Book Review: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (and Other Concerns)

Note: I originally posted this on the pop culture blog I share with my friend Chris. I thought I would post it here too since I'm still trying to figure out what I'll post here vs. there. :)

I’ve been a fan of Mindy Kaling since I started watching The Office at the beginning of the second season. I thought it was impressive that she was not only an actor on the show, but also a writer.  Then I found out she had a shopping blog and, for the posts she wrote, used the pseudonym Mindy Ephron. Every time my RSS feed showed a new post on ‘Things I Bought That I Love’ I happily hurried to find what semi-luxury item (at least according to my budget at the time) I might want to buy. It’s because of Mindy Kaling that I bought a <a href="http://shop.theslanket.com/" target="_blank">Slanket</a>, months before the Snuggie took over the world.  Based on this, it’s no surprise that when I found out she had a book coming out I preordered it for my Kindle and just waited for the release date.

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (and Other Concerns) is part autobiography, part observational, part style/shopping guide.  She starts off taking us through her childhood, college years, and post college years.  The struggles of adolescent friendship, wanting to be popular and have a group of friends, but also a friend who you share interests with.  I always enjoy hearing writers and actor’s stories of the struggling time between college and getting that first real entertainment job.  People have ended up doing the oddest jobs.  Mindy’s included babysitting for wealthy New Yorkers and being a Page for a network.  (So not really that odd for her.)

She also talks about The Office, of course.  I started watched The Office just after the second season started. I think it’s always been a good show, but, to me, the first 3 seasons are AMAZING. It was interesting to find out how she became a staff writer from creating and performing in “Matt and Ben”, and fictional play about the lives of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. (I’ve heard so many great things about that show. I really should try to track down a place to see a recording if one exists.)  It was also fun to learn a little bit about the inner-workings of the show.  I love this quote about putting the show together: “Our cheapness was the recurring source of our creative decisions.” In this section she also lists the differences and similarities of Kelly Kapoor and Mindy Kaling.

The rest of the book is more observational and covers topics like the once great romantic comedy and what went wrong with the genre, dating, the best friend code of conduct, men vs. boys, the random and fun pictures she keeps in her BlackBerry, and marriage.  Based on what I read, I know Mindy and would be good friends.  (I know I say that about quite a few people, this I know this one would be true!)  While we (ok, I) anxiously await the first romcom written by Mindy to be created and theatrically released pick up a copy of this book and enjoy the life and observations of a talented and funny 32 year old who, like me, loves pop culture.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the book that I related to:

“I simply regard romantic comedies as a subgenre of sci-fi, in which the world created therein has different rules than my regular human world.”

“In psychology (okay, Twilight) they teach you about the notion of imprinting, and I think it applies here. I reverse-imprinted with athleticism. Ours is the great non-love story of my life.”

“The job I most wanted in the world was to be a writer on Late Night with Conan O’Brien. I can’t believe that was two Conan shows ago. It seems like yesterday.”

“It’s so simple. It’s not a witty, perfectly phrased, Ephron-y declaration by our charming, neurotic hero. It’s so … plain. But the idea is the most beautiful thing in the world.”  - This is in reference to Mark Darcy, played by the  ever charming Colin Firth, declaring to Bridget Jones that he likes her “just you are”. swoon

Grade: A
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Mindy Kaling's website
Mindy Kaling Twitter

What I'm Watching: Happy Endings

Are you watching the ABC sitcom Happy Endings? If not, you should.  I know, since it was put on as a past mid-season replacement you're thinking it's not good.  Normally I would probably agree, but in this case that would be wrong.  The advertising from the studio would have you believe that the premise of this show is friends choosing sides after the engaged couple of the group breaks up.  It's really just a show about friends.  I hope ABC loses the whole wedding branding stuff.  Otherwise the show might fall into the same struggles Cougartown and How I Met Your Mother have.  These shows each have unique characters and it's fun to see the interactions between all.  Ok back to Happy Endings...

It's got a great cast and just a few episodes in it already knows it's voice.  The show follows 6 friends: Dave (Zachary Knighton) and Alex (Elisha Cuthbert) a former couple whose wedding day fiasco started off the series. Alex's sister, Jane (Eliza Coupe), and her husband, Brad (Damon Wayans Jr.). Max (Adam Pally), the friend who takes Dave in after Alex leaves him at the alter.  Lastly, Penny (Casey Wilson), the kind of kooky friend.

7 episodes in and I feel like I already know the characters.  Since it's shot single camera style there are flashback and cut outs (a la 30 Rock).  With each episode I'm laughing out loud and relating with the characters more.  How can you not love a show that shows us Jazz-Kwon-Do?

ABC Wednesday nights at 10 after Cougartown (which you should also be watching).

Here are a couple of clips to give you a feel of the show:
Max teaches Penny how to be a hipster



Penny finds out Jane is really good at self defense


Dave's friends can't tell him the truth

Quick Review: Twisted Vine Dessert

I love this wine bar in Downtown Fullerton. I went again last night after almost a year.  As always, I had some great wine, but that is not the reason for this post. For dessert we had a PB&H panini.  This delicious panini consists of peanut butter, honey, and banana. It's served with chocolate for dipping.  Just typing that out made me hungry. I wanted to share in case anyone happens to drop by The Twisted Vine... or wants to go with me!

The Twisted Vine

Quick Review: Bruxie Gourmet Waffle Sandwiches

Waffles: Good! Sandwiches: Good! Waffles + Sandwiches: Great!


Tonight I ventured out with some friends, Chris and Ian, to try out Bruxie in Orange, CA.  I had heard great things, which I found to be true.  I'm me... so my order didn't venture too far from my normal.  I got a Cheesy Bruxie (basically a grilled cheese with a waffle as the bread) and a Strawberry shake.  Plain, but yum!

Chris got a Buttermilk Fried Chicken & Waffle.  That's what I should have had.  I loved my grilled cheese, but the Chicken and Waffle was delish, and I only had one bite.

For dessert we tried the Nutella & Bananas.  It was another great choice. Sadly the shake really filled me up so I only had a few bites of desert.

I can't wait to go back and try more.


Bruxie Gourmet Waffle Sandwiches
http://bruxie.com/
@bruxiewaffles

Quick Review: Broadway Nights: A Romp of Life, Love, and Musical Theatre

Broadway Nights is the story of Stephen Sheerin, an aspiring Broadway conductor.  The story was told in a fun unique way. The book is actually Stephen's diary that he is writing in the hopes of selling it as a book when he becomes famous.  His therapist, Monikah (yes, he goes off on the spelling of the name), suggested that writing down his feelings might help him work through some issues.  Throughout the book we learn about Stephen's aspirations to conduct a Broadway show, his less than perfect relationship with his boyfriend, and his interesting family.  Stephen even explains all of the Broadway terminology for his future readers who may not be versed in the theatre.


I really enjoyed this book.  Stephen seemed like someone I would be friends with, if he wasn't fictional.  I literally laughed out loud many times while reading this.  I'm really glad I just happened to see this when I was at the library last week.  I may pick up a copy just so I can read it again in the future.


Rating: Thumbs Up

Quick Review: How To Get Divorced by 30 - Sascha Rothchild

Just based on the title of this book it's not a surprise that I picked it up out of so many on a table.  Wouldn't you?  After looking at the synopsis I knew it would be a story I would enjoy.  The book is broken in to chapters that each describe one way the author, Sascha, headed to divorce before she was 30.  I found the book entertaining.  I didn't really relate to the author (our lives in our 20s were very different), but she tells her story with such honesty that by the end of the book you feel like you really know her.  This is a fun and quick read.

Rating: Thumbs Up

Quick Review: Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Wither is the first book in the Chemical Garden Trilogy.  Here is the synopsis from the author's site:

Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home.

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limted time she has left.

I enjoyed this book, but I thought it was missing something in the plot.  I'm hoping that "missing" feeling come from the fact that this book is setting up the story for the rest of the series since it's a trilogy.  I do think each book in a series should have it's own story in addition to the bigger series story, but that wasn't completely the case for this book.  Overall, I was really intrigued with the world that this story takes place in.

I like the main character, Rhine.  For the most part, she is a sensible 16 year old who is dealing with the crazy, dystopian world that she lives in to the best of her ablility.  I thought it was odd that she didn't question the disease more.  She didn't ever wonder why the men live longer.  I also liked her relationships with her sister wives.  They were interesting and dynamic.

I found it odd that because of the disease polygamy was found to be acceptable.  I understand they didn't want the human race to die off, but I didn't get the correlation between that and polygamy.  Was it a practice that was more accepted in the days of Rhine's parents?  I don't think so.

I'm curious to see where they story goes... so I'll be reading the second book when it comes out.

*I received this book as an advanced review copy from the publisher*

Quick Review: You'll Never Blue Ball in This Town Again

I'm a big fan of the show Chelsea Lately.  I DVR it everyday so I don't miss an episode.  When I found out that Heather McDonald, one of the comedians and writers on the show, wrote a book I immediately bought it on my Kindle.  I finally got around to reading it.  Before I get into my thoughts here is a synopsis from the publisher's website:

"Can't a girl dress like a hooker, dance like a stripper, and kiss like a porn star and still be a nineteen-year-old virgin?"

You'll Never Blue Ball in This Town Again is the laugh-out-loud story of an attractive Los Angeles woman who found herself in the predicament of being an unwilling virgin. As an actress, writer, and stand-up comedienne, Heather McDonald passed up ample opportunities to have her V-card revoked by handsome, rich, and sometimes even fabulously famous men, but she could not bring herself to do "it" until well after her friends had been deflowered.



As Chelsea Handler so lovingly puts it, "Thank God Heather waited twenty-seven years to lose her virginity or she wouldn't have any material for this book." Whether in a backseat, a community pool, or a sports stadium, with a frat boy, a doctor, or an A-list celebrity, Heather McDonald knew how to turn those boys blue. Unlike "putting out," blue balling might not have paid her rent or landed her free trips to Hawaii, but it did provide her with hilarious stories and adventures in her search for true love—and, ultimately, her very own happy ending. Now, Heather McDonald will never blue ball in this town again.

While I love Heather McDonald on the show I didn't love this book.  The book consists of stories of Heather's relationships mostly in her 20s. Some the stories were interesting, but I didn't find myself laughing at any of them.  I tried not to compare this book to Chelsea's since they are different women, but it was hard.

This next part is a bit of a spoiler (I guess) - I think one of the main problems was the book seemed to be about Heather losing her virginity, but when she finally does it's not a big deal and she just moves on with her dating history.  If you like Heather (she is one of my favorites on the show) you will probably enjoy this book as a light, quick read.


http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=quicthou-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=1439176280

Quick Review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

I don't know if this book can really be reviewed quickly, but here I go...

Even though this wasn't my typical type of novel I enjoyed it.  To be honest it took me awhile to get into it.  The first few chapters seem so scattered and individual... it wasn't too interesting.  I told myself it was all for character development, since it's a trilogy, and I believe I was right.  Once the story really gets started it takes off.  The story telling is done in such a graphic way at some points that leads me to give you this advice: when you get near the middle don't eat dinner and read like I did. :p  Here is a brief synopsis from the author's website:

Disgraced journalist Mikael Blomqvist is hired by Henrik Vanger to investigate the disappearance of Vanger’s great-niece Harriet. Henrik suspects that someone in his family, the powerful Vanger clan, murdered Harriet over forty years ago.
Starting his investigation, Mikael realizes that Harriet’s disappearance is not a single event, but rather linked to series of gruesome murders in the past. He now crosses paths with Lisbeth Salander, a young computer hacker, an asocial punk and most importantly, a young woman driven by her vindictiveness.
Together they form an unlikely couple as they dive deeper into the violent past of the secretive Vanger family.

One thing that I don't think helped was reading the book via my Kindle.  The Vanger family is quite large and there is a family tree in the beginning of the book that I couldn't skip to easily (though right now I realized that maybe I could have set a bookmark for future reference).  My small brain had trouble remembering who was who, but it didn't seeem to really matter.   The story is not only about the Harriet Vanger mystery, but also goes into a scandal that Mikael is involved in.  To me, it was like two different stories... though the scandal is what allows Mikael to become part of the Vanger family mystery.  I don't want to give anything away, but once you get into it the story is compelling and difficult to put down (even though I read it over a three weeks).  I'm really looking forward reading the second book.

Quick Review: The Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives

The Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives by Josie Brown follows the life of Lyssa Harper and her fellow residents of the exclusive and privileged Paradise Heights community.   Here is a synopsis from the publisher's website:

Suburbia is a jungle, filled with lots of vicious creatures.

Take the Paradise Heights Women’s League board. Lyssa Harper should have warned golden-haired DILF du jour Harry Wilder what he was getting into when she invited him to meet the mommies who run their suburban, gated community. At least he brought cupcakes. Since meeting the former Master-of-the-Universe turned stay-at-home single dad, Lyssa has been his domestic Sherpa, teaching him the ins and outs of suburban life. She just didn’t realize her friends would show up at his house unannounced with casseroles, leopard-print bikini briefs, and plans to rearrange his kitchen cabinets.

The truth is, if Harry and his wife, the neighborhood’s "perfect couple," can call it quits, what does that mean for everyone else? Lyssa’s husband, Ted, is a great father, but he pays her Pilates-pumped momtourage more attention than he does his own wife. Her friends gossip about the neighbors while ignoring their own problems: infertility, infidelity, and eating disorders.

When Harry sets boundaries with his new fan club, he is exiled from the neighborhood’s in-clique. But Lyssa refuses to snub him. What she never expects is the explosive impact her ongoing friendship with Harry will have on her close-knit pals—and on her marriage.

I found this book to be a fun summer read.  I'm not too ashamed to admit that I love me some Real Housewives tv shows... and this book falls along the same vein.  (This is also the first book I have read with praise from Jackie Collins on the cover... so there you go).  While the story mainly follows Lyssa, you also get to know the other residents of her commuity.  I really like Lyssa as a main character.  She has heart and a good head on her shoulders.  It's easy to see how she has gotten into a life that she's not 100% thrilled with (haven't we all be there one time or another).   If you are looking for something fun and quick for the beach... this would be a good choice.

Quick Review: The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson is the story of  Lennie, a seventeen year old girl, who is coming to terms with the loss of her older sister and moving on with her life while falling in love for the first time.  Here is the synopsis from the the author's website:

Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker, bookworm and band geek, plays second clarinet and spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery sister Bailey.  But when Bailey dies suddenly, Lennie is catapulted to center stage of her own life—and, despite her nonexistent history with boys, finds herself struggling to balance two.  Toby was Bailey’s boyfriend; his grief mirrors Lennie’s own.  Joe is the new boy in town, a transplant from Paris whose nearly magical grin is matched only by his musical talent.  For Lennie, they’re the sun and the moon; one boy takes her out of her sorrow, the other comforts her in it.  But just like their celestial counterparts, they can’t collide without the whole wide world exploding.

I really enjoyed this book.  It is a sweet story with characters, though quirky and at times a little over the top, you could see in your own life.  I like the additional use of storytelling through Lennie's notes/poems throughout the book.  The notes were additional insight to her mind and where she was at in the grieving process.  Most of the love stories in YA novels annoy me due to the quick and unnatural pace of the relationship, but in this novel you can see the progression and understand why the young love birds become connected to each other.  If you are in the mood for a story that tackles some real life issues without being overly serious you'll enjoy this story.

Quick Review: This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection

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Yesterday I blogged about an event I attended where I got to meet Carol Burnett.  I wanted to read this book prior to the event.  Since I usually fall behind on reading when I have a deadline I made it a priority to read this book.  Here is the synopsis from the publisher:

Carol Burnett is one of the most beloved and revered actresses and performers in America. The Carol Burnett Show was seen each week by millions of adoring fans and won twenty-five Emmys in its remarkable eleven-year run. Now, in This Time Together, Carol really lets her hair down and tells one funny or touching or memorable story after another – reading it feels like sitting down with an old friend who has wonderful tales to tell.



In engaging anecdotes, Carol discusses her remarkable friendships with stars such at Jimmy Stewart, Lucille Ball, Cary Grant, and Julie Andrews; the background behind famous scenes, like the moment she swept down the stairs in her curtain-rod dress in the legendary “Went With the Wild” skit; and things that would happen only to Carol – the prank with Julie Andrews that went wrong in front of the First Lady; the famous Tarzan Yell that saved her during a mugging; and the time she faked a wooden leg to get served in a famous ice cream emporium. This poignant look back allows us to cry with the actress during her sorrows, rejoice in her successes, and finally, always, to laugh.

My super quick review of this book is that if you are a fan of Carol's you'll love it. The chapters are short, usually just a few pages, and are dedicated to a single story. I really enjoyed reading the chapters about her co-stars Vicki Lawrence, Harvey Korman, and Tim Conway. I had no idea Vicki was only 18 or 19 when she started on the show. I also enjoyed the chapters on Julie Andrews and Lucille Ball, two of my other favorites. Near the end of the book there is a very touching chapter on Carol's daughter Carrie who passed away. They worked on a project to transform Carol's first book, One More Time, into a play. This is the kind of book I will read over again.

Quick Review: The Sixty-Eight Rooms by Marianne Malone

I read about this on the Pop Candy blog on the USA Today website.  It sounded fun and similar to books I liked when I was a kid.   Here is the synopsis from the author's website:

Almost everybody who has grown up in Chicago knows about the Thorne Rooms. Housed deep within the Art Institute of Chicago, they are a collection of sixty-eight exquisite – almost eerily realistic miniature rooms. Each of the rooms is designed in the style of a different time and place, and every detail is perfect, from the knobs on the doors to the candles in the candlesticks. Some might even say the rooms are magical.

Imagine… what if, on a field trip, you discovered a key that allowed you to shrink so that you were small enough to sneak inside and explore the rooms’ secrets? What if you discovered that others had done so before you? And that someone had left something important behind?

Ruthie Stewart and Jack Tucker are best friends in sixth grade. Ruthie has the feeling that nothing exciting ever happens in her life, while Jack experiences every day as an adventure. The Sixty-Eight Rooms is the story of an adventure they have together. It starts with a field trip and ends with…well, Ruthie will never say “nothing exciting ever happens” again!

If you love fantasy and adventure and magic, with a little mystery-solving thrown in, The Sixty-Eight Rooms will be a book you can’t put down.

 Overall, I thought this was a cute book.  From the Pop Candy blog post I thought it would be a YA story, but it's a kid book (Ruthie and Jack are in 6th grade).  Some of the writing was a bit awkward (especially some of the dialogue between Ruthie and Jack).  It took awhile for the story to get to the part where they shrink and go into the rooms.  It would have been nice to explore more than 4 or 5 rooms with Ruthie and Jack.  Prior to this book I hadn't heard of the Thorne Rooms. Now, I can't wait to research more about them.  If I ever get to Chicago I'll have to check them out.

Quick Review: Shopaholic & Baby

Last night I finished the final (or at least I think it’s the final) book in the Shopaholic series, Shopaholic & Baby.  Here is the synopsis from the author's website:

Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood) is pregnant! She couldn’t be more overjoyed–especially since discovering that shopping cures morning sickness. Everything has got to be perfect for her baby: from the designer nursery . . . to the latest, coolest pram . . . to the celebrity, must-have obstetrician.

But when the celebrity obstetrician turns out to be her husband Luke’s glamorous, intellectual ex-girlfriend, Becky's perfect world starts to crumble. She’s shopping for two . . . but are there three in her marriage?

This final book is a fun, easy read that wraps up the series nicely.  Becky gets into all of the trouble you would expect.  If you've never read any of the books and have seen the movie I say forget you saw the movie and pick up the books.  Becky Bloomwood is a fantastic character.  She is a little obsessed, fanatical, and spontaneous, but always well intentioned.  I think my mind works a bit like hers.  So if you want to some insight to how I think… get to know her. ;)

Quick Review: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

I recently read Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater  (it is the February pick for the With A Good Book book club).  Here is synopsis from the author's website:

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human... until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever. 

I really enjoyed Shiver.  The chapters alternate telling the story from both Grace and Sam's point of view.  I liked this style of storytelling because it allowed me to get to know both of them well.  Since this story involves teenagers and werewolves I couldn’t help but think of Twilight while I was reading it. Bella always made me want to punch her in the face… Grace never made me feel that way. How can you not give it a try?