Book review of City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert

What do I say about this book? About the author Elizabeth Gilbert? I am just going to say one thing: I have become hopelessly enamored with the book City of Girls and Elizabeth’s writing style. I recall my friend Apoorv speaking unremittingly about how Eat Pray and Love is a delightfully written book and how it resonated with him; after reading City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert, I do now know what he is was talking about.

There is a certain smell of the term “beach read,” about this book. The story has an ephemeral quality that slowly soaks you in and devours you on its own pace. I was longing to be on the sand, with music of gentles waves in the background, with no thoughts whatsoever in my mind.

In City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert, the 89 yrs old protagonist Vivian Morris, recounts her life in a letter to the daughter of her only love, Angela. Along with her, Vivi will take us on an enchanting ride to the glamorous world of 1940s New York, where we our swept off our feet in the glittering night life and musical comedies in a crumbling theater called Lily’s Playhouse.

When I started reading the book City of Girls, I felt that something was missing throughout. Although, I did enjoy Elizabeth Gilbert’s writing, and the overall story, yet the feeling didn’t go. Then I decided to share my feelings with my friend Siddhi about this book. She told me that the soul of the book was there, right there in the very words you have read, and I did not see it, because I did the mistake of judging the character of Vivian Morris, with the moral code of ‘What is right and what is wrong’. Hence, I decided to re-read the book, but this time without any judgment clouding my mind.

And I revisited this book again, and doing so realized that this was a tale of embracing the imperfect you, and standing for it, no matter what. Vivian, who was as imperfect as one can be, yet was comfortable in herself, and happy and always stood for herself.

Gilbert knows how to weave a story with humor and tragedy sewn onto a whimsical set of people. I loved, how I slowly transitioned with Vivi to aging timelines and grew old to be a defined woman. Furthermore, Gilbert, ever so passionately and sensibly gives an element of the war and what it does to people. Kudos to Elizabeth Gilbert.

Now you would ask that why should you read City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert? And I say, it is worth your time and money. A perfect read to remind that we all are not perfect, but what we are are good enough for us. This book City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert is perfect read for all you beautiful women out there