In the City

by Joan Silber

The rediscovered second novel from National Book Critics Circle Award-winning writer Joan Silber--a wry, exquisitely told story of self-invention in 1920s New York

Like all young people who move to Manhattan from elsewhere, Pauline sees her arrival in the city as an escape from the provincial entrapments of home. She seeks something more than her quiet life with her rough-mannered family in bucolic Newark, New Jersey: a frugal but free-wheeling existence among the artists, writers, and musicians flocking to the city in the 1920s, a life filled with books, impassioned conversation, and inconsequential sex.

Pauline falls in with an ostentatious group of friends who spend their nights in speakeasies and all-night cafes in Greenwich Village, exemplars of the bohemian life. There is Nita, an outspoken violinist who wants a rich husband; Rose, who lives in a hotel, waiting for her married lover to call; Peter, a painter with roving interests; and Walter, wealthy, older, and forever divorcing his wife. Yet even among these new friends, life in the city is grueling. Pauline can hardly afford food and clothing; the room she rents is cramped and mildewy. She becomes involved with a set of arrogant men: a self-proclaimed writer more interested in spending other people's money than producing anything meaningful, and a handsome recluse unable to stomach her libertine lifestyle. Pauline's effort to disentangle herself from these relationships and the elusive ideal of living young and free in the city forms a wry, finely-observed, and moving portrait of a woman's self-making.

Originally published in 1987, In the City is a sharp, emotionally sophisticated portrait of a young woman trying to claim a life of her own in an indifferent world. With its nuance and quiet power, the novel reveals the clarity, wit, and emotional precision that have defined Joan Silber's celebrated body of work ever since.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Coming Of Age

246 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 1987

About the author

Joan Silber is the author of nine books of fiction. Her book Improvement was the winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award and the PEN/Faulkner Award and was listed as one of the year's best books by The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Newsday, The Seattle Times, and Kirkus Reviews. She lives in New York and teaches in the Warren Wilson MFA Program. Keep up with Joan at joansilber.net.

Reviews

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

c 1987. Silber [born 1945, grew up Jewish in Millburn, New Jersey]

I got some of this author's books because of a laudatory review of her works in the Women's Review of Books. Definitely a good book. Not an escapist book, not a tear jerker, not a book with anything like a romantic happy ending. An unsentimental look at a 19 year old going off by herself to live and work in New York City in 1925. How does the author know how life was in 1925, I wonder! Amazing, but she seems to know in great detail. I couldn't in the least identify with the main character, as her personality is completely different from mine, but that is part of the joy of reading for me, to 'meet' different kinds of people.

Her first novel was Household Words, excellent.

[Mary Lins · Rating 4 out of 5]

“In the City” by Joan Silber (1987) has been on my “To Be Read” stack for quite some time (not since 1987, though!) because it was highly recommended by an author I admire, and because I’ve never read anything by Joan Silber that I didn’t like.

I’m so glad I finally reached for it! This short novel set in the 1920s is about Pauline Samuels from Newark, who upon graduating from high school, moves to New York City to “find her life”.
We follow her as she finds a mundane job, but then also finds friends, lovers, and various places to live. It’s all very bohemian.


For me it was interesting to see how DIFFERENT life was for a young woman in NYC in the “Roaring 20’s” – but also how much is THE SAME!
As I was reading, I couldn’t help thinking about popular shows that have a similar plot line; “Friends” and “Sex and the City” to name two.

[mars · Rating 3 out of 5]

Walking into a bookstore and seeing this book on display piqued my interest - the best books are usually ones recommended to you that you would otherwise not find yourself.

This book reminded me of a novel I'd get assigned to read for a university course and actually enjoy reading. The story was a slice of life / coming of age of our main character Pauline, who moves to New York City after graduating high school. It was so interesting to compare how the 1920's were simultaneously so different yet so similar to young adult experiences in modern times. For one, it's most definitely not so easy to get a job now as it was for Pauline then. But certain elements, like poor relationships, budgeting, moving away from home, and taking care of your friends in times of need ring true no matter what century its set in.

One thing I will say is the ending of the book was rather unsatisfactory. I read the last paragraph about her opening a window, and went to continue on but realized it was the Acknowledgements section... I was hoping for a bit more of a reflection or a culminating moment regarding the situation with Rose, but I suppose it makes sense for the style of the book. The whole book reads as a vignette of Pauline's life, and since life is continuous, it makes sense to start with her just riding a train, and end with her opening a window in a friends hotel.

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Joan Silber's books and was excited to see this early one reprinted. But I have mixed feelings about it. The writing is great except for a couple of continuity errors an editor should have caught. My problem with it is the characters. They are all obnoxious. The narcissism is exhausting. I also have trouble believing there was this level of promiscuity in the 1920's although I suppose it's possible. Also, there really wasn't anything 1920's about it. It could have happened in the 50's or 70's or even now. But I still admire Silber and will read anything she writes so please hurry up and write more.

[Sarah Cohn · Rating 3 out of 5]

some things about being a young jewish girl living in nyc change and some things stay the same!! i loved pauline and silbers dreamlike narration.
this book definitely starts slow and characters flutter in and out, but as pauline matures her voice grows stronger

[5greenway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this - strong sense of a time; great characters, whether sketched or fleshed out.

[Danilo DiPietro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Proxy for ‘Safety’ - New Yorker short story discussed with Ann’s book club. Heartbreaking story of the times we’re living in.

[ruby]

glammest book ever!!!!

[Jmolentin]

Pretty good follow up read to Dorothy Parker anthology.