City of Girls

“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.