Reader Recs: Yes, My Accent Is Real by Kunal Nayyar

Yes, My Accent Is Real - and Some Other Things I Haven't Told You
by Kunal Nayyar

Paperback: 245 pages
Publisher: Atria Books (September 15, 2015)
ISBN-13: 978-1476761824
Kindle: 3990 KB
Publisher: Atria Books (September 15, 2015)
ASIN: B00P43496Y

Available on Amazon

Raj from The Big Bang Theory

My blog buddy Denise sent me two book recommendations. I thought I'd post them one at a time to give each book justice.

Denise say:

"Here are two books I wish I could make my younger self read. Good, fun summer/travel/beach reads for the young people in h.s./college/and beginning adulthood adventures at any age. Hard work, perseverance, good attitude and a little luck is the key theme from two very different people. You don't have to be a fan of the show to enjoy this romp of essays from Kunal's childhood in India to college in the U.S. (where he also worked as a janitor) to winning the Hollywood lottery being cast in one of the most popular sitcoms in tv history. His self-deprecating humor makes his ordinary life into an extraordinary read. "

From the blurb:

Of all the charming misfits on television, there’s no doubt Raj from The Big Bang Theory—the sincere yet incurably geeky Indian-American astrophysicist—ranks among the misfittingest. Now, we meet the actor who is every bit as loveable as the character he plays on TV. In this revealing collection of essays written in his irreverent, hilarious, and self-deprecating voice, Kunal Nayyar traces his journey from a little boy in New Delhi who mistakes an awkward first kiss for a sacred commitment, gets nosebleeds chugging Coca-Cola to impress other students, and excels in the sport of badminton, to the confident, successful actor on the set of TV’s most-watched sitcom since Friends.

Going behind the scenes of The Big Bang Theory and into his personal experiences, Kunal introduces readers to the people who helped him grow, such as his James Bond-loving, mustachioed father who taught him the most important lessons in life: Treat a beggar as you would a king. There are two sides to every story. A smile goes a long way. And, when in doubt, use a spreadsheet. Kunal also walks us through his college years in Portland, where he takes his first sips of alcohol and learns to let loose with his French, 6’8” gentle-giant roommate, works his first-ever job for the university’s housekeeping department cleaning toilets for minimum wage, and begins a series of romantic exploits that go just about as well as they would for Raj. (That is, until he meets and marries a former Miss India in an elaborate seven-day event that we get to experience in a chapter titled “My Big Fat Indian Wedding.”)

Full of heart, but never taking itself too seriously, this witty and often inspiring collection of underdog tales follows a young man as he traverses two continents in search of a dream, along the way transcending culture and language (and many, many embarrassing incidents) to somehow miraculously land the role of a lifetime.

Stay tuned for our next Reader Rec post to find out what Denise's other book recommendation is. (Hint, it's also a memoir.)

Reviewed by VM on Month DD, YEAR