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Starting a new book... Let's hope it's a good one. 🤞

WOW. THIs book is just one zinger after another

#AdventRecommends December 20th

I love Paris, so a book set in Paris about a young woman‘s adventures in said city, is a sure winner with me.

What a treat! I loved this book

Sally‘s a young American in 50s Paris. She‘s made a deal with her uncle, for 2 yrs she‘ll have complete freedom and he‘ll support her. His condition is that she tells him all about it afterwards. This is Sally‘s adventures and she really knows how to live life

There‘s a lot of talk of the left bank and since Saint Germain is my favorite part of Paris, I loved it. Along with all the other Paris descriptions.

I was still wearing the evening dress I had on when I‘d met Larry that morning and the funny thing about it was that, even though twelve hours had elapsed since then, it still wasn‘t particularly appropriate. I mean I really felt I could expect it to be correct attire at some point of the day - like a watch that has stopped, eventually just happening to have its hands pointing to the right time

(Picture found online of the clock at Musee d‘Orsay)

For some people history is a Beach or a Tower or a Graveyard. For me it was this giant primordial Toy Shop with all its windows gloriously ablaze. It contained everything I‘ve ever wanted that money can buy. It was an enormous Christmas present wrapped in silver and blue tissue paper tied with satin ribbons and bells. Inside would be something to adorn, to amuse, and to dazzle me forever. It was my present for being alive.
As I say, I‘d started at

#bookspin Sad to say, I DNF'd this. It looked exactly the sort of old-fashioned, young woman having adventures story I liked, but it didn't feel... wholesome. I didn't like the narrator or want to spend time with her.

This was an enjoyable read. Elaine Dundy sets the mood brilliantly and paints a vivid portrait of a young woman who just wants to have different experiences and is simply a curious soul: "That's my answer to the question what is your strongest emotion, if you ever want to ask me: Curiosity, old bean. Curiosity every time." (Also, the 2006 afterward in my edition was great too. Love those little insights.)

This was funny but lacking in plot and didn‘t quite do it for me 🤷🏻‍♀️

#nyrbbookclub
Way overdue with this review, especially since this is probably my favorite NYRB pick so far. Most stories with naive young adults at their center don't give them much personality, so I enjoyed watching Sally Jay Gorce's exploits in Paris. She has a comic charm to how she approaches a series of absurd situations and characters. There were plenty of laugh out loud moments and it also took some unexpected turns.

“I couldn't stop singing to myself in the taxi–that heavenly tune about taking a chance on love.”

It's 1950s, Sally Jay Gorce in her early 20s travels from America to Paris to live life carefree. Paris at that time is brimming with artists (expatriates or otherwise) of various intellects; culture; and a thrill of experiencing a foreign life. It's a brilliantly vivid portrait of a woman who just wants to have different experiences and is 👇🏽

Book mail from #Powells to keep me sane tonight.

QUESTION 5 #NYRBbookclub

What did you think of the ending? Is the ending “happy“ for Sally? Did it satisfy you?

QUESTION 4 #NYRBbookclub

Why does it take her so long (and Teddy's warning) to see Larry for who he was? As you read, how did you see Larry?

QESTION 3 #NYRBbookclub

“And yet he was, I suppose, my first real relationship.” (p. 140) What did “a real relationship” seem to mean to Sally? Why did she leave Jim?

QUESTION 2 #NYRBbookclub

“To my chagrin, I found all my clothes...splitting themselves resolutely into three categories: Tyrolean Peasant, Bar Girl and Dreaded Librarian.“ (p. 56 NYRB edition). Sally alludes to being mistaken for a librarian, has the Dreaded Librarian Dream, attempts to become a librarian, and finally ends up in a man's bed that's in his library. What the heck is going on here?

QUESTION 1 #NYRBbookclub

Sally Jay Gorce is funny and certainly has her faults. Did you also find her to be smart? Silly? Aware of the world? Delusional? Something else? Did you root for her? Why or why not?

@vivastory @BarbaraBB @emilyhaldi @sprainedbrain @mklong @youneverarrived @LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen @Liz_M @merelybookish @MicheleinPhilly @gatheringbooks @saresmoore @sisilia @Reviewsbylola @batsy @Suet624

A screwball picaresque romp through Paris in the 1950s featuring the young & audacious American avocado, Sally Jay. All she wants to do is grab life with both hands & avoid turning into a spinster librarian. Reading this is in our bleak, gloom-soaked era of the pandemic was kind of a revelation. Sally Jay's life isn't frivolous, but because it's told with so much wit & humour, some of the wisdom hiding between the lines might get lost. A gem.

It just isn‘t the right time for this book. Sally Jay makes me smile but I can keep focussed. Too many characters, a too dense font. And I am reading Rules of Civility too, which is a bit similar but better written, I think. I‘m sorry #NYRBBookClub to let you down.

#Booked2020 #BookClubWorthy

This book is zymotic! And, by the way , drinks for everyone! 🍸🍷🥃🥂Almost every young woman would envy Sally Jay Gorce ! She has a chance and the means to explore Paris , a generous gift from her uncle.It‘s the 1950s ,Sally will learn as she goes along , that life can be joyous & fun , but there are always complications on the way to adulthood.Funny & smart.Can‘t wait for the discussion with the
#NYRBBookClub!

Now this is a Halloween party!

Looking forward to discussing this one with the #NYRBBookClub tomorrow!

Happy #caturday It just so happens that Crosby loves looking out the front door and 🥑avocados.
#NYRBBookClub @vivastory

I love the irreverent voice of the protagonist, Sally Jay Gorce. It's never mean-spirited but very funny and clever.

#NYRBbookclub

I‘m super late for this month‘s #nyrbbookclub 😑 Just started this today

Tonight looks like I‘m in it to make progress on my
#NYRBBookClub pick , discussion day is almost here!

Our current #NYRBBookClub read with a glass of rosé (because I didn‘t have any pernod ?).

@vivastory @Theaelizabet

“...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.”
Sally Jay Gorce
The Dud Avocado
1958

#nyrbbookclub

#WordsOfOctober day 28: This seafood paella looks like a #vibrant coloured meal - compared to the eggs benedict, that is. :) 💕🥰

This is the only book I‘ve read over the past few weeks. It‘s often put me to sleep-literally. However, it‘s also made me chuckle out loud. Unfortunately, after all this time I‘m only on page 85 and have decided to call it quits. I wish I could continue with it because it clearly has promise - it‘s an NYRB selection for heaven‘s sakes! - but politics & traveling back and forth to work has inhibited my ability to relate to the story. #NYRBbookclub

#FallFinds Day 19: Not the usual #flaky Mediterranean pastry that I love - but the all American skillet cookie goodness is still loooove! 💕💕💕 #NYRBBookClub

The beginning I absolutely loved, but then parts 2 & 3 lost that initial spark. I still read it with enjoyment because with a character like Sally Jay Gorce and with such witty writing by the author you can‘t not. It makes you feel like you‘re in for the ride. Funny and very well written. Can‘t wait to discuss it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ #nyrbbookclub

I loved this book because of its protagonist & narrator. It‘s an excellent character study and the storyline takes a backseat to the quintessentially American Sally Jay‘s musings and antics as a young expat in 1950‘s Paris. Dundy shows us a scrapbook of a particular time & place, adding her own embellishments and creating a muddled narrative of tangible experiences and blurred memories. I found it to be hilarious and unique. #NYRBBookClub

My current (delightful) view is a sleeping baby and a great book. I‘m loving Sally Jay and Dundy‘s meandering, vivid writing style. I plan to do NaNoWriMo next month and I‘m finding this book to be very inspiring!

I look forward to the discussion for #NYRBBookClub this month.

#FallFinds Day 10: Not really a #ForestGreenCover but at least a part of it. Paired with cheesy French onion soup from Shakespeare and Co. (which happens to be a restaurant here in Al Ain, not a bookstore) - super delicious!

#WordsOfOctober Day 9: Sally Jay Gorce is staring at this #incredible platter with frozen mango margarita and frozen cherry margarita signaling the start of my weekend.

I‘m thoroughly enjoying this book and Clara is thoroughly enjoying being adorable. 🥰 #NYRBBookClub #bookandbaby

I‘m about to start reading for this month‘s #NYRBBookClub in my little sanctuary, aka the closet nursery. I‘m also sunning out diaper stains next to some apt embroidery art. 😄

Thank you for the card & tea @kaysworld1 this is so sweet of you 💕 I hope you‘re doing well!

I also got the October #nyrbbookclub read the other day. I‘m about 50 pages in and so far it‘s brilliant. Can‘t resist a book set in Paris.

#WordsOfOctober Day 3: Yesterday, I was surprised to receive this bouquet and a bowl of chocolates from our Dean, most likely triggered by a completely-forgotten web conference with colleagues from Finland which I had to attend on my own, and where I delivered a presentation on the fly - and resulted in an MOU draft at the end of the day for academic collaborations and faculty/student exchange. I am deeply #thankful for this affirmation.

Day 30: Here are #3Books #IWantToReadNextMonth - tagged book is for our #NYRBBookClub

#SeptemberSenses Day 21: We now spend part of our weekends climbing up the mountain (Jebel Hafeet) because it is truly #AVision at night. We bring chairs and snacks with us - and of course, a book. #NYRBBookClub title for October accompanied me up the mountain with the glorious wind in our faces.

It‘s Christmas in September! Santa = Better World Books. Quarantine looks better to me now.

Aha! Love this edition.

#nyrbbookclub #nyrbclassics #bookmail

@vivastory @Theaelizabet I am excited to join you all. 😀

I started this last week and I've barely read 5 pages. Might have to put it down for now and move on to something else, maybe come back to it another time.

I laughed out loud reading this novel about a footloose, slightly zany young American woman in Paris in the late 50s. I found Sally J. Gorce to be a charming, if occasionally frustrating heroine. Plus the book is pretty sharp about what‘s OK for men vs the expectations placed on women...even in Bohemian Paris. #ClassicsChallenge2020

An American coming of age story set in 1950s Paris. It was written in the 50s, and has not aged well IMO. I didn't connect with the female MC, or the writting style. I'm not a fan of how women are often depicted (and I suppose how they often were) in older writings. Trifling, heedless, and man crazy (aka boring). I prefer a stronger female personality.
#AtoZ

"Bax chops wood, or starts to chop wood, or has just come from chopping wood. Never without an axe."

The random Canadian guy in my book. Made me chuckle. ??