Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (and other concerns)

Summary:

"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."

WHY AREN'T MINDY AND I FRIENDS?!
Seriously, she is the perfect mix of everything I need and want in a friend. It isn't even funny. I love that this book isn't her trying to glamorize  her life or be over the top about it. She mixes the perfect amount of humility, dramazation and seriousness into her stories. This was a great read, to get my mind of life and to just relax and giggle.

Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me

I have been a loyal follower of Chelsea Handler's hilarious series of books... my favorite being Are You There Vodka? Its Me, Chelsea. So when I heard that the next book, would turn the tables on Chelsea and give her victims a chance to expose Chelsea for who she really is, I was instantly sold. It was genius, pure hilarity, it has to be right?!  Yet, I find myself between a rock and a hard place here. The loyal fan inside of me wants to love this book, but the practical me just wasn't sold...

Loyal Fan Version :
Chelsea Handler is nuts, yet a pure genius! The stories you here about her as SO ridiculous you really can't help but think she was a made up character in a Judd Apatow movie. You get to hear stories from different people in her life, siblings, co-workers, her dog, and friends. All basically saying the same thing, Chelsea Handler is a love-able liar.

Practical Me Version :
The more I learn about Chelsea Handler, the less I like her and the less funny she gets, honestly she really comes off as a ego-maniacal rude bitch. Yes, some of her antics are funny, but 90% of the time she takes it too far. Maybe it is just me but I couldn't handle constantly being harassed, fucked me, and possibly peed on. On top of that I  am not a giant fan of her constant drug use, but it is her life and not mine. Anyways, I find her highly hypocritical too, she makes fun of all these dumb ass people on her show, yet she is just as big of a hot-mess as they are!

Now getting off my high horse. In general, the book was amusing and a quick read. I just felt that the some stories had been told already in past books and other stories we just repetitive of the other chapters. I would have liked a few more outrageous stories, that bring the tears, as most of her previous books have. Although, I did like the clear distinct voices each writer had, while still maintaining the tone of Chelsea's books. I could of also done without the chapter done by Chelsea's dog. I get where she was trying to go with it, but it felt to forced. It is like when animated cartoons try to do outtakes. Semi-funny, but you know it is fake. I couldn't even finish reading through it. Now. If you are someone who hasn't read all or any of Chelsea Handler's books, then you will find this book extremely funny and if you are a loyal fan, you will appreciate the effort.

Chelsea Lately

Chelsea Handler is a talented comedian who now has her own show called Chelsea Lately on the E! Network. Chelsea always brings the laugh and although sometime she can go to far, she is hilarious most of the time. Each of her books are encounters of life stories from Chelsea's point of view...although you do find yourself at times asking "wait did this REALLY happen?!"

Handler's first book does not disappoint. You can hear Chelsea's voice clearly through the stories. All the stories some up the title; it's about Chelsea's sex life in the earlier years of her life.

Are You There Vodka, It's Me Chelsea. Is My favorite book of the three. Chelsea brings the laughs through her crazy stories about her life. Try not to read the book in public, it tends to make people think you are crazy when you burst into laughter; out of nowhere.

The most recent of the books and probably the book fans can relate to more, in the sense that it has the most recent stories. Meaning they correspond to the Chelsea we know now. Some stories are from the past but most are in the present. Personally, I think the book fell short... compared to her second book, but was not horrible.


Overall, Chelsea Handler really makes you smile and laugh, overall Happy. The books are great light reads and make great gifts for anyone.

Currently Reading: Twenties Girl By Sophie Kinsella