i think mindy kaling is hilarious. i don’t always like the characters she plays on television, but i think she’s very funny in real life. i read her first book, is everyone hanging out without me?, a few years ago and thought it was good, so i decided to download her newest book before my recent trip to delhi and mussoorie.

in why not me?, mindy* writes a series of essays on various topics, from her brief time in a sorority at dartmouth to her alternate life as a high school teacher in new york city. her essays are at times laugh-out-loud funny, at times sad, and at times cringe worthy, much like i imagine she is in real life.

one of the things i like about mindy’s books is that they sound a lot like what i imagine a conversation with her would be like in person. i can hear her voice as i’m reading, and having seen her in interviews i can guess where extra inflections or emphasis might be. it makes for an interesting reading experience.

other than her wit, i like mindy kaling because she tells it like it is. she doesn’t skirt around issues like her weight or her ethnicity, and she provides honest life commentary. it’s refreshing.

why not me? is an interesting, humorous, fun read if you’re in the mood for something light-hearted but not cheesy. i liked it, and i’ll read her next book whenever she decides to write one.

a general assumption about confidence is that women, particularly young women, will have very little of it, and girls will have zero of it. just the attitude alone makes me sad: ‘we have to help our girls and teach them to be confident.’ well, guess what, young girls. you aren’t damsels in distress. you aren’t hostages to the words of your peers. you aren’t the victims that even your well-meaning teachers and advocates think you are.

my goodreads rating: 4 out of 5 // average rating is 3.90

currently reading: just started colm toibin’s brooklyn, a book i have been looking forward to for a long time.

xx

*because i feel like we are on a first name basis.