City of Girls

I wonder if Gilbert thought that the idea of women having sex drive and enjoying in an era several decades before the '60s-‘70s sexual revolution was some sort of revelation to us here in the 21st century? I certainly HOPE women enjoyed sex before then.

There was other wise very little story. Everything that happens after the big “incident” in the book, her true love, her activities during the war and so on, don't add up to a good plot or anything meaningful for the reader.

The best thing that happens is when the notable respected actress, Edna tells Vivian off for screwing around with her husband:

“The thing you don't understand about yourself, Vivian, is that you're not an interesting person. You are pretty, yes – but that's only because you are young. The prettiness will soon fade. But you will never be an interesting person,”

That's quite an insult. If she'd called her derogatory names she couldn't have hurt her more.

She's also correct. Vivian is not an interesting person. So why write a book about her?