I love the funny, friendly readers who write into my website (a special shout-out to those who write from beautiful Brazil!) I just want you to know that I read every word and wish I could respond but I'm in lockdown, finishing my third book, writing away in my sweatpants at home like a crazy person.
Also: I rejoice when I find out that someone has written about my book on their blog. For instance, below is something from http://page2reel.blogspot.com:
I really enjoyed Jancee Dunn's first book so it was with eager anticipation that I waited for her debut novel. I had high expectations for this book. Why? Because we are both from New Jersey, her first book was funny and I just knew based on the title of this one, that I'd love it. Love it. And I did. I picked the book up on Friday and by last night I was done.
Lillian Curtis is a thirty eight year old television producer who's husband has just announced he's done with the marriage. Lillian heads back to her parents house in suburban NJ to convalesce.
Everything in her childhood room is exactly as she's left it- which is where the descriptions get fun. Jancee is a child of the 80's and her observations and memories are spot on from the scrunchy socks to taping songs off the radio to cassette tapes to the posters on the wall. Coinciding with Lillian's trip back home is her 20th high school reunion and the possibility of reuniting with her old boyfriend. Old feelings and memories come flooding back to her as she reassess the person she was- and still is.
Jancee writes with a light touch- her descriptions are hilarious, the pages turn quickly and the story has plenty of endearing characters to bond with, especially Vi, the seventy-something year old television personality. At the end of the book, I sighed and thought, Gee...I wish had written this!
Great job Jancee. Now hurry up and write another one!
THANK YOU, CINDY!
Read the Books
- Dunn does a good job of keeping the reader wanting to know ‘What’s next?” in this crazy, yet oh-so typical family’s life....When a reader can connect with an author’s words, a book suddenly becomes magical – and there is magic here. Sacramento Book Review
Click to buy Why Is My Mother Getting a Tattoo? And Other Questions I Wish I Never Had to Ask: Amazon| Borders| Indiebound.com | BN.com | Powells.com
In her early forties, Jancee Dunn began to wonder why she still felt like a 13-year-old around her family. Talking to her friends, she found the same was true for them—despite successful jobs, marriages, and families of their own. Do we ever really grow up, she wonders? Why is the slow, sticky process of prying ourselves free from our parents and childhoods so difficult? In Why Is My Mother Getting a Tattoo?, Dunn examines the phenomenon, with scenes ranging from a "haunted Savannah" tour gone wrong to a visit to a tattoo parlor with her sixty-ish mother, who is dying to get a raven inked on her wrist. Finally, Dunn and her sisters arrange a visit to the house where they grew up, a bittersweet but comic experience that answers her questions and puts her at peace with her parents—until the next tattoo parlor visit, at least.
"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, I Was Told There'd Be Cake
Click to Buy Don't You Forget About Me from Amazon
| Booksense.com | BN.com | Powells.com
The hysterical debut novel from former Rolling Stone writer Jancee Dunn features the humor of Laurie Notaro or Merrill Markoe combined with the music-induced nostalgia of Rob Sheffield’s Love Is a Mix Tape.
Lillian Curtis, a 30-something New York City television producer, finds her past and present colliding when she moves back in with her parents, where time seems frozen in 1988 – in her room, there’s a Rick Springfield tape on her dresser and Duran Duran posters hanging on the wall. Back in New Jersey after twenty years, she is forced to confront not only her 80’s nostalgia, but also all the people she thought she’d left behind – including her high school boyfriend.
"Steeped in 80s-era references (Rick Springfield cassettes, Duran Duran posters, and Anais Anais perfume, anyone?), the flashback elements of Lily's life are breezy, reliably tacky fun. But unexpected moments of tenderness...give the story heart."
—People
"Dunn's deft sense of pacing and her old-fashioned niceness make "Don't You Forget About Me" a breezy, entertaining summer read that never insults the reader's intelligence. This is a seemingly modest achievement that should not be underestimated."
—The Los Angeles Times
"In addition to being an impressive treasure trove of cultural references both high and (frequently) low, Jancee Dunn is also a tenderhearted novelist. DON'T YOU FORGET ABOUT ME is wistful, graceful, and seriously funny.
—Meg Wolitzer, The Ten-Year Nap
One of the "top upcoming summer reads..."
—Daily Candy
Click to buy But Enough About Me: Amazon | Booksense.com | BN.com | Powells.com
When the girl next door lands a dream job interviewing celebrities and rock stars at Rolling Stone, the result is Almost Famous meets Working Girl: A hip and funny true story of the pleasures and perils of the red carpet.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"I loved this book from start to finish ... Jancee Dunn is a wonderful storyteller."
Curtis Sittenfield, author of Prep
"Jancee has "dunn" (pun intended) a spectacular job ... I am so proud to be a part of it.."
Dolly Parton
"Hilarious -- you won’t be able to keep from reading the whole thing." Matthew Klam, author of Sam the Cat
Don't You Forget About Me: The Playlist
What the Critics Are Saying
- "The ultimate beach read for the person who likes their pop culture served with a side of smarts."
Elle - An irresistable narrator... Grade: A"
Entertainment Weekly - Review in Library Journal
"Sparkles with wry humor, touching honesty, and celebrity insight."
(click for more) - Review in Vogue
"Pitch perfect..."
(click to read more) - Review in Publishers Weekly
"A delight to read...Amusing, clever and affable..."
(click to read more)
- Review in Kirkus Reviews
"Funny, frothy and fabulous...Dunn is a master of character development."
(click to read more)
Meet the Cast of Characters
Bonus Book Chapters!
March 2013
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | |||||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| 31 |
« Back from Los Angeles | Main | My favorite TV show »
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Contact Jancee Dunn
- Editorial inquiries for
Jancee Dunn:
David McCormick
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37 W. 20th Street
New York, NY 10011
mccormickwilliams.com
Readings,
Events,
and Media
Previous Articles, Essays, and Fiction
- Inside Scan: Are Common Medical Tests and Procedures Always Necessary? - Magazine - Vogue
- Vogue article on migraines, March 2012
- April 2011 Essay for Parents magazine on being a tiny bit neurotic
- Essay on 'Project Runway' from the April 2010 book Reality Matters: 19 Writers Come Clean On The Shows We Can't Stop Watching
- Real Simple essay, June 2010 "Ten Things My Father Was Right About"
- Modern Bride August 2008: Wedding By Committee
- New York Times 3/27/08: "You Might Move Out, But You Can't Move On"
- Blueprint magazine March '07: How Not To Complain
- Salon essay: Head In the Stars (8.22.06)
- New York Times: With the Grace of Liberace Go I
Thanks Typepad!
Lately Enjoying
The MTV2 Years
Recent Posts
- Article on taming tantrums in PARENTS magazine April 2013
- Cyndi Lauper's memoir reviewed in the New York Times
- The wonderful Friendkeeping by Julie
- Heres an article I wrote
- Vogue article on unnecessary medical tests and procedures, December 2012
- Cyndi Lauper memoir out today
- Vogue article on migraines, March 2012
- A tweet from Cyndi Lauper
- Essay for Real Simple, October 2011 -- Five Writers Are Asked What They Would Save If Their House Caught On Fire
- Small Essay for Real Simple Family, September 2011
I am SO EXCITED to hear you're working on your third book, I cannot wait. I preordered your "Don't Forget About Me" and was so eager to read it, I finished it in about 3 days (and I'm a mom who works full time so that says something!). I've turned my sisters on to you and they love you also. Congratulations on your success, you deserve it! Hopefully, Amazon or someone like that will offer a preorder of your new book. Again, CANNOT WAIT!!!
Posted by: Linda G. | October 22, 2008 at 01:18 PM
just got done reading "don't you forget about me" and it really brought me back to my high school years, right down to what you referred Freshen Up gum to...I thought only my friends and I called it that!!!! Now I'm eager for my 20 year reunion from high school in two years!
Thanks for a great read!
Posted by: Teri Dyer | November 09, 2008 at 06:09 AM
Since you like to know... I wrote about your book on my blog!!!
http://everydayiwritethebook.typepad.com/books/2008/11/dont-you-forget-about-me-by-jancee-dunn.html
Posted by: Gayle | February 18, 2009 at 08:03 PM