Before writing Daisy Jones and the Six, the book which shot her to stardom and earned her book a coveted book-to-movie adaptation, Taylor Jenkins Reid wrote another book 2 years prior. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo kicked off the quartet of books focused on powerful women (albeit fictional), setting them in more recondite periods throughout the 20th century. Evelyn Hugo is by far my favourite and the most compelling of the lot.
Set with time jumps between the present day and Evelyn’s youth, the book tells the story of renowned film star Evelyn Hugo (think the likes of Marilyn Monroe) and the process of narrating her biography to an unknown journalist, Monique Grant. The flashbacks read like a movie star’s scandalous autobiography, but the present day narrative provides the retrospect and thoughtfulness that counters it. The time jumps may be unpalatable to some, but Reid’s seamless integration makes it enjoyable.
Speaking of the author, what I think really tied it all in one incredible, gripping package was none other than Reid’s writing. Her writing was not flamboyant and wordy, but simple and concise. She allowed for the complex, fleshed out characters to speak for themselves. Sometimes, less really is more.
Though the main character is Evelyn herself, what successfully hooks potential readers in is the curiosity of: “Why would anyone have seven husbands?”. In fact, the book is segmented into chapters named after each of the husbands, though as the book progresses, it becomes increasingly clear that the focus is not on the men, but rather the women.
Which brings me to what is arguably the most important theme throughout the book, which is the LGBTQ+ representation. The most prominent and glaring question that runs through the whole book is “Who was the love of Evelyn’s life?”. This question brought forth emotional descriptions of the challenges the LGBTQ+ community faced in the mid-19th century, before the term “LGBTQ+” was even formed. The exploration of this theme in a historical context was incredibly unique to me, especially since such communities were often ostracised.
In one instance, Evelyn and her close group of friends bore witness to the 1969 Stonewall Riots, where New Yorkers marched for LGBTQ+ rights. Being prominent figures, they were not able to publicly show their support, especially since they would be shamed by the media. This explored the beginnings of acceptance in America for the LGBTQ+ community in a rather unique and unexplored way.
Another key theme was racism, where Evelyn was forced to eliminate the Cuban portion of her identity by dyeing her hair blonde and getting rid of her Spanish accent. In a time where “whitewashing” is a buzzword, this outraged me as I would not consider giving up my family’s heritage to pretend to be someone I am clearly not. However, Evelyn chose to do this in an effort to bring herself out of poverty and achieve her dreams. This was in fact a common experience shared by film stars in the past, before cultural diversity was appreciated and celebrated. I, for one, saw this as an additional facet added to the story and Evelyn’s character, even if I personally disagreed with the decision.
The book’s exploration of varying themes married with the entertainment of a glamorous movie star’s personal life made this an interesting yet far from superficial story. In fact, many of Evelyn’s life experiences made for excellent anecdotes to give the reader advice. Evelyn frequently asserts that she would never regret making any of the decisions in her life again, no matter how morally questionable. Evelyn’s most important piece of advice? You have to fight for your own interests, because no one else will. I think this is relevant to all of us, especially as we grow into adults and have to fend for ourselves in society. Needless to say, Evelyn’s advice will remain at the back of my mind as I progress through life.
All in all, I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is looking for some entertainment, interspersed with thoughtful reflections. Though the premise and title of the book promises a story filled with glamour and scandal, you will find yourself staying for and maybe even becoming attached to Evelyn Hugo, despite all her misgivings and questionable actions. After all, who does not love a movie star?
Written by: Charlize Ling Xuan Ting (22S77)
Edited by: Wang Haoran (22S75), Khoo Kia Song Kendrick (22A14)
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