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  3. 11 Books to Read After You Binge Season 2 of Master of None

11 Books to Read After You Binge Season 2 of Master of None

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By Ruth Kinane May 15, 2017 at 03:38 PM EDT
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Master of None: Books to read

ExDStill_MON_209_210_BLK5_161118_003517_R
Credit: Netflix

Master of None fans who binge-watched season 2 of Aziz Ansari's excellent examination of millennial New York (and beyond) who now feel a gaping hole in their life where the Netflix show used to be, check out some of these books that share similar themes, characters and concepts.

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Open City, Teju Cole

open-city
Credit: Random House

Not unlike Dev's travels to Italy for some soul searching in season 2, Open City tells Nigerian doctor Julius' tale as he reflects on his past, present and future while living in New York and also by visiting Brussels and the Nigeria of his youth.

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The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath

The Bell Jar: 50th Anniversary Editionby Sylvia Plath
Credit: HarperCollins Publishers

The Bell Jar share its self-awareness, honesty and reflection on human pyschology with many of the musings of Aziz Ansari's writing. Plath's semi-autobiographical and darkly beautiful novel will stay in your mind, and heart, long after reading the last line.

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Sex in the Title, Zack Love 

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Set in New York City in the early 2000s -- before smart phones and dating apps dictated romantic relationships -- Sex in the Title's exploration of dating in a metropolis that moves too fast and always has too many alternative options mirrors Dev's troubles in Master of None, particularly in its portrayal of making meaningful connections.

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Office Girl, Joe Meno

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Credit: Akashic Books

Meno's novel deals with that transition between early adulthood and actual adulthood. Though it's a little earlier in the process than Ansari's group in the Netflix show, Office Girl shares similarities in its humorous tone even when dealing with darker emotions like angst, insecurity and loneliness.

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Where'd You Go, Bernadette, Maria Semple

Where'd You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple -- book cover
Credit: Little, Brown and Company

Ansari and Semple share the ability to write about real emotional pain but with wit and perspective which, in turn, allows for comedy to breach some of life's more painful moments. Where'd You Go, Bernadette follow Bee's attempt to track down her mother after she mysteriously disappears.

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I Was Told There'd be Cake, Sloane Crosley

I Was Told There'd Be Cake - Paperback (4/1/08)by Sloane Crosley
Credit: Penguin

This book of essays deals with the struggles of modern urban living and the unique perks and problems presented by life in New York City. Like Dev in Master Of None, the essays' protagonist encounters crazy jobs, complex relationships, and moral quandaries -- but all in an unpredictable and endearing way.

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Wallflower at the Orgy, Nora Ephron 

Wallflower at the Orgy by Nora Ephron
Credit: Bantam

Ephron and Ansari share the ability to analyze American culture with a mix of love and cynicism. This book of essays from the 1960s explores society's obsessions with celebrity, food, romance, clothes, entertainment, and sex -- obsessions that haven't changed greatly in nearly 60 years.

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The Namesake, Jhumpa Lahiri

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Credit: Mariner Books

Episode 3 of the new season of Master of None, "Religion," explores the conflicting view points between generations, as Dev rejects his parents' view of the Muslim religion because he doesn't want to be confined by older practices. In The Namesake, Lahiri also explores the clash of cultures, the immigrant experience and the tangled ties between generations.

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The Imperfectionists, Tom Rachman

The Imperfectionists - paperback (1/04/2011)by Tom Rachman
Credit: The Dial Press

Viewers who found the Italian setting of the first two episodes of Master of None seasons 2 to be a highlight, Rachman's novel is a must-read. Set in Rome, The Imperfectionists follows the ups and downs of a group of reporters and editors of an English-language newspaper.

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Day of Honey, Annia Ciezadlo

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Credit: Free Press

One of the best parts of Master of None might be Dev's enthusiasm for food -- it's rare for an episode to pass without him suggesting grabbing a bite. So if season 2 has left fans hungry for more, check out Day of Honey. Ciezadlo's memoir uses food, the rituals of eating and interactions with others to reveal the vibrant culture of the Middle East.

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It's Not You, Sara Eckel

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Credit: TarcherPerigee

Dev hasn't had much luck in the romance department. Maybe he could use a copy of Eckel's book, It's Not You: 27 (Wrong) Reasons You're Single. Based on a popular Modern Love column, the book counters all the tired reasons given to singletons to explain their lack of a relationship and encourages them to tap into their own wisdom about who and what is right for them instead.

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    1 of 12 Master of None: Books to read
    2 of 12 Open City, Teju Cole
    3 of 12 The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath
    4 of 12 Sex in the Title, Zack Love 
    5 of 12 Office Girl, Joe Meno
    6 of 12 Where'd You Go, Bernadette, Maria Semple
    7 of 12 I Was Told There'd be Cake, Sloane Crosley
    8 of 12 Wallflower at the Orgy, Nora Ephron 
    9 of 12 The Namesake, Jhumpa Lahiri
    10 of 12 The Imperfectionists, Tom Rachman
    11 of 12 Day of Honey, Annia Ciezadlo
    12 of 12 It's Not You, Sara Eckel

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