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cgj13 's review for:
City of Girls
by Elizabeth Gilbert
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my review.
This one didn't really do it for me. The story was okay, but I felt that it lacked depth.
It's not your typical WWII historical fiction that the market has seen a deluge of. I wouldn't even call it a historical fiction, but more of a personal journey to accepting who you are with the backdrop of WWII.
This book had two halves for me. The story of an insipid teen/early 20's privileged girl who for the first time has been given all freedom with no consequences. Kind of a coming of age story. And then, the real meat of the story--The actual becoming of a person.
What I loved:
The later part of the story, when Viv is an adult. The path that leads her to living her life on her terms. Where she finally owns who she is, how she wants to live her life, and makes no apologies for it!!
YES, GIRL, YES!!!
This section of the book is the reward for the drudgery of the rest. I so appreciate Elizabeth Gilbert showing us a strong, independent, sex-loving, woman who is not defined by a man or a marriage. Bold, honest about her faults, unashamed. Its how we should all live our lives. She finds her way, and learns that family is not who you are related to by blood or marriage.
The meh part:
The beginning and the middle. When Viv first gets to New York, she is a privileged girl who never really had hardships or the need to own up to her actions. She failed out of school--NBD, lets send her to the aunt in NY we don't really approve of. She lives a carefree life, not really working, partying hard. While she was liberated and free to live her life not under the constraints put on female of the time, she did it with out care to the people around her. Flitting from one shiny person to the next. It really was appalling how she dropped the people in her life for the next new person who she thought could get her what she wanted. You almost didn't feel bad for her when her life was nearly destroyed by a scandal. When she goes back home and submits herself to being controlled by her parents again, it was almost too much tedium to bare. She resigned herself to live a boring life without passion or care. I really wanted to give up on this book. Much like Viv had given up on herself.
This one didn't really do it for me. The story was okay, but I felt that it lacked depth.
It's not your typical WWII historical fiction that the market has seen a deluge of. I wouldn't even call it a historical fiction, but more of a personal journey to accepting who you are with the backdrop of WWII.
This book had two halves for me. The story of an insipid teen/early 20's privileged girl who for the first time has been given all freedom with no consequences. Kind of a coming of age story. And then, the real meat of the story--The actual becoming of a person.
What I loved:
The later part of the story, when Viv is an adult. The path that leads her to living her life on her terms. Where she finally owns who she is, how she wants to live her life, and makes no apologies for it!!
YES, GIRL, YES!!!
This section of the book is the reward for the drudgery of the rest. I so appreciate Elizabeth Gilbert showing us a strong, independent, sex-loving, woman who is not defined by a man or a marriage. Bold, honest about her faults, unashamed. Its how we should all live our lives. She finds her way, and learns that family is not who you are related to by blood or marriage.
The meh part:
The beginning and the middle. When Viv first gets to New York, she is a privileged girl who never really had hardships or the need to own up to her actions. She failed out of school--NBD, lets send her to the aunt in NY we don't really approve of. She lives a carefree life, not really working, partying hard. While she was liberated and free to live her life not under the constraints put on female of the time, she did it with out care to the people around her. Flitting from one shiny person to the next. It really was appalling how she dropped the people in her life for the next new person who she thought could get her what she wanted. You almost didn't feel bad for her when her life was nearly destroyed by a scandal. When she goes back home and submits herself to being controlled by her parents again, it was almost too much tedium to bare. She resigned herself to live a boring life without passion or care. I really wanted to give up on this book. Much like Viv had given up on herself.