On Saturday, September 28th, The Ladies Who Brunch discussed seasoned writer Elizabeth Gilbert’s New York City-centric novel City of Girls. We contrasted it with The Lido by Libby Page, a debut novel that encompasses a working-class London neighborhood.
City of Girls
In City of Girls, which spans the WWII era and beyond, Gilbert, the popular Eat Pray Love memoirist, uses the conceit of a letter, written by protagonist Vivian to the daughter of one of her great loves, to present Vivian’s story. As a young woman, Vivian has refused to accept the trappings of convention that her well-to-do parents expect of her (which will impact the rest of her life). When she is thrown out of Vassar for improprieties, she winds up living with her eccentric Aunt Peg, who runs an always-on-the-brink-of-bankrupt theater in Manhattan.
Notably, one of the most enjoyable moments in this story is the horror that the Lily Playhouse showgirls express when they realize Vivian arrived a virgin, and their manner of addressing this situation, pronto. However, despite the consensus that this novel is a highly entertaining read, the group felt that the emphasis on Vivian’s golden-years relationship with a man as the impetus for the framing device ultimately weakens the novel’s overall impact. This aspect of the novel conflicts with the thematics that focus on self-empowerment by women through same-sex friendships.
The Lido
The Lido, a third person, double narrative — told from the perspective of aged Rosemary and tyro journalist Kate (as opposed to the first person, singular narrative of City of Girls) — portrays women swept up in neighborhood activism when plans are revealed to destroy a beloved Brixton Lido due to gentrification. The group felt The Lido suffers from a weak conclusion and would benefit from a cut of its final chapters, as they came off as mawkish and unnecessary.
It was agreed these two novels were great choices for summer reads. I, who took up aquacise classes at a Y at the height of summer, was very much able to relate to the sentimentally evocative Page novel with its emphasis on swimming as rejuvenation, as joyful, as an activity that fosters camaraderie between women friends, between lovers, between members of a community.
Both novels drew strength in reinterpretation of “what is family,” in particular for women who find themselves on their own in large cities. They both explore the power of women’s friendships and the strength that lies within such bonds.
Up Next…
The group considered my suggestions for next month, which included the lovely, modernist novel Crudo by Olivia Laing, inspired and loosely based on moments in the life of the late writer Kathy Acker. And the provocative, suspenseful black comedy novel My Year of Rest and Relaxation by gifted Ottessa Moshfegh, about a woman doping herself into unconsciousness; both published in 2018. We ultimately decided on Ann Patchett’s The Dutch House, a newly published family saga with a magnificent glass-walled manse as centerpiece and, perhaps, metaphor. It explores loss and forgiveness, and notably riffs on classic fairy-tale tropes in an understated way.
Next: Ladies Who Brunch Book Club will meet Saturday, December 7 at 11 am at 5 W 8th St, the restaurant Margaux inside the Hotel Marlton.
Have you read either of these books? Share your thoughts below!
Jill Wisoff lives in Greenwich Village with two cats, a fish, and is a New School 2015 MFA creative writing graduate in fiction. Veteran of the punk scene, she toured as Johnny Thunders’ bassist, and locally with the Con Artists, between performing and directing theatrically. After a successful composing career, including songs and score for Sundance phenom Welcome to the Dollhouse, she directed and co-wrote indie film fest winner Creating Karma. These days, her sole focus, besides leaping about in ballet class or French verb conjugation, is honing her coming-of-age debut novel (and its sequel) for the greater glory.
