The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

A Novel

paperback

ISBN:
978-1-5011-7482-7
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3 stelle (2 recensioni)

Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?

Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.

Summoned to Evelyn's luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the '80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel …

8 edizioni

Evelyn Hugo ha sempre vent'anni (ma non nel senso buono)

1 stella

Un libro non è fatto solo dalla storia, che può essere vincente, avvincente, geniale. Se i personaggi non crescono e non cambiano nel corso di una narrazione che spazia attraverso decenni, tutto quello che c'era di buono per me non vale poi un cazzo. Il cinema dell'epoca d'oro di Hollywood mi ha sempre affascinato e anni fa ero fissata con le storie dietro ai film, con le vicende personali di attori e attrici, con il susseguirsi delle edizioni degli Academy Awards. Sono felicissima che quella parte della mia vita sia finita, non ho più il fascino per quel mondo di successo e bellezza estetica, ora voglio solo mangiare i milionari di merda che lo abitano. Eppure le storie umane mi interessano ancora e soprattutto ho sviluppato la curiosità nei confronti delle storie che sono state schiacciate dall'eteronormatività di quel periodo. Rock Hudson, Marlon Brando, Katharine Hepburn e Joan Crawford. Quindi …

Review of 'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' on 'Goodreads'

4 stelle

Reid performs a fun balancing act of switching viewpoint characters, as well as sprinkling in ephemera from the history of the fictional protagonist. It's a very smooth and easy read, a real page-turner. While there are surprises and twists, they all feel very well-earned. It's a story of love, a story of devotion, a story of ruthlessness and of generosity.

By the end of the book, I really wished that Evelyn Hugo had been a real person, such is Reid's ability to create real characters. Monique and Harry and Celia all feel fully-realized as well, and even the characters who barely get any "screen time" act like people. The dialog is snappy and I'd love to have a snarky conversation with Evelyn.

Recommended to anyone who likes books about people and social norms.