City of Girls

I don't know why I thought this would be anything other than peak chick lit (not a term I love but it's all I can think of that perfectly sums up the book). There were some nice sentiments towards the end (which was rushed and horribly imbalanced compared to other parts of the book) but on the whole I'd deem this more or less mildly entertaining and a bit disappointing. Still love Liz Gilbert though.

I wonder if Gilbert thought that the idea of women having sex drive and enjoying in an era several decades before the '60s-‘70s sexual revolution was some sort of revelation to us here in the 21st century? I certainly HOPE women enjoyed sex before then.

There was other wise very little story. Everything that happens after the big “incident” in the book, her true love, her activities during the war and so on, don't add up to a good plot or anything meaningful for the reader.

The best thing that happens is when the notable respected actress, Edna tells Vivian off for screwing around with her husband:

“The thing you don't understand about yourself, Vivian, is that you're not an interesting person. You are pretty, yes – but that's only because you are young. The prettiness will soon fade. But you will never be an interesting person,”

That's quite an insult. If she'd called her derogatory names she couldn't have hurt her more.

She's also correct. Vivian is not an interesting person. So why write a book about her?

About half way through this book I was so disappointed. It was fun and frivolous, but lacked the substance of the divine “Signature of All Things”. It's only in the latter half of the novel that anything truly meaningful happens. But when it does, it is touching and heartfelt. It takes it's sweet time getting there, but in the end City of Girls delivers the substance with the style.

The first half of this book deserved 5 stars, but the second half brought the overall down to 3. I loved the story up until Vivian left New York. I loved Peg, Olive, Celia, Billy, and Anthony. I loved the exciting New York partying and the showgirl moments. I loved the descriptions of the clothes Vivian made or appreciated. When Vivian came back to New York, I just didn't care about Marjorie or the dress shop or Frank. The second half took me way longer to read. I think if the tone of the book remained the same throughout, I wouldn't have minded. I get that she ages so life isn't as rosy and exciting, but to become so boring when you're still a hot older licentious woman who dresses fantastically? Make it make sense. I finished this book a full week ago, but had to let it marinate because I really didn't know how I felt about it.

My Gilbert-pilling continues! I picked this up after enjoying her nonfiction, and I had mistakenly thought it was about factory girls or something? Which isn't UN-interesting to me, but I was so delighted when I realized that it's actually a book about a THEATER, which is much more interesting to me personally! Anyway I just loved all the historical details and the characters. It reminded me of her nonfiction in that she's not afraid to write really messy, complicated (mostly women) characters.

“What were you to my father?”

Well it was the summer of 1940...
And Vivian Morris, as is typical of seniors everywhere, goes back 70 years and proceeds to completely ignore the question and talk entirely about herself. In fact she'll spend 3/4 of the book reminiscing before the aforementioned father really enters the story. Hell, I completely forgot that was the motivating question that kicks this whole thing off.

Narrative framework aside, Vivian Morris arrives in New York City a wide-eyed 19 year old after getting bounced from Vassar. She's been sent packing to her Aunt Peg and her run down midtown Manhattan theatre called The Lily Playhouse. Strictly working class clientele paying with loose change to watch hack musicals but it was love at first site for Vivian and her trusty sewing machine.

From there we are immersed in 1940's New York. Gilbert hits us with lingo of the time, with a kiddo here and a baby doll there. And a colourful cast of characters from the drop dead gorgeous showgirl Cellia Ray, the rough and tumble Anthony Roccella, and the theatrical grand dame Edna Parker Watson.

This was just a fun read. Vivian sets out to paint the town, have fun and make mistakes. Youth is not wasted on her even as she is repeatedly wrestled back into the tiny space that society would have her occupy. Its insistence that she satisfy herself with a quiet, acceptable narrative. We do finally get to the aforementioned father which provides an unexpected grace note to the entire story that I loved just as much, if not more, as her youthful escapades in New York.

3.5 Rounded to 3
I was torn in how to rate this one. The writing is good and flowed easily but for about 80% of the book nothing happens. You are immersed in Vivian's story ... her promiscuity and her eventual downfall. I wasn't really interested in what was happening to her. In the book, Edna states that Vivian is nothing special and maybe that is how her character is supposed to be portrayed. Sadly, it didn't work for me and I was bored throughout her flashbacks.

The last quarter of the book was better and moved at a quicker pace. I enjoyed this part of the book more than the other 80%. Overall, it's not a bad read, but not a memorable one either. With all the rave reviews, some from Bookish friends who are of a like mindset, I'm wondering if maybe it just wasn't the time for me to read this one?