The dud avocado

the long version

It’s been described as “Catcher in the Rye” for girls by British blogger Moira Redmond. When Sally Jay Gorce was thirteen, she made a pact with her wealthy uncle Roger; if she stopped running away from home, stayed in school and made it all the way through college, he would pay for her to live wherever and however she wished, for two years. Now Sally is out of college and in Paris, in the late 1950’s, “up to her ears in possibility” and the freedom – and money - to do as she pleases. Her observations on the various individuals she encounters, from Bohemian artist wannabes to distinctly unpleasant members of the decayed aristocracy, are clear-eyed and spot on. Alas, despite the fact that she possesses a sturdy sense of self, and she’s neither vain nor stupid, Sally Jay is the poster child for bad decisions; particularly when it comes to men. Warning note: A grasp of conversational French will greatly enhance your reading experience. That, or Google Translate.