Miss Thompson Returns

Jancee Dunn never fails to amuse me; she's a female David Sedaris. Why Is My Mother Getting a Tattoo? and other questions I wish I never had to ask is a small pink book you can read in a few days; the only chapters I skipped were a few of the verbatim phone conversations she has with her best friend, because I have the same phone conversations with my best friend every morning. Jancee's husband is apt to say "call Julie" when the subject veers toward emotions and minute examination of feelings and motives, just as my husband says "Ask Phyllis" when decorating, kids, or mysterious medical symptoms are raised. Jancee's best friend is Julie Klam, and I loved her book, too: Please Excuse My Daughter. Clever women, these two.

Miss Thompson Stays Up Late

I started reading Please Excuse My Daughter by Julie Klam

about 4 pm yesterday, and finished it at midnight.

Another true story. Klam's a writer (she worked as David Letterman's

personal intern for a while; she says he's a great boss)

and former spoiled brat who tells about having 

to grow up and make money instead of depending on

her husband to support her. Dog Otto (Boston

terrier) is a big character, too, as is baby Violet 

(but that comes later). (Riverhead Books/Penguin, $23),

but Miss Thompson got this book at the library. 

Put your foundation on before your concealer so it

doesn't slip away.