Reviews - The Dud Avocado | The StoryGraph

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587 reviews for:

The Dud Avocado

Elaine Dundy

3.73 AVERAGE

momsterlee's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous funny fast-paced

Loveable characters: Complicated

pagesfromhome's review against another edition

4.0

funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

First and foremost, check the content warnings before reading. This book was published in 1958 so...you know...it has its flaws

I picked up The Dud Avocado after reading Lives of the Wives by Carmela Ciuraru who profiled Elaine Dundy and her marriage to Ken Tynan. It took a bit to get my teeth sunk into, but as soon as I did, I found myself picking it up at really any chance I got. The writing is witty, but dry and truly makes you feel like you're right at the table with these artsy new adults trying to make their way in the world. There are some moments and lines that genuinely had me laughing out loud and it reminded me so much of my own time abroad and all of the naive, but endearing ways that my friends and I acted.

There is quite the turn at the tail end of the book that I was wholly unprepared for, but I'm actually quite glad I went in to it without knowing anything about it.

What bothered me is that we get the scene with Larry beating up Lila, but then, outside of him getting caught and confessing to stealing Sally's passport, we never hear about Lila again!

Some of the lines I highlighted included:

"It's amazing how right you can sometimes be about a person you don't know; it's only the people you do know who confuse you."
"I reflected wearily that it was not easy to be a Woman in these stirring times. I said it then and I say it now: it just isn't our century."
"I always expect people to behave much better than I do. When they actually behave worse, I am frankly incredulous."

I'd really recommend this for anyone looking for a classic that is significantly more digestible than classic literature is. While this isn't a canonical classic taught in literature classes, it is a an absolute joy of witty writing with a character who annoys the hell out of you, but you can't help but root for her.

I think a review I just read from georgiajames_ said it best so I will quote them, "I imagine this is who 16 year old boys feel when they read 'The Catcher in the Rye'. Except happier."

reindeerbandit's review

3.0

it reminds me a bit of “the sun also rises,” in that it’s a bunch of poor-rich art people frantically running around europe, not doing a whole lot. the difference is that it really struggled to hold my attention. i think perhaps she was a bit too scatterbrained for me to keep up with her.

kassik13's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous funny lighthearted tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

oawagner17's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

xtinevs's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous dark funny reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Obsessed. Female Hemingway.

annekearney's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous funny medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

Such a good read. I loved reading about Sally Jay and her many misadventures. Every now and then there were lines, so full of wit that left me astounded.