Why Is My Mother Getting a Tattoo?: And Other Questions I Wish I Never Had to Ask (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Dunn's travails will be instantly recognizable to readers in their late 30s and 40s—a generation that's shifted the family bickering about what to serve at holiday dinners to conference calls and e-mails. Her parents are a bottomless well of comedy, sending her wacky newspaper clippings and grilling her loudly about her inability to go to the bathroom during their vacation. Her circle of friends is equally familiar, like the gay buddy who invites her over for TV-movie parties and can always be counted on to make catty remarks about strangers. Several chapters are filled with transcripts of phone conversations with her best friend, Julie, flitting from topic to topic, comparing the embarrassing songs saved on their iPods and wondering why their parents haven't figured out voice mail isn't like an answering machine (Hello? Anybody there? Hello, it's Dad). Dunn's tone is genial, only turning serious briefly near the end when she discusses not having kids—and then inadvertently discovers she's finally pregnant. The seriousness doesn't last long, though, and soon it's back to affectionately mocking her mom's decision to get tattooed—although, as her sisters point out, she's secretly pleased to have something new to write about. (June 23)
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Review

"I want Jancee Dunn to make me a pie. Actually, I want to sit around and listen to her entire family argue about what type of pie. Such is the extreme charm of her world. No matter the subject, Dunn's gimlet eye for all of life’s minor infractions and daily quirks is superbly addictive." —Sloane Crosley, author of I Was Told There'd be Cake

“[Jancee Dunn’s] wonder, bemusement, befuddlement, and frank delight at growing into adulthood are highly entertaining… Readers who enjoy humorous memoirs infused with a healthy dose of pop culture are sure to love this book, which has the potential to be an entertaining and provocative book club choice.” —Library Journal
 
“Genial [and] affectionately mocking…Dunn's travails will be instantly recognizable to readers in their late 30s and 40s…. Her parents are a bottomless well of comedy [and] her circle of friends is equally familiar.”—Publishers Weekly



From the Trade Paperback edition. --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Villard (June 23, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345501926
• ISBN-13: 978-0345501929
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #112,762 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Yeah, Yeah, Jancee's Great...But I LOVE Her Parents! :), August 1, 2009

By	Mercedes L. Johnmeyer "The Most Happy" (Kingsland, GA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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After thoroughly enjoying 'But Enough About Me', I was excited to see Ms. Dunn had a new book out of short stories about her life. This book is a bit more on the personal side, focusing mainly on stories of her family (who just crack me up!) and her own life, whereas her previous book was more about her job at Rolling Stone, and the famous people she had to interview.

Some of her stories are just too funny (like her and her sister's obsession with their childhood home after their parents sold it, and Heather's poor son wondering why he has to trick or treat in a strange neighborhood an hour and a half away from home! Oh, and the Japanese toilet! I almost peed myself reading that one! ). Some of her stories are sweet (like her father's incessant need to send clippings about every possible disaster just to make sure his girls are ok). And some are very sad (like her father not having a recording of his own father's voice and the tapes Jancee gives him of his mother).

But the best story, by far, is the title story. Way to go Mrs. Dunn for getting that Raven!! I must agree with Jancee though...when it's not your own mother, you think it's a great idea...but I'm not sure how I'd feel about MY mom telling me she wanted a tattoo! Anyway, I definitely recommend this book for those of you interested. Ms. Dunn has a great sense of humor, and a fantastic family for her to get her writing inspiration from. I look forward to whatever she comes up with next!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another winner, July 4, 2009

By	L. Bush - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have loved all of Jancee Dunn's books and this one was terrific too. She blends insight, sensitivity and lots of humor in these essays about her family and friends. I laughed out loud all the way through it and was sad when I finished it. Can't wait for the next book by her!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I missed the Dunns, July 1, 2009

By	Mattie Matthews (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I loved Jancee dunn's last book and I truly couldn't wait for her to write again. I wasn't disappointed. I love her, I love her family and I love her friends.
I read it in one day because I simply couldn't put it down. Even so I couldn't help but appreciate Jancee's clever, self deprecating stories. Every once in awhile I find myself smiling at something that she, her mother or one of her sisters has said. And who among us wouldn't love to go back and look at our childhood home? Of course we might not think if using our little nephew as a prop.
Jancee is such a terrific writer and this is a terrific book.