me want to watch this show.Do you watch this show? would you recommend it? why?
This book came highly recommended and as much as I said I am done reading celebrity memoirs,I got pulled to this book as it was in almost all the lists of recommended books for women in a certain age bracket ( 😉😉). Mindy Kaling is in Jay-Z's Family Feud so I thought if he can cast her in his video,she must be very good. Book 3 of 2018 is(drums roll please); Is everyone hanging out without me(and other concerns).
The book has some really funny sections that had me laughing out loud and in a matatu at that,it has some good lessons too and she is so relatable.I love that it passes some really important messages about life.
On Friendships
“One friend with whom you have a lot in common is better than three with whom you struggle to find things to talk about".
See as human beings we are conditioned to think that more is better but sometimes this is not true.Moreso when it comes to relationships and friendships.There is no way it's humanly possible say to have 50 good friends,be in each others lives and to support them.Choose a few people that matter to you and that you matter to and go through life together.
On Men and societal gender bias.
''I am thirty-two and I fully feel like an adult. Sure,sometimes I miss wearing Hello Kitty jewellery or ironic T-shirts from Urban Outfitters.Who doesn't? But a guy at thirty-two he can act and dress like a grown man or a thirteen year old boy,and both are totally acceptable.That's one of the weirdest things I have noticed about being thirty two.It is a lot of women and a lot of boys our age.''
There is the big assumption that girls mature faster than boys but the truth is girls are forced to taken on more responsibilities earlier in life,which in turn means boys will be boys for a really long time before turning into men and the society is to blame for this.Mindy Kaling talks about men and boys,what differentiates the two and why she prefers men.
On body issues
''If someone called me chubby, it would no longer be something that kept me up late at night. Being called fat is not like being called stupid or unfunny, which is the worst thing you could ever say to me. Do I envy Jennifer Hudson for being able to lose all that weight and look smokin’ hot? Of course, yes. Do I sometimes look at Gisele Bundchen and wonder how awesome life would be if I never had to wear Spanx? Duh, of course. That’s kind of the point of Gisele Bundchen. And maybe I will, once or twice, for a very short period of time. But on the list of things I want to do in my lifetime, that’s not near the top. I mean, it’s not near the bottom either. I’d say it’s right above “Learn to drive a vespa,” but several notches below “film a chase scene for a movie.”
We live in a vain world and people as I have come to learn always want to put others down and attack your weak spots/insecurities.That is why men with pot bellies will tell you the way you have added weight just to offend you.Learn what really matters to you and people making fun of you will just be noise and them tiring themselves 😊😊.
On Marriage
''Married people, it’s up to you. It’s entirely on your shoulders to keep this sinking institution afloat. It’s a stately old ship, and a lot of people, like me, want to get on board. Please be psyched, and convey that psychedness to us. And always remember: so many, many people are envious of what you have. You’re the star at the end of the Shakespearean play, wearing the wreath of flowers in your hair. The rest of us are just the little side characters''
This has to be the only book that I have read in the recent past that talks positively of marriage,most of the books I have read potray marriage as a balancing act of sorts and always the female is the loser.Happy marriages I admire the most because I know how much forgiveness,understanding and patience goes into making one.Her take on marriage is refreshing and different.All yee married people,lets make the single folk want to get married.
On the Internet
“The Internet also makes it extraordinarily difficult for me to focus. One small break to look up exactly how almond milk is made, and four hours later I'm reading about the Donner Party and texting all my friends: DID YOU GUYS KNOW ABOUT THE DONNER PARTY AND HOW MESSED UP THAT WAS? TEXT ME BACK SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT!
This is the story of my life,you cannot believe how many random things I know,just from detours I have when I am researching stuff online.
On college dreams and life immediately after college
''Should I keep a gas mask in my kitchen? Am I supposed to afford Manolo Blahnik shoes? What is Barney's New York? You're trying to tell me a place called Barney's is fancy?.The greatest source of stress was that it had been three months since I'd moved to New York and I still didn't have a job.''
All of us when we are in college have big dreams and think how we will go out into the job market and be hot cakes.Some people are lucky and this happens for them but most of us,you start doing things and work you never imagined you would do,to pay your bills,earn your stripes and get the all important experience.This is what 99% of the people go through,apparently even celebrities sometimes have normal people issues.
On parents
''In order to spend time with us and save money for our family,my dad dropped us off at school and then returned in time to pick us from our after school program.Then he came home and boiled us hot dogs as an after-school snack,even though he was a vegetarian and had never eaten a hot dog before.''
Mindy talks about her parents,the sacrifices they made to ensure her brother and her get the best of everything and how they never even once complained of all the hardwork they put into raising them in a foreign country.Your parents are the only people who love you uncondtionally,love them,respect them and keep them happy.
Would I recommend this book, yes,yes and yes. It is a fun,easy, educative and very relatable read. I got my copy on telegram for free 😃😃, do yourself a favour and download the telegram app and access loads of free e-books.I know you what you are thinking? e-books are boring but the e-book reader that I have makes reading very easy.It allows you to highlight sections,bookmark them and even email yourself the quotes you love.Its called eBoox.
