The Dud Avocado by Elaine Dundy

Staff Pick

Initially published in 1958 and re-published by the New York Review of Books in 2007, Elaine Dundy’s The Dud Avocado remains as relevant and engaging as ever. The novel follows the missteps of a twenty-something year old quick-witted American woman named Sally Jay Gorce who moves to Paris with the financial aid of her uncle and a desperation for life itself. Sally Jay’s first-person narration is often hilarious, occasionally poignant, and consistently entertaining to read. For anyone looking for an adventurous and funny read which doesn’t sacrifice its intellect, The Dud Avocado is an excellent choice.

The Dud Avocado By Elaine Dundy, Terry Teachout (Introduction by) Cover Image
By Elaine Dundy, Terry Teachout (Introduction by)
$16.95
ISBN: 9781590172322
Availability: In Stock—Click for Locations
Published: NYRB Classics - June 5th, 2007

Everything’s Trash, But It’s Okay by Phoebe Robinson

Staff Pick

In her newest book of essays Everything’s Trash, But It’s Okay (Plume, $26), Phoebe Robinson successfully puts into words so much of the confusion and angst and humor that comes with living in America these days, and especially how that manifests for her, as a black woman. With the same pizzazz that Robinson has always brought to her projects—most notably, the podcast she co-hosts with Jessica Williams, 2 Dope Queens, and her previous book You Can’t Touch My Hair: And Other Things I Still Have to Explain—she manages to write honestly and creatively about popular culture, being a woman, dating, beauty standards, race, debt and finances, work, and the pitfalls of white feminism. And, perhaps most importantly, she speaks about all of this in her own distinct voice and with a sense of humor which made me laugh out loud throughout. So, if you’re done putting up with all the trash and ready to laugh about it instead, this book is for you. 

Everything's Trash, But It's Okay By Phoebe Robinson, Ilana Glazer (Foreword by) Cover Image
By Phoebe Robinson, Ilana Glazer (Foreword by)
$26.00
ISBN: 9780525534143
Availability: Special Order—Subject to Availability
Published: Plume - October 16th, 2018

The Flame by Leonard Cohen

Staff Pick

For anyone and everyone who has ever found solace in the deep melodies of Leonard Cohen’s songs or in the poetry of his words, The Flame (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $28) is a must-read. This posthumously published collection includes poetry, notebook entries, lyrics, drawings, and other peeks into a truly legendary mind. In classic Cohen fashion, his work delves into the topics of love, death and aging, cultural unraveling, and religion, with a rhythm and quick-wittedness which mirror his greatest songs. This collection is not only a testament to Cohen’s remarkable writing talent, but also a reminder of his ability to capture many of the most elusive parts of human experience—love, longing, death—in concise lines which are often as strangely balanced as life is: where humor, fear, regret, beauty, and devastation can coexist and move amongst each other comfortably and all at once.

The Flame: Poems Notebooks Lyrics Drawings By Leonard Cohen Cover Image
$28.00
ISBN: 9780374156060
Availability: Not On Our Shelves—Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Farrar, Straus and Giroux - October 2nd, 2018

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