My Literary Travels

Kaling, Mindy
Humorous Non-fiction

Following in the footsteps of Tina Fey, Mindy Kaling turns a random assortment of her childhood memories and experiences going from a Dartmouth superstar to a struggling New York City writer to successful debut as a writer and actress on The Office into a hilariously funny read that will have you cringing and giggling by turns.  Mindy’s smart, honest voice and ironic sense of humor make even the most mundane things (like karaoke etiquette and rules of friendship) seem laugh-out-loud funny.  Though the book isn’t really a memoir, it does follow her rise to fame nicely and reminds us that, yes, even semi-nerdy girls that will never be the most beautiful (or skinny) ones in a room can make it big by making other people laugh daily.  Though the book tends to drag in the middle (especially for those who may not be as familiar with the television shows and actors whose names she shamelessly drops), these less interesting segments are only a minority in a book that is, overall, very entertaining and enjoyable.

The primary reason I enjoyed this book so much is the fact that I could very well have written many of the chapters myself.  Mindy’s experiences in many things are so similar to my own; it’s so nice to know that other girls went through the same semi-traumatic ordeals and lived to laugh and write about them!  I think I found myself nodding in agreement on almost every page, but the chapter that resonated the most with me was her remembrances about being a sensitive teenager whose life didn’t always match the lives of her friends and of the “standards” set by the media. I want to quote so many passages from the book, but then I’d be infringing on copyright laws, so I’ll just choose my absolute favorites.  They’re not all funny, so don’t judge the book’s humor value based on them.  Rather, they show just how upfront, honest and insightful Mindy can be and they are the things that resonated with me most!

“My parents didn’t let me do social things on weeknights because weeknights were for homework…I always felt I was missing out because of the way the high school experience was dramatized in television and song…In high school, I liked hanging out with my family!  Later, when you’re grown up, you realize you never get to hang out with your family.  You pretty much have only eighteen years to spend with them full time, and that’s it.”

“One friend you have a lot in common with is better than three with whom you struggle to find things to talk about.”

From her tips to guys about how to be great:  “Have one great cologne that’s not from the drugstore…wear very little of it, all the time.  I cannot tell you how sexy it is to be enveloped in a hug by a man whose smell you remember.  Then, anytime I smell that cologne, I think of you.  Way to invade my psyche, guy!  Shivers down spine central!”

“My parents get along because they are pals…In real life, shouldn’t a wedding be an awesome party you throw with your great pal, in the presence of a bunch of your other friends?  A great day, for sure, but not the beginning and certainly not the end of your friendship with a person you can’t wait to talk about gardening with for the next forty years.”

From her acknowledgments: “And finally, I want to thank Avu and Swati Chokalingam.  I know I dedicated this book to them, but I guess I’m just one of those weird kids who likes their parents too much.”