The seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Taylor Jenkins Reid

 ¡Buenas! Esta va a ser una reseña en inglés por los que les contaba en el post del aniversario de este año. Es la primera así, veremos qué onda.

SYNOPSIS

Ageing and reclusive Hollywood movie icon, Evelyn Hugo, is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life.

When she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one in the journalism community is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now? Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband, David, has left her, and her career has stagnated. Regardless of why Evelyn has chosen her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.

Summoned to Evelyn’s Upper East Side apartment, Monique listens as Evelyn unfurls her story: from making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the late 80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way. As Evelyn’s life unfolds—revealing a ruthless ambition, an unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love—Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the actress. But as Evelyn’s story catches up with the present, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.

PERSONAL OPINION

It's been ages since I've read something as addicting as it. Since the very first moment I started reading, I couldn't stop. It's amazing how the writer set up the story and can picture all the depth and grey tones in the principal characters. I'm in love with that. You get to know a lot of shades in the personalities of all the characters, of course, we all see much more depth in the principal character whose role is telling her history for a journalist that is writing her biography.  
I also loved Evelyn Hugo's character, not only because she's so well-developed but also because SHE IS AMAZING. She is such a powerful woman that makes her way up to the things that she want and she is decisive about that. I felt empowered while reading such a female character. I've marked some of the pieces of advice that she gave to the journalist and kept to read as many times as I need to. She tells you that you have your destiny in your hands and you can do whatever it takes to be where you would like. For those things, you have to speak up for yourself and negotiate your terms with confidence. Evelyn Hugo is clearly a woman who smashes the patriarchy. I've learned a lot through these pages and I feel GLAAD that I'd read it. 

She had led her life by these pieces of advice and it took her to very great things and others that aren't pleasant nor heroic- in fact, we could say that those are typical of villain characters. Those scenes are the key in the construction of the depth and the complexity of the character. We can really feel a human being with good and bad things among the pages. 

I have some other thoughts, by the way. I enjoyed a lot the reading and the story, but it was full of romantic love. I don't know how to feel exactly about it- This kind of love isn't ideal, indeed it's problematic. You don't have to suffer for love. Relationships are complicated sometimes and love has a certain measure of things that aren't so good, but love and healthiness must remain. In this novel, we read some ideas strongly related to this romantic love, that has a big amount of toxicity, but some of them are questioned and others are completely battled. The relationships that Evelyn cared about were always going on this path of suffering.  In addition to this, I started this book because my favourite song of Lover by Taylor Swift is "Death by a thousand cuts" and in the album review of Sebas G. Mouret, he told that this song may be inspired in this book (the title is one of the most important phrases of the book's story), that was a hit among the readings of the last year and the LGTB+ community, that Taylor stands and in this album speaks up directly. It's not confirmed that she got inspired by this, but it doesn't really matter. I believe that Taylor would love this story and she could relate with some of the topics -I'm thinking mainly in the public and mediatised private life of famous people. If you follow Taylor's music, you would know that she is like a master in the art of giving hints and easter eggs, so it couldn't be such a crazy thing. However, this book is amazing and goes well with some of Taylor narratives- if she wanted us to read this, I would say that it is a wonderful recommendation.

There are a lot of dramatic situations that are hushed but can lead us to think and talk, like AIDS, abortion...Still, this story makes us think -and live, a lot more interesting topics such as the private life of famous people, sexual diversity action and movements, violence in the marriage... It's a very complete novel.

by @icandrawthingz in ig

We couldn't say-even if we wanted to, that this isn't a dramatic story. Evelyn's life is also full of several problems and misunderstandings that lead to this HUGE suffering. With the last pages-not the very/proper end, I cried. I don't remember crying with a book before. I can recall books that put me sad or in a need of hugs, but really I don't remember actually crying. As a reader, you can empathise with Evelyn because of the depth with which it's built and how she is telling her path understanding her in every moment. It is a very valuable tool, she says that, at that moment, she had those opportunities and that is how she could resolve the problems, she doesn't regret.

Monique's character is also a luxury and of course, I was greeted for how she is and how she improves by her experience meeting Evelyn. She is so human and so respectful... I can relate to some of her emotions and desires. I believe that she is a great character who -let's face it, also smashes the patriarchy. She is bi-racial and she is trying to tell another's stories in the white world of the USA. She's a journalist and she's trying to make her career and make what she wants- for that, Evelyn is the greatest help that she could receive.  Let's hope that things change after this movement of Black Lives Matter, but it's still a very complex situation. 

This is such a great book! This passes the Bechdel Test with flying colours and also ALL the women characters are incredible. We're in front of a sincere, open conversation between two women, where one tells her history. It's amazing! I recommend it to anyone who wants a visual and sincere story. It has a lot of interesting things, so I'm sure everyone would find something really cool. 

Rating: 5/5