The Old Man and Me, Elaine Dundy, NYRB Classics, (orig pub by Victor Gollancz, London, 1964) 231 pp
I read this as part of my 1964 list. Just a short review today because I am getting behind on those again. Elaine Dundy's The Dud Avocado, 1958, is perhaps her best known work. I have not read that one yet, but now I want to. The earlier book is set in Paris, this one in London.
Honey Flood (as she calls herself) is an American girl in London. An angry young woman to be precise, looking to recover what she considers to be her rightful fortune.
In those years when the angry young men were all the rage in Great Britain, she gives them the female side. The story is quirky, sometimes dark, but also hilarious in parts. The twisty plot is revealed by the unreliable narrator Honey. I had a great time reading it.
I hope all the women I know have had their wild days or are having them now! Sex and substances with no thoughts of consequences.
Reading this was great for reminiscing. You don't know until almost the last page how it will end. I thought the ending was perfect.
(The NYRB Classics reprint, the edition I read, is available in paperback by order from Once Upon A Time Bookstore.)
Oooo, this sounds like a lovely read! I will be adding it to my ever growing reading wishlist.
ReplyDeleteExcellent!
DeleteA work like this with a woman who is the protagonist does indeed seem rare. In my opinion that is a good thing. Too many stories fit within narrow social constraints.
ReplyDeleteLiving with abandon does have its plusses.
Living with abandon is perhaps best done when one is young, but I would not deny the experience to anyone.
DeleteI love these NYRB Classics and own quite a few. This one sounds very appealing, so happy you shared with us.
ReplyDeleteI have had this author on my radar for a while. I am glad I have finally read at least one of her books.
Deletethanks, sounds good. I'm actually part of the NYRB goodreads group, so I could nominate it for our next read along
ReplyDeleteGood idea. Get ready for a wild discussion! I will check out that group.
DeleteSo the angry young men had their counterpart in the angry young women! It's nice that their story has been told by this on-scene observer/participant.
ReplyDeleteAs it should be!
DeleteGlad that despite some darkness, the novel remained quirky and hilarious and you liked it so.
ReplyDeleteThanks Carmen. I was glad too.
DeleteThis one sounds good. Another book added to my overloaded TBR that I swear is going to come alive and eat me one day.
ReplyDeleteOh no. Do book lists eat people?
Delete