A review by lyricallit
Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
2.0
I really admire Mindy Kaling and enjoyed her first book, but this follow up was a disappointment. It did have some laugh out loud moments, but not as many. From early on, it felt disconnected.
I appreciate her good humored confessions about the layers of shellac that go into looking Hollywood-perfect -- for everyone! But it's clear that at this time she was still struggling with her own body image confidence. On one page she critiques the system that makes people marvel seeing on TV a body the size of the average American woman, while on another she refers to people as "porkers" - though she admits she is "trying." I am curious if her perspective has evolved since this publication.
The book includes a speech she gave at Harvard with absolutely no explanation for its inclusion. I wish she'd included a short reflection/introspection for readers who were not part of the initial audience to consider: what is that piece I have that no one else can take? What is the distinction which supports, inspires, and motivates me? This would have connected the work to the rest of the book. As is, it struck me as filler to make a page count quota.
I appreciate her good humored confessions about the layers of shellac that go into looking Hollywood-perfect -- for everyone! But it's clear that at this time she was still struggling with her own body image confidence. On one page she critiques the system that makes people marvel seeing on TV a body the size of the average American woman, while on another she refers to people as "porkers" - though she admits she is "trying." I am curious if her perspective has evolved since this publication.
The book includes a speech she gave at Harvard with absolutely no explanation for its inclusion. I wish she'd included a short reflection/introspection for readers who were not part of the initial audience to consider: what is that piece I have that no one else can take? What is the distinction which supports, inspires, and motivates me? This would have connected the work to the rest of the book. As is, it struck me as filler to make a page count quota.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Body shaming