City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert is a dazzling and intimate coming-of-age tale, which tells the story of falling in love with New York City, with boys and finally yourself. Primarily set in 1940s New York City, before spanning to the rest of her lifetime, Vivian Morris shares her story about living in the Lily Playhouse with her colourful Aunt Peg and an abundance of showgirls. City of Girls had been on my TBR list for years, and my only regret is not reading it sooner.
Gilbert’s novel just absolutely blew me away. I cannot stress how much I loved this book. Told in a retrospective voice as an elderly Vivian recalls her past to a young woman. It’s a vibrant celebration of friendship, sexual liberation, and personal growth in the wake of adversity. It’s a charming and insightful exploration of what it truly means to live a full and interesting life, even if it doesn’t always follow a conventional path.
As we begin the novel, Vivian is a young, aimless girl who wants for nothing and takes every opportunity for granted. It isn’t until she is shipped off to New York City to live with her aunt that she seems to begin to discover her ambitions and become her own person.
Gilbert’s writing is evocative and does an excellent job of transporting you to the smoky clubs and sparkling life of theatre in the 1940s. It’s the worldbuilding paired with the taboo for the time topic of female sexual liberation that truly enraptured me. Activities that wouldn’t be considered particularly jawbreaking by today’s standard, but Gilbert captures that undercurrent of excitement and scandal perfectly.
What truly sets City of Girls apart is its cast of unforgettable characters. The character development of Vivian Morris is phenomenal. From a vapid young slip who it is exclaimed, “will never be interesting”, to a complex, chic woman full of unconventional and rich relationships. Characters such as Aunt Peg, Olive, Celia Ray and Edna Parker Watson are just a few of the women who shape Vivian’s life and challenge societal expectations whilst holding up others. To me these women in particular gently reminded me that progression isn’t linear and that no one person is infallible. City of Girls is a testament to the enduring bonds that can be found in unlikely relationships and a reminder that it takes courage to live a life on one’s own terms.
City of Girls manages to balance being a breezy, entertaining read with some serious and thought-provoking plot points. As my introduction to Elizabeth Gilbert, I can’t wait to explore her other works.
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