Pippa Middleton, seen here in London in August, has been...

Pippa Middleton, seen here in London in August, has been spotted spending Labor Day weekend in Shelter Island. (Aug. 13, 2012) Credit: AP

Pippa Middleton, the younger sister of Kate Middleton, Britain's Duchess of Cambridge, says in a new book that she is astonished by the worldwide attention she has received since her sibling's marriage in April 2011 -- and particularly by the spotlight on her derrière following her appearance as maid of honor in a form-fitting white gown.

"It is a bit startling to achieve global recognition before the age of 30 on account of your sister, your brother-in-law [Prince William] and your bottom," she writes in her party-planning book "Celebrate," excerpts of which appeared in a 24-page supplement Sunday in the British newspaper the Daily Mail.

"One day I might be able to make sense of this," she continued. "In the meantime I think it's fair to say that it has its upside and its downside. I certainly have opportunities many can only dream of -- but in most ways I'm a typical girl in her 20s trying to forge a career and represent herself in what can sometimes seem rather strange circumstances. I am by nature an optimist so I tend to concentrate on the advantages."

Middleton, 29, whose given name is Philippa, is a scion of her parents' highly successful party-supply company Party Pieces, for which she has been the online-newsletter editor. She also has been a part-time publicist with the London event planners Table Talk.

She reportedly received the equivalent of almost $640,000 for the book from publisher Michael Joseph.

"Celebrate" features recipes for home entertaining, and includes anecdotes of her and Kate Middleton's childhoods in the British village of Bucklebury.

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