Scan barcode
A review by apalershadeofwhite
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
5.0
This book was written in a way, for me, that is similar (but with a different writing style) to My Policeman and Where the Crawdads Sing. I've learned recently that I LOVE books like these, which I have come to learn is a literary fiction style. It just takes you through their lives and not everything has to be a crazy plot twist or absolutely bursting with literary prestige and linguistic techniques; it just focuses on good writing. It was written so well that you forget time is passing while you turn the pages because you're so taken into the narrative. These sorts of books give me the same sort of feel that I imagine people get when they watch documentaries or true crime, etc. where it's not so crazy that you've got to stop and be like 'what just happened' in shock, you can just read it from cover to cover and be so content. Obviously they make you feel things, but they don't play on your emotions in the same way as an epic fantasy or crime / murder mystery, for example. It feels more calm and serene to read. Bu the work is still so exciting, you feel calm reading it. It's such an exciting novel where you get so invested in the characters, and I think it's such an interesting layout. I like that every couple chapters goes back to Monique. It feels like it's mimicking the real world and reminds you that there's other things and people than these huge stars that we get obsessed with. These celebrities aren't the be-all-end-all, they're still people and they're surrounded by other people who are just as interesting despite the celebrity status. Being set in 1950s Hollywood, such a coveted time held in high esteem, people would be super excited to get to know the gritty details, but the book almost goes 'wait now, hold your horses' and teases us while also reminding us that there's a world outside of these stars.
I mean, the entire premise of this book plays on a lot of people's need to be nosey, to know what's behind the scenes, the secrets, anything about these celebrities that we've put on a pedestal and detached the word 'human' from. People see them as objects of entertainment and forget they're actual people. This whole book is about Evelyn reclaiming that, putting herself out there whether people find it pretty or disgusting. She just details her life and things that she kept secret throughout her fame. We have this inane need to know everything about these people, even though we are not entitled to that at all. They can tell us these things in they want to, but we are not entitled to know everything about them, which is proven by the fact that Evelyn is in her 70s and telling her life story.
I loved that the novel didn't end when Evelyn finished her story. I did not see that being the reason she chose Monique to write the biography, but I really like that we got to know and see how Minique reacted. The last few chapters really showed the nuances of human emotion, which is so interesting to me. How you can feel all these things and don't know why you feel them, or feel bad things and be unashamed, or be ashamed of feeling good things. The nuances of human emotions truly fascinate me, and it was done beautifully.
I mean, the entire premise of this book plays on a lot of people's need to be nosey, to know what's behind the scenes, the secrets, anything about these celebrities that we've put on a pedestal and detached the word 'human' from. People see them as objects of entertainment and forget they're actual people. This whole book is about Evelyn reclaiming that, putting herself out there whether people find it pretty or disgusting. She just details her life and things that she kept secret throughout her fame. We have this inane need to know everything about these people, even though we are not entitled to that at all. They can tell us these things in they want to, but we are not entitled to know everything about them, which is proven by the fact that Evelyn is in her 70s and telling her life story.
I loved that the novel didn't end when Evelyn finished her story. I did not see that being the reason she chose Monique to write the biography, but I really like that we got to know and see how Minique reacted. The last few chapters really showed the nuances of human emotion, which is so interesting to me. How you can feel all these things and don't know why you feel them, or feel bad things and be unashamed, or be ashamed of feeling good things. The nuances of human emotions truly fascinate me, and it was done beautifully.