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Mindy and Me (and Jenn)

I've just finished Mindy Kaling's book, Why Not Me.  It is wonderful.  I also think it is very important that you know I love Mindy Kaling.  If I ever become one of those therapists on TV, know I have done so to better position myself to be friends with Mindy Kaling.  Possibly also to better the world by talking about mental health stigma, and the ways that I believe (and are backed up by the research of people much smarter than me) the disabled, veterans, and chronically ill are horribly treated in the mental health community, but mostly to become friends with Mindy Kaling.

Why not me is lighthearted, offers advice, and is often hilarious.  It is everything that you could possibly want if you pick up a memoir of a comedian.  There are tales of romance, slights about her looks and a fabulous chapter about her relationship with B. J. Novack.    Any good Mindy fan will expect nothing less.  I found it to be just the right length, as I never wanted to put it down and didn't have to.

As I read through Mindy's fabulous writing, I am often reminded that a huge part of the reason I love Mindy is because of  Best Friend Jenn.  (That is how I refer to her always, "Best Friend Jenn"  stated as if best friend is one word, and that word is her first name and Jenn is her last name.  This is particularly beneficial to me because I have a hell of a time remembering all our other friends' married names, and I'm rather glad I'll never stumble over her future married name.)  Jenn is a great Mindy Kaling fan who often thinks she is like Mindy, the character, on Mindy Project.  I happen to believe she is like Mindy, the person, who I read about in memoirs. She works really hard, is really smart, generous, hilarious and overly anxious.  (She being best friend Jenn, but also Mindy)  Whenever I'm feeling down, all I need is one of best friend Jenn's stories to make me laugh.  Her story telling ability is amazing, and I do wish she would write a book.  Not that I would sit and read it because, unlike Mindy Kaling, I could just call her and have her tell me the stories.  Even if I've heard it before, I love her telling of stories.  Which is to say, if I were friends with Mindy Kaling, I would stop reading her wonderful books and wouldn't that be sad?

*You should know I've written this just days after Best friend Jenn specifically did not ask me for my impression of her.

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