The idea is to write a (snark-free) persuasive review every month—one designed to convince you to read a book that I not only loved but also was changed by.

I get recs all the time for “a good book” and “a fun read” but my attitude is: unless it’s one of the best books you’ve read in your life, keep it to yourself. There's plenty of Good Enough media out there—I only want to be suggested life-changers.

So that's what I'm attempting every month: if you've been convinced, please comment below and reward my efforts.

The Dud Avocado by Elaine Dundy

If you love Kay Thompson’s ELOISE, Elaine Dundy’s THE DUD AVOCADO is for you. The main character is not a sad rich girl character but the overall sense of humor (which I’d argue is what makes ELOISE special) is very similar. The deadpan delivery and lovable-ne’er-do-well spirit will be familiar as Dundy’s Sally Jay Gorce fumbles her way through Paris.

Warning: if you profess love for this book you will be labeled a tryhard. And I get why. THE DUD AVOCADO has made the rounds on the “best books you’ve never heard of” lists – so much that most readers have, in fact, heard of it. Circulating on these “I know something you don’t” lists has accorded it the same pretentious energy that Norman Rush’s MATING suffers. Great books — but the people proselytizing for them (I’m part of it now, too) make them a little repellant.

I read THE DUD AVOCADO ~5 years ago (I saw it on one of those lists!) and again last summer. A rarity: I loved it just as much on the second read through. My husband asked to read it – and did not finish.

Another warning: some readers might consider this a “nothing happens” book. I’d argue that quite a lot happens plot-wise (Sally Jay’s activities are frenetic, just like Eloise’s) but if you aren’t entertained by the voice, it could drag.

You read THE DUD AVOCADO for the voice. It’s so droll and appealing (I could read a whole series about Sally Jay Gorce) to my ear. Not to sound defensive but things do happen – the “payoff” at the end of the book is very satisfying. The beauty of the story is that it feels like many random threads are opened haphazardly (we’re in absolute picaresque territory), but they tie off quite neatly in the final chapter. (There was design underpinning the apparent chaos all along!)

Let me give you an example of what you’re in for: Sally Jay has an affair with an older married man. She lives off a stipend that her rich uncle gave her to experience Europe. She ends up as a movie extra by total accident. It reminds me of Arrested Development in the way hilarious coincidences drive the story.

Sally Jay isn’t “rascally” but I’d call her the female version of a rake –- and the novelty of this type of woman is a major part of my love for this character/book. Obviously, I love complex/complicated/unlikeable female characters but these descriptors often translate into self-loathing, deeply insecure, very intelligent overthinkers. Again, I love these characters but 70% of what I read is this character. Sally Jay is (sometimes) ditzy. Something about her is childlike and lovable – and I appreciate the break from self-scrutiny.

I wouldn’t call THE DUD AVOCADO “light fare” because it does feel ~*literary*~ in its artfulness. (Maybe I’m so used to trauma being part of virtually every story that the lack of anything trauma-adjacent makes it feel lighthearted?) If you can imagine an “intellectual” Bridget Jones’s Diary  -- there. Have I sold you on it yet?

Speaking of the “best books you’ve never heard of” lists -- I hate these because you should discover things when you discover them. “Un-gatekeeping” certain things is often ruining the journey. This topic was something the SRG Discord (join us) discussed: When you skip the discovery part and go straight to the hard-won insider knowledge (birdwatching spots was the original example) you don’t appreciate it because you didn’t go to a bunch of crappy birdwatching spots along the way.  You don’t appreciate it because you don’t know what you don’t know.

Birdwatching and reading are a skill. Imagine you’re a novice skier and you overhear an expert skier talking about the best trail they’ve ever skied-- and you get to the top the run they mentioned and you realize you’re in over your head. It's way too difficult. That’s what people are doing when they “research” and dive into the advanced version of something they just took up. Sometimes you haven’t heard of these particular “best” books/trails/birding spots for a reason. You’ll hear about them organically when they are applicable to you.   

If I read THE DUD AVOCADO in high school I would’ve probably dismissed it as boring. I’m not saying the universe will deliver books to you at the right time in a woo-woo way but I am saying you should follow your own taste. I know this bit is called “Persuasive Book Reviews” but that’s a misnomer. I don’t want to persuade anyone. I wanted an excuse to write about books I love and unpack why I love them because that’s a good exercise. For this book, I love it because it’s fun-but-make-it-literary. Highbrow fun is pretty rare.