An interesting piece ran in the New York Times about Shelia Weller’s new book, Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon–And the Journey of a Generation. These three musical pioneers — and true romantics — had the bold task of making sense of romance in the era of “free love.” While each cites traditional romantics as models for their work (Edith Piaf and Billie Holiday for Mitchell, the Gershwins for Simon, Rodgers and Hammerstein for King), there was nary a Cinderella story to be sought in that decade’s feminist movement as women turned away from traditional roles and began to openly explore their sexuality. The question remains, as the article mentions, whether romantic love and promiscuity (for lack of a better word) are compatible. (Ask any college student in America the same question and you’ll see we have yet to reach a conclusion.)

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