Previously considered the domain of bikers and a rite of passage in the services, tattoos have crawled from society's fringes and onto the ankles of starlets and the biceps of bankers. In this volume, stories from writers including Sylvia Plath and Ray Bradbury capture the tattoo experience.
Dorothy Parker's Elbow
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Kim Addonizio teaches privately as well as being a prizewinning writer of both poetry and prose.* Cheryl Dumesnil teaches poetry at Santa Clara University as well as being a published poet herself.
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More About the Author
Kim Addonizio is a fiction writer, poet, and teacher. Her poetry collections include Tell Me, a finalist for the National Book Award, What Is This Thing Called Love, and Lucifer at the Starlite. She lives in Oakland, California.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By Rae Schwarz
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Most tattoo books are collections of full-color images and body shots, exploring how individuals interpret what it is to be tattooed. This book has these elements, but no pictures for a change. Edited by Kim Addonizio and Cheryl Dumesnil, both tattooed, this is a written depiction of tattooing. The collection includes fiction, personal memoirs, poetry and anecdotes on the physical experience and lifestyle choice to have skin art. The title comes from the historical fact that writer Dorothy Parker had a star permanently inked on one arm.
The excerpt from Bradbury's "The Illustrated Man" will be remembered as familiar and formative to many tattoo fans. Artists write about what it was like to learn to tattoo and related various ink-related adventures with a wide array of wild customers. Concentration camp survior Paul Steinberg describes his involuntary tattoo experience. Mastectomy survior Deena Metzger's tattoo falls at the other end of the ink spectrum as part of her chosen healing process. There are tales of joy, sorrow, smart choices, drunken moments, good ink and bad.
The short lengths of the pieces makes reading this on transit or during those short breaks during the day easy, and the subject matter is a great distraction from the mundane. A definite book for the collection of those who write about tattooing, or are looking for some more historical perspective.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Even if you are not a fan of, or have any tattoos, you cannot help immersing yourself in the assembled writings. The editors have done a great job. I found it hard to put this one down. Fascinating subject, fascinating writing. If you appreciate great writing, you'll love this book. You may even decide to go out and get your own tattoo.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I bought this while on vacation in San Francisco and read the entire thing on the plane back to New England. A great variety of short stories, essays, and poetry, this collection brings together a lot of powerful pieces of writing. Tattoos are examined from many different perspectives, ranging from a tool of intimidation and punishment to something beautiful and otherworldly. Parts made my skin prickle and my hair stand on end, bracing for the touch of the needle. I'd been thinking about getting a new one. Reading this solidified that decision.
My favorites: Murguia's "A Toda Maquina" & Orlowsky's "Tattoo Thoughts"
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
NOT TOO HAPPY
THE BOOK WAS NOT IN VERY GOOD SHAPE WITH A LOT OF HIGHLIGHTING IN IT AND LOOSE PAGES. FIRST TIME I WAS DISAPPOINTED.
Published on July 14, 2010 by Donna L. Huston
5.0 out of 5 stars
A "pre"-review
Cheryl Dumesnil was one of my professors in college. I have not read this book yet, but based on her abilities as a teacher, I am totally looking forward to reading it.
Published on February 8, 2003
5.0 out of 5 stars
ink on ink
Addonizio's and Dumesnil's anthology on writings on tattoos is a great collection of work. You can't go wrong with the writings inside. Read more
Published on January 9, 2003 by adead_poet@hotmail.com
5.0 out of 5 stars
Magic Marker
This book is loaded with great, gorgeous intelligent writing and the signature boldness found in the writing of its editors. Read more
Published on November 4, 2002
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 57
books:
See all 57 books this book cites
4
books
cite this book:
- The Penal Colony by Franz Kafka on 4 pages
- The Tattoo Hunter by Juvenal Acosta on page 78, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams: Short Stories, Prose, and Diary Excerpts by Sylvia Plath in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Saints of South Dakota and Other Poems by Katharine Whitcomb in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- This War Called Love by Alejandro Murguia in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
See all 57 books this book cites
- Fire is Favorable to the Dreamer by Susan Terris in Front Matter
- The Italian American Reader: A Collection of Outstanding Stories, Memoirs, Journalism, Essays, and Poetry by Bill Tonelli in Back Matter
- Poetry International 7/8 by Fred Moramarco on page 74
- Gargoyle 47 by Lucinda Ebersole in Back Matter
