Wow! Never pictured the 1940’s New York City and the theater crowd quite like Elizabeth Gilbert does in her latest, City of Girls.

We are introduced to Vivian Morris, who at the age of 19 flunks out of Vassar and is sent to live with her aunt (Peg) who owns a run-down theater troupe in New York City called the Lily Playhouse.  The uptight proper life Vivian is used to peels away as she enjoys a freedom, she never thought was possible.  The first half of the book is Vivian’s coming of age – and what a time she had. But remember this is long before the social upheaval of the free-love 1960’s.

Vivian palled around with Celia, the most beautiful of the showgirls, who taught her everything she needed to know about getting men to buy them dinner and drinks and about sex.  They partied their way through the Stork Club and other popular venues, drank expensive champagne and had lots of sex. 

At one point there is a scene that grows dark. Celia is quite aware of what is happening and gets Vivian out of the way. To me it foreshadowed the events to come. Sex is never quite so free.

By the time Aunt Peg’s friend, Edna Parker Watson, and her much-younger husband come to stay, Vivian and Celia are out-on-the-town every night.  Edna and Peg decide to put on a show and Peg asks her ex-husband to leave Hollywood and write the play.  

The playhouse is brought back to life and the play is a huge success.  Even Vivian has found a way to be involved.  She is an amazing seamstress.  She also falls in love with the leading man and they begin dating seriously.

Naturally, it all comes crashing down. And Vivian is at the center of it. Edna Parker Watson gives one of the best put-downs I ever read. 

The second half of the book loses its intense tension but kept us riveted because we cared about Vivian and wanted her to be okay.

We all loved the book.  We read a lot of books set in the 1940s but usually around the war, so it was nice to imagine what the City was like at the time and also about small theaters.

Our book club talked about Vivian’s sexuality and the price she paid when it got out of control.  We talked about Edna Parker Watson, her reaction and about her husband.  We loved Aunt Peg.  Don’t we all want mothers like that?  Vivian’s mother was cold, but Aunt Peg gave Vivian the warm and love she needed.

We talked about the second half of the book and its difference from the first half. And the man she finally fell in love with.

Enjoy the ride.

Rating: 8.0