Reviews tagging Alcoholism

City of Girls, by Elizabeth Gilbert

32 reviews

val_theburrowofstories's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual content

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Infidelity, Pedophilia, and Death

Minor: Blood, Classism, and Cursing

tctimlin's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Gilbert is such an excellent story teller.  This time the focus is on NYC from the 40’s to the 70’s.  Vivian is writing a letter retelling her story to the daughter of Frank - trying to explain how she fought to live an unconventional and free life, and to explain her unconventional relationship with Frank.  The titular “City of Girls” is a musical put on by Vivian’s Aunt Peg’s theatre during WWII, but also is the theatre itself, off-off-Broadway, always struggling to pay its bills, but becoming a home to women looking for more from life than the strictures of society allow.  But of course, the story ranges widely from the CIty of Girls - looking at WWII and its effects on civilians and soldiers alike, at homosexual relations, at mid-century sexual mores, and at what it means to love.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Grief

momsterlee's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Injury/injury detail, War, Sexual content, and Alcoholism

queenpebbles's review

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism

mollyerickson's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Written from a very interesting perspective, City of Girls is Vivian Morris reflexts on her story in a letter to the daughter of the love of her life. And man what a story. Raised in "high society," Vivian lived her life as far from that as possible. From play houses to bridal boutique  and building her village of friends, Vivian Morris lived unconventionally and wildly. Her story is fun and exciting as it unfolds in New York City. The reader is transported through time as Vivian learns about herself, but also brought back to the "present" as the narrator speaks directly to Angela, the recipient of the letter. I enjoyed this story, but found it repetitive and mundane ar times. While I really enjoyed perspective, the story felt unoriginal and dramatic at times.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing and Alcoholism

aidrielle's review against another edition

adventurous reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

lesson learned. i really should read synopses more closely next time. if i knew this book was about a rich spoiled (STRAIGHT!) white girl and her rich spoiled straight white girl problems during ww2 in america, i probably wouldn't have read it. went on way too long and for what!!! i'd feel sorry for angela for having to read all that if i wasn't so disgusted by her choice of wedding dress (even though it was all the main character's fault). that was truly vile. no idea how i managed to finish this book when i found about 90% of it so unlikable. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, War, Alcoholism, and Misogyny

Moderate: Classism, Cultural appropriation, Abortion, and Alcoholism

bookmarkedbyfi's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: War, Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Pregnancy

Minor: Death of parent and Alcoholism

lotten4's review

emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I really liked the ambiance. (Also, good writing)

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, War, Alcohol, Mental illness, Death of parent, Death, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Rape, Injury/injury detail, Sexism, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, and Sexual violence

hannakutlu's review

adventurous emotional funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Abortion, Alcoholism, Cursing, and Panic attacks/disorders

m4rtt4's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Didn't expect to like it as much as I did! Time travelling through books has always been nice, and this time it was genuinely FUN and addicting as well. But why the f was the book written in the form of a letter? That was completely unnecessary, and I don't think the story would have been any less interesting had it just been about Vivian (as it already was), without the constant remarks to "Angela". I mean, NOBODY writes letters 500 pages long to explain anything, let alone something like this. I didn't really like Vivian either, sometimes she was painfully insufferable. However, I did like her story, and that's what matters. I might have fallen in love with the dusty, cigarette-reeking yet compelling Lily Playhouse as well.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Death, Sexual content, Alcoholism, and War

Moderate: Medical trauma, Infidelity, Homophobia, Injury/injury detail, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Terminal illness

Minor: Biphobia and Antisemitism