Reviews

The Dud Avocado by Elaine Dundy

supernovella's review against another edition

5.0

An incredible book to send me off on a month long venture to europe and then finish in paris. This took me a while to get through but every time I opened it I was transfixed. Sally jay is such a well-formed character and so so funny. I loved the end (and that’s rare for me)

5/5 so good omg!

emmahollyday's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

connorshirs's review against another edition

3.0

Sous les pont de Paris! This had so many funny one-liners and I was constantly taking photos of the things that Sally Jay Gorce would say. She reminded me of Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany's, but I kept picturing her as Grace Kelly. I picked this up because it is one of Greta Gerwig's favorite novels of all time. I found it to be quite enjoyable, but I had a few problems with it. I did want Sally and Larry to get together, that is until you find out he's a complete... never mind, no spoilers.

The main problem I had with the novel was the plot. It seems to be going in a specific direction, towards a specific romance, but it does the unexpected, and I think it doesn't work. The best part of the book was the characters and the one-liners, if it weren't for these two things, I would have given it 2 stars.

middleone95's review against another edition

4.0

I loved the Dud Avocado. Despite the plot frustrating me a little, it really does all come together at the end.
For those who like Nora Ephron, give this a go; you’ll identify with the character’s internal monologue so many times. Her voice is completely internalised and lacks a delicious amount of self awareness that makes you feel a little bit jealous of her life but glad you’re not living it.

marithap's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Greta Gerwig recommended it, so I had to read it. It lost me sometimes with the descriptions but when the story was moving it kept me on my toes.

lauriestein's review against another edition

5.0

Madcap, poignant fun, and so many great, true lines.

gracesfootnotes's review against another edition

3.0

Highly entertaining, with a resemblance of Eve Babitz and Somerset Maugham.

sophia_tiwari's review against another edition

funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

ginbottle's review

funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A humorous novel: warm, vivacious girl abroad growing up fast and finding her adult feet; a happy-go-lucky quest for life.

godhateskeely's review against another edition

3.0

i absolutely adore sally jay gorce and her silly little adventures <3 she's funny, intelligent, and melodramatic to the point of near-lunacy. love the range because all the men she interacts with are either suspiciously cool or unfathomably crazy. the setting made me green with envy because why am i not spending my days talking about art in parisian cafés or swimming at a beach in the south of france. that's actually sick and twisted.

if you liked slow days, fast company by eve babitz this is that but with americans in 1950s paris and so much unexpected homophobia i had to guffaw.