«City of Women» – a story of discovery, freedom, and self-expression
A book about women and for women.
Literature is more than just stories on pages. It becomes our comfort, our companion, and our teacher. In those special moments in life, when the rain pours outside, and a storm rages in our hearts, a book can serve as a quiet refuge. Such is Elizabeth Gilbert’s «City of Women» – a novel that invites the reader into a world behind the theater curtain, into the bohemian lifestyle, mistakes, and self-discovery. It’s a book that not only makes you want to re-read certain lines but to live them.
Diving into the plot: New York, theater, and coming-of-age
The book begins with 19-year-old Vivian Morris arriving in 1940s New York. After being expelled from college due to poor academic performance, her parents sent her to live with her aunt, who runs a small theater called «Lily». Aunt Peg, an eccentric woman with unconventional views on life and freedom, becomes the first steppingstone in changing Vivian’s mindset.
The theater becomes a kind of workshop for Vivian, where she not only creates costumes but also builds her identity. Through interactions with actors, seamstresses, and other inhabitants of the theater, Vivian discovers a new world. Young, inexperienced, and confused, she finds herself in a world that operates by completely different rules, where she must find her place.
«There are no universal rules that fit everyone. Everyone has their own nature. And each of us encounters something we cannot control».
Elizabeth Gilbert skillfully immerses the reader into this theatrical world filled with passion and tragedy. Vivian’s youth and her thirst for freedom and self-discovery inevitably lead her to make mistakes. One pivotal moment in the novel occurs when Vivian makes a fateful error that leaves a lasting mark on her life. It’s not just a mistake but a moment of realization: every choice she makes has consequences, and it’s through accepting these consequences that the journey to maturity begins.
«You will make mistakes, that's inevitable. So, at least have fun while doing it».
Art as a path to yourself
Art plays a central role in the novel. The theater becomes a place where Vivian begins to understand not only the world around her but also herself. Her work – sewing costumes for the actresses – is not just a technical skill but a way of expressing her inner world. Gilbert uses sewing as a metaphor for female identity – through creating costumes, Vivian learns to live. In this process, she discovers a new language of communication: through fabrics, patterns, and stitches, she expresses her pain, passion, and desire to be heard.
The scenes of sewing and the creative process are so detailed that the reader feels immersed in silk fabrics and patterns within the sewing workshop. Theater, as an art of transformation, becomes a symbol of freedom and authenticity in the novel. It’s here that Vivian finds friends, learns to stay true to herself, and realizes that true happiness lies in the freedom to be oneself rather than conforming to the expectations of others.
«After every attempt, you come closer to your true self».
Interestingly, the theater, representing the art of disguise, becomes a symbol of freedom and sincerity in the novel. It is here that Vivian finds friends, learns to be true to herself, and realizes that true happiness is the freedom to be herself, not to meet the expectations of others.
«The world simply happens to us... And we can only accept it and move on».
«City of Women» is a novel about all of us, about finding oneself in a world that often demands masks and roles yet always leaves space for genuine sincerity. Elizabeth Gilbert has created a book that inspires, uplifts, and reminds us that mistakes are not the end but the beginning of a new journey. And perhaps, it is through these mistakes that we find the path to our true selves.
