Reader's Review: City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert


**THERE ARE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW**  If you do not want to read spoilers, turn back now!** 


Before you dive into this review, you must know I am an Elizabeth Gilbert fan.  I really adored The Signature of All Things, and I even liked Eat, Pray, Love (I know a lot of people didn't). That said, I had read some mediocre reviews of this book, and didn't know what to expect; it turns out, I enjoyed it VERY MUCH!  


Full disclosure: I started with the ebook and switched back and forth between it and the audiobook.  The audiobook was FANTASTIC! I think it helped make the book.  Blair Brown (the actress who played OITNB's Judy King) was the reader. She helped the story spring to life and brought an element of comedy I'm unsure it would have had if I'd read the book on my own.  


There were so many themes - relationships including friendships, family dynamics, and sexuality (including promiscuity &  homosexuality), as well as love, loss, life, grief, war, class division, and women's lib just to name a handful.  


The book is done in the style of an older woman retelling the story of her life to the daughter of her true love (which you find out closer to the end). I liked that it was in chronological order and from one perspective.


I'm not certain if it's classified as an epistolary - as it is just one long letter. Either way, I found the way it was done to be very effective.  It kind of reminded me of the elderly Rose in the movie Titanic retelling her story.  


For myself, Vivienne (the main character) was the most relatable (I don't know whether that is good or bad as I am only 40 and she was a 90-year-old woman).  If you know me, I don't want you to get the wrong idea. I haven't had quite the volume of sexcapades as she (and boy are they are detailed in the book) - but I have made my share of questionable choices, and have felt shame.  I've also let people who had expectations of me down - I feel like Vivienne is purposefully written as any woman. You can imagine sitting and having a cup of coffee or tea with her and her dishing on everything that happened in her life.   


There were so many well-developed characters! Sometimes, when an author introduces a lot of characters, it can be confusing.  In this case, the development was so good that the volume of characters didn't seem overwhelming at all. 


The setting was brought to life through the author's description.  At times, as I listened to the audiobook, I felt I  was being transported to the theater.  The Lily Playhouse was a character in and of itself, as were New York City, and the Brooklyn Navy Yard.  


With respect to the plot, there were a couple of different plot twists, and the majority of the plot happened in the second half of the book.  With that said, I think the first part of the book was essential in providing all of the background to make the story complete.  


Overall, I ADORED the book (and it wasn't just because it was my book club pick). This was a definite 5 stars from me!    

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