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City of Girls
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert
From the # 1 New York Times bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love and The Signature of All Things, a delicious novel of glamour, sex, and adventure, about a young woman discovering that you don't have to be a good girl to be a good person. "Life is both fleeting and dangerous, and there is no point in denying yourself pleasure, or being anything other than what you are." Beloved author Elizabeth Gilbert returns to fiction with a unique love story set in the New York City theater world during the 1940s. Told from the perspective of an older woman as she looks back on her youth with both pleasure and regret (but mostly pleasure), City of Girls explores themes of female sexuality and promiscuity, as well as the idiosyncrasies of true love. In 1940, nineteen-year-old Vivian Morris has just been kicked out of Vassar College, owing to her lackluster freshman-year performance. Her affluent parents send her to Manhattan to live with her Aunt Peg, who owns a flamboyant, crumbling midtown theater called the Lily Playhouse. There Vivian is introduced to an entire cosmos of unconventional and charismatic characters, from the fun-chasing showgirls to a sexy male actor, a grand-dame actress, a lady-killer writer, and no-nonsense stage manager. But when Vivian makes a personal mistake that results in professional scandal, it turns her new world upside down in ways that it will take her years to fully understand. Ultimately, though, it leads her to a new understanding of the kind of life she craves - and the kind of freedom it takes to pursue it. It will also lead to the love of her life, a love that stands out from all the rest. Now ninety-five years old and telling her story at last, Vivian recalls how the events of those years altered the course of her life - and the gusto and autonomy with which she approached it. "At some point in a woman's life, she just gets tired of being ashamed all the time," she muses. "After that, she is free to become whoever she truly is." Written with a powerful wisdom about human desire and connection, City of Girls is a love story like no other.
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review
Evita
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert
Mehso-so

3 out of 5

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Octoberwoman
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert
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I‘m posting one book a day from my massive collection. No description, no reason for why I want to read it (some I‘ve had so long I don‘t even remember why!) Feel free to join in!

#ABookADay2023

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peanutnine
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert
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Pickpick

Read this with my bookclub last month and we all loved it! (A rare accomplishment) It was full of complicated characters, lush settings, and interesting historical bits. It is Vivian's story as a young adult moving to NYC in the 1940s, living and working with her eccentric aunt in her rambunctious world of theater. She learns hard lessons along the way and reflects on decisions and mistakes, looking back now as an old woman.

ATB Really liked this one too! 10mo
LoverOfLearning This has been on my shelf for years! I really need to stop neglecting it 😞😭 10mo
52 likes2 comments
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peanutnine
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert
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April's update to my fiction #readingbracket2023
This was the hardest month yet!! Ugh so difficult. But City of Girls was such a great historical fiction story with interesting characters, it won the month's spot.
Peter Darling is still leading for the year because I can't stop thinking about that wonderful trippy story.

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Kshakal
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks On my shelf 💜📚🙌🏻 12mo
Eggs Beautiful cover 💖💖 12mo
36 likes2 comments
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VanessaCW
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert
Pickpick

I very much enjoyed this book. That Vivian, she was a bit of a one, wasn‘t she!! 😄. I loved the era it was set in, the theatrical side and I just thought it was well written. I usually enjoy stories written in the first person, I feel like I‘m getting in their head! I‘d recommend it as a great read. Highly recommended. 5⭐️

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SMH86
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert
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Bailedbailed

I was a fan of eat pray love. But 10%... 20%... into the book and it wasn't catching my interest.... after getting about 50% through the book, realized I didn't care about finishing it. Stopped listening and over a week went by without giving it a thought until the library due date reminder came in.

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jen_hayes7
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert
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More #audiocrafting today. Trying to wrap up the projects I started in 2022 before beginning new ones. This design is by Hook Line & Tinker. I‘m absolutely obsessed with this little gnome. It‘s giving me nostalgic David the Gnome feels.

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jen_hayes7
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert
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How many littens are on #storygraph ? I apparently created an account a ways back and completely forgot about it. It‘s pretty great though! Being able to mark a book as owned was life changing for me. If you‘re there, come find me!! I am planning to keep goodreads going too. Double the work, double the fun in this case.

Eyelit I‘m there (same username) and absolutely love the stats it generates 😄 1y
jen_hayes7 @Eyelit Awesome, just sent you a friend request!! I am a total data nerd and am very excited about the stats!! Can‘t wait to fully utilize them next year. 1y
peanutnine I'm sglance9 on storygraph - just sent you a friend request ☺️ 1y
jen_hayes7 @peanutnine Yay!!! Thank you!! 1y
10 likes4 comments
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jen_hayes7
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert
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More #audiocrafting today! I love this cute little llama pattern.

AkashaVampie The llama's face reminds me of The Emperor's New Groove. 1y
StaceGhost I love this! 1y
jen_hayes7 @AkashaVampie Oh my goodness, now that you say it I can totally see the resemblance!! 1y
jen_hayes7 @StaceGhost Thank you so much!! 1y
20 likes5 comments
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SarahBookInterrupted
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert
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Check out my book review of City of Girls on Book Interrupted‘s Manuscript Mondays. https://www.bookinterrupted.com/post/manuscript-monday-city-of-girls

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SarahBookInterrupted
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this book. I loved how the book was narrated through a letter and you only find out what relation the person has to Vivian until the end of the book. I also loved the picture of the 1940‘s that is painted in the book. I was transformed into Vivian‘s life. The relationships in the book have so much depth and complexity. It made each character lovable with all their faults, mistakes and regrets. Each one could be their own novel.

47 likes1 stack add
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Areader2
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert
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Bailedbailed

Bailed 29% in I tried but just not the book for me😣
First book of #20in4 special #readathon
But I am also reading The House at the Cerulean Sea
Loving that one!

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TheBookHippie
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert
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Pickpick

📘CITY OF GIRLS
✍🏼Charlotte Bronte
📽Casablanca
🎤Chris Cornell
🎶California Dreaming

#LETTERC #MANICMONDAY @CBee

Jensol77 Oohhhh….this was a great read 2y
TheBookHippie @Jensol77 I know I just loved it! 2y
AmyG I loved this book, too. (edited) 2y
See All 10 Comments
TheBookHippie @AmyG I could read it again!! I thank you so much for giving it to me!! 2y
slategreyskies I chose Casablanca too! 🥰 2y
TheBookHippie @slategreyskies I need to watch it again 😂♥️ 2y
AmyG I am so happy you liked it. 🥰 2y
CBee Ohhhh Chris Cornell - he was incredible 💔 2y
TheBookHippie @CBee Yes. I saw his concert before he died, and I have visited his grave in California. I still get weepy over it. 2y
CBee @TheBookHippie same. It‘s hard for me to listen to his music now 💔 2y
47 likes10 comments
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morgankayj
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert
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this morning💗💙

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BkClubCare
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert
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Pickpick

Enjoyed this very much! I am a fan of Gilbert‘s writing. I enjoyed the fashion, the drama, and the walk through history from a NYC perspective from WW2 on. Should be a great book club discussion. (Wise choice on my part to pitch my #BookSpinBingo spin book 😉) BINGO! 4th row, BINGO! 3rd column.

@TheAromaofBooks

AmyG I just loved this book. 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2y
thebluestocking I really enjoyed this one as well. Love her writing. And thank you for the card!! I love getting mail. And I really enjoyed Valentine too. 💙 2y
DaNae.Gr I just finished and I also enjoyed it! 2y
50 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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BkClubCare
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert
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“Resist change at your own peril. When something ends, let it end.” LOVING this book, so many wonderful characters.

Happy Birthday Pie! 🥳 #CaresPieShow #PecanPie #OldFashionedPecanPie (Quote not really related to birthday festivities, just needed something to justify a pie post!)

Cathythoughts Love the look of this pie 😍 2y
xicanti This is my very favourite pie. 2y
42 likes2 comments
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DaNae.Gr
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert
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Now reading!

8 likes1 stack add
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BkClubCare
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert
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My next up now starting: City of Girls for bookclub, Chouette is my BookSpinBingo. And, I found my favorite bookmark so I am happy about that, too.

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LapReader
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert
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Holiday bargains. I love my patterns. The stationery is for #Litsylove and #JustBeacause

52 likes1 comment
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smalldogs_bigbooks2419
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert
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“There were other obstacles, as well.
I had all these cigarettes to smoke, for instance.
In short: I was busy.” Absolutely no judgement to any smokers here, but this line made me giggle! I have several smokers in my personal and professional life (I‘m married to a former smoker) and it definitely does seem to be how they spend a lot of their free time.

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BooksNBowls
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert
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Pickpick

A story about morality, privilege, promiscuity, femininity, and the art of human connection and female friendships through the eyes of Vivian Morris, a woman ahead of her time and so pleasantly and unapologetically herself. 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

49 likes2 stack adds
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BooksNBowls
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert
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TamTracy
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert
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Pickpick

I had not heard much about this book before reading it but loved the story! I liked the pace and how it switched gears which seemed to start a new storyline. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

53 likes1 stack add
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staci.reads
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert
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Pickpick

#DoubleSpin this month was one that's been on my tbr shelf a very long time. The first half was fun to read with lively characters and a Gatsby-esque parade of parties, alcohol, and careless behavior. The second half, though, turned it into a story with depth and heart. I love a book that examines the definition of a life well-lived. @TheAromaofBooks

AmyG What a wonderful book. 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2y
KristiAhlers I loved this book! 2y
76 likes1 stack add3 comments
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BookNAround
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert
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Pickpick

This is a sprawling epic of a novel looking at nearly 70 years in the life of one woman as she comes into her own. It feels a bit like two different books in tone and is a bit overly long but still a good read. Full review at https://booknaround.blogspot.com/2021/06/review-city-of-girls-by-elizabeth.html

64 likes1 stack add
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rather_be_reading
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert

We are the way we are--there''s nothing to be done for it.

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rather_be_reading
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert

Love like that is a deep well, with steep sides. Once you fall in, that''s it...

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rather_be_reading
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert

The world ain't straight. You grow up thinking things are a certain way. You think there are rules. You think there's a way that things have to be. You try to live straight. But the world doesn't care about your rules, or what you believe. The world ain't straight...Never will be. Our rules, they don't mean a thing. They world just happens to you sometimes, is what i think. And people just gotta keep moving through it, best they can.

TheBookHippie 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 3y
24 likes1 comment
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rather_be_reading
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert

After a certain age..time just drizzles down upon your head like rain in the month of March: you\'re always surprised at how much of it can accumulate, and how fast.

[SO TRUE]

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rather_be_reading
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert

...when women are gathered together with no men around, they don't have to be anything in particular; they can just be.

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rather_be_reading
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert

Anyway, at some point in a woman's life, she just gets tired of being ashamed all the time. After that, she if free to become whoever she truly is.

TheBookHippie Such a good book. 3y
15 likes1 comment
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rather_be_reading
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert

Nothing will uproot your life more violently than true love...

14 likes2 stack adds
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rather_be_reading
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert

I like to go there in the late afternoons, after my long days of working, and sit at one of those window-side tables, reading a novel and enjoying a martini.

[so much yes!]

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rather_be_reading
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert

My heart did a quick rumba at the sight of him.

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rather_be_reading
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert

I relished the sensation of being one small dot of humanity in a larger ocean of souls.

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rather_be_reading
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert

Once i got the hang of it, I found that eating alone by the window in a quiet restaurant is one of life's greatest secret pleasures.

[YES! Just add a book and its heaven!]

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rather_be_reading
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert

But what's the use of being twenty years old, if not to make gross errors?

[i wholeheartedly agree]

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rather_be_reading
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert

And so I slid toward marriage, like a car sliding off the road on a scree of loose gravel.

mandarchy 🤣😂😆😉 3y
17 likes1 comment
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rather_be_reading
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert

But maybe the young are just feral animals in the way that they shift their affections and allegiances so capriciously.

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rather_be_reading
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert

...but it's best you learn now: most marriages are neither heavenly nor hellish, but vaguely purgatorial.

😂

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rather_be_reading
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert

Youth is a irreplaceable treasure, and the only respectable thing to do with irreplaceable treasure is to waste it.

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rather_be_reading
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert

You should only buy gloves so beautiful that to lose one of them would break your heart.

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rather_be_reading
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert

She gave a decadent yawn....

[I've never heard a yawn described as decadent]

5feet.of.fury Hahaha… I‘m not a thesaurus but I don‘t feel like that was the best word choice 3y
rather_be_reading @5feet.of.fury right! glad i wasnt the only one 3y
15 likes2 comments
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rather_be_reading
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert

First line: I received a letter from his daughter the other day.

[INSTANT INTRIGUE]

review
rather_be_reading
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert
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Pickpick

Absolutely LOVED! Def one Im kicking myself for not reading as soon as it came out. It was a chunkster and I def think she couldve broke the book into 2 books but whats the fun in that?! I just adored the story so so much and loved that it was written like a letter\story to Angela. I also really enjoyed the nontypical ending.

61 likes2 stack adds
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rather_be_reading
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert
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Lunch time w my destoyed pot pie

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rather_be_reading
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert
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One of the downsides of my work office being in my library\craft room, is looking over and seeing this comfy space just calling out to me to come read.

Leftcoastzen That looks perfect! 3y
73 likes1 comment
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rjsthumbelina
City of Girls | Elizabeth Gilbert
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Pickpick

3.5 ⭐
I enjoyed this story, but the plot kind of meandered. It almost felt like the story should have ended 2/3 of the way through, except that there had not yet been a reveal of who the main character was referring to when she spoke about "your father." I thought it was a good character study of a girl growing up and learning what femininity meant for her in the 40s, but wasn't very memorable

rather_be_reading I agree...it did meander a bit 3y
33 likes1 stack add1 comment