Book Description 

“Because she was my mother, the death of zaftig good-time gal Renay Corren is newsworthy to me, and I treat it with the same respect and reverence she had for, well, nothing. A more disrespectful, trash talking woman was not to be found.”

So began Andy Corren’s unforgettable obituary for his mother, Renay Mandel Corren, a tribute that went on to touch the hearts of millions around the globe. In his brief telling of the life and legend that was Renay, a “loud, filthy‑minded (and filthy‑mouthed) Jewish lady redneck who birthed six kids,” Andy captured only a slice of his loving and fabulously unconventional mother.

   In this uproariously funny, deeply moving family portrait, readers meet the rest of his absurd clan: his brothers, affectionately nicknamed Asshole, Twin, and Rabbi; his one-eyed pirate queen of a sister, Cathy Sue; and then there’s Bonus, who Andy isn’t aware of until later in life since this mysterious oldest brother grew up at the Green Valley School for Emotionally Disturbed and Delinquent Children.

 A story of love and forgiveness, as well as a celebration of a woman who was “great at dyeing her red roots, weekly manicures, filthy jokes, pier fishing, rolling joints and buying dirty magazines,” Dirtbag Queen is an entertaining and poignant portrayal of the complex and heartfelt humanity that unites us all—especially family

My Review 

I saw this book on someone’s “Best Books” list, vaguely remembered the viral obituary, and knew that I had to add it to my TBR. When I saw that the audiobook—read by the author himself—was available for checkout on Libby, I felt like I had won the jackpot! 

While this memoir is named after Corren’s mother, it is primarily his own story, although his mother plays a significant role in his life.They experienced  a tumultuous and often dysfunctional upbringing in the 1980s, but it is clear that Renay Corren loved her children very much. 

There are some heavy topics in this book, but much of the narrative is light in tone— even the serious stuff. I found myself looking forward to listening to more of the story. The book starts out with the tale of poor doomed Licorice Katz, and I was immediately captivated. 

I would absolutely recommend Dirtbag Queen. I would especially recommend the audiobook. Corren is not just a talented author, but also a gifted raconteur who makes his story come to life with a theatrical flourish. I hope this is not the last of Corren’s foray into books.