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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
One of the greatest books I have ever read. Beautiful prose, interesting situations, the whole ordeal. The book first convinced me to pack up and leave for Paris. Then it convinced me to head to New York to be a librarian. A truly underappreciated read. Dundy's writing is up there with Hemmingway, Fitzgerald, and all the greats. Sally Jay is easily, in my opinion, the greatest literary character of all time.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-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:
Yes
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was absolutely wild, but the first half was basically incoherent, and the second half was like The Great Gastby on crack.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism
Minor: Trafficking
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Couldn't find why I should care about Sally Jo. She was a lark but the writing definitely reflected the time period and made it hard for me to get into the book.
what begins as a lighthearted chronicle of an american expat in paris eventually segues into something far richer and more astute in its emotional insights. at the center, holding it all together (just barely), is sally jay gorce, whose "vague nymphomania" springboards her into a melange of rather hilarious misadventures. sans the last 50 pages or so (which are basically perfect), plot is rather immaterial, or at least secondary with respect to the manner in which she narrates the incidents themselves. dundy, through sally jay, creates the liveliest voice i've encountered in a book since jonathan safran-foer's rap-obsessed ukrainian tour guide in EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED. equal turns solipsistic and self-lacerating, sally jay stumbles her way through france with wild abandon, intent on staving off boredom through any means possible. among all the ostensible jokes and casually observed moments of wry genius however is a palpable sense of vulnerability; the pathos that gradually emerges is unexpectedly powerful in its cumulative impact. i will admit reader: i found myself moved
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Fun, witty, easy to read, dynamic, enjoyable and at times frustrating to follow her journey, what she's going to and relate to her
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes