If It's Not One Thing, It's Your Mother - by Julia Sweeney (Paperback)

About the Book

While Julia Sweeney is known as a talented comedienne and writer/performer of her one-woman shows, she is also a talented essayist--and the past few years have provided her with some rich material. Julia adopted a Chinese girl named Mulan and then, a few years later, married and moved from Los Angeles to Chicago. She writes about deciding to adopt her child, strollers, nannies, knitting, being adopted by a dog, The Food Network, and meeting Mr. Right through an email from a complete stranger. Some of the essays reveal Julia's ability to find that essential thread of human connection, whether it's with her mother-in-law or with an anonymous customer service rep during a late-night phone call. But no matter what the topic, Julia always writes with elegant precision, pinning her jokes with razor-sharp observations while articulating feelings that we all share.--From publisher description.

Book Synopsis

Saturday Night Live veteran Julia Sweeney's "endearing series of true tales from parenthood's front lines" (O, The Oprah Magazine) is a funny, smart tour de force that reads like a conversation with your best friend.

In these candidly witty and poignant essays, comedienne and writer Julia Sweeney muses on the complex blessings of motherhood: deciding to adopt her daughter, a Chinese girl named Mulan ("After the movie?"); nannies (including the Chinese Pat); being adopted by a dog; and meeting Mr. Right through an email from a complete stranger who wrote, "Desperately Seeking Sweeney-in-Law." She recounts how she explained the facts of life to nine-year-old Mulan, a story that became a wildly popular TED talk and YouTube video. But no matter what the topic, Julia always writes with elegant precision, pinning her jokes with razor-sharp observations while articulating feelings that we all share.

Review Quotes

"[Sweeney's] sharp humor shines through . . . singles looking to adopt will find inspiration along with the giggles."-- "Library Journal"

"A deep, candid, insightful, and emotional look at love, family, independence, and commitment....Reading it is like catching up through a long, soul-baring night with your funniest old friend."-- "More"

"A former SNL cast member leaves fame behind, moving to the Midwest and adopting a Chinese girl, in this endearing series of true tales from parenthood's front lines."-- "O, The Oprah Magazine"

"A thoughtful set of essays on motherhood embroidered with humor . . . As you'd expect, there's humor here, but it's also a deeper read about relationships and the unpredictability of life."-- "Chicago Tribune"

"Frank, funny."-- "Atlanta Journal-Constitution"

"Funny, funny stuff . . . clever and quirky . . . she exhibits that rare ability as a writer to make the ordinary seem interesting."-- "San Antonio Express-News"

"I am hereby breaking my vow to not write any more blurbs because...it's Julia Sweeney! In my opinion, any new creative offering from Julia Sweeney, no matter what the medium, is a cause for celebration because she is such a spectacular combination of insightful, hilarious and honest. So, yay! A new book from Julia Sweeney! Drinks are on me!"--Merrill Markoe "author of Cool, Calm, and Contentious"

"Intimate and humorous . . . Sweeney's devilish sense of humor successfully makes the transition to page, linking the scenes of her life as daughter, sister, wife, and mother into a delightful whole."-- "Publishers Weekly"

"Julia Sweeney can you make you laugh about anything. . . . Wry and honest."-- "Minneapolis Star Tribune"

"Laugh-out-loud moments blended with honesty and despondency."-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"Outlandishly funny . . . For every mother who could use a laugh--in other words, every mother--If It's Not One Thing, It's Your Mother offers a touch of wisdom and plenty of wit."-- "Tampa Bay Times"

"Reading If It's Not One Thing, It's Your Mother gave me the delightful sensation of being Julia Sweeney's best friend. I curled up in bed with this book and we shared secrets, swapped parenting fiascos and boyfriend dramas, complained about our mothers, laughed a lot, cried a little, and just generally had an awesome time. Write another book soon, Ms. Sweeney! Legions of your friends are waiting!"--Ayelet Waldman "author of Red Hook Road and Bad Mother"

"Sweeney takes life's quotidian rituals to hilarious heights."-- "Booklist"

"This is the sort of book that made me want to be the person who wrote it. Pithy, painful and very, very funny."--Emma Thompson

"What a delicious treat! Julia Sweeney is one of the truest, warmest, wittiest voices in the world today, and we're so lucky that she spent her precious alone-time (while her husband and daughter were away) writing a book that invites everyone into her heart and home."--Cindy Chupack, a writer/executive producer of HBO's Sex and the City and author of The Between Boyfriends Book

"What a gift! If It's Not One Thing, It's Your Mother is an intimate and hilarious book that will leave you resenting your mother less, hugging your children tighter, and glowing with gratitude that Julia Sweeney has put it all into words."--Maria Semple "author of Where'd You Go, Bernadette"

About the Author

Julia Sweeney was a cast member of Saturday Night Live from 1990 to 1994. She has also written and performed in several successful, critically acclaimed one-woman shows, including God Said Ha!, which played on Broadway and was made into a film; In the Family Way, which appeared Off Broadway; and Letting Go of God, which was performed Off Broadway and made into a film. She lives outside of Chicago