I toggled between 3 and 4 stars on this novel. On one hand, the writing was beautiful - Elizabeth Gilbert has always had a way with words - and the characters were incredibly vivid. On the other hand, to wait the entire novel to determine who Angela's father is, and only spend an infinitesimal portion of the book focusing on this incredibly important character, was all at once surprising and frustrating. I would have loved to learn more about him and his journey. In addition, I was equally surprised that another key character who was incredibly important to Vivian, was never spoken of again aside from a minute cameo during one scene toward the end.
If I'm honest, I struggled reading about the sexual exploits; such ceaseless, detailed promiscuity is just not something I enjoy reading about. It's not that I am being judgmental, but it is just not something I am personally comfortable with. Obviously, it was a reality for showgirls to live in this manner, and therefore it was not just gratuitous filler in this novel, as it was in Gilbert's The Signature of All Things. However, as I read such stories, the maternal concern and apprehension I feel for these young girls outweighs my interest in the sequence of events.
I did appreciate the historical aspects and the vivid backdrop of New York City in the 1940's. The entire era is reminiscent of the Belle Epoque in Europe, and the glitz and glamour is as intoxicating to read about as I'm sure it was to experience.
Read 5/1/20
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