Weekly Reader: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid; Brilliant Realistic Character Study of the Real Life and Love Behind a Glamorous Movie Star
By Julie Sara Porter
Bookworm Reviews
Spoilers: I can't tell you how long I have waited to review Taylor Jenkins Reid's The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
I bought it four years ago and read it three times. I can't remember how many times I scheduled it but put it aside. I own this book so requested reviews from authors, book PR groups, and publishers came first. I read and reviewed many wonderful books and hope that I did my part to call attention to many deserving authors. But this one had always been in the back of my mind as an always unfinished project. Well now it's time to give Evelyn the spotlight that she has always deserved and highlight this wonderful character study of a glamorous movie star and her private lives and true loves.
Monique Grant, a writer for Vivant, magazine has received the offer of a lifetime. Evelyn Hugo, a film star who was once famous from the 1950's-80's, but now a recluse has agreed to tell her story so it will be a book published after her death. Her requirements are very clear. Monique must interview her. If they send someone else or Monique refuses, there will be no book. Monique is very curious and welcomes the potential fame and money that the interview will bring. During her time with the star, Monique learns about Evelyn's humble beginnings, her illustrious film career, her famed romances particularly her seven husbands and the real love of her life. Monique also learns why this plum interview was granted specifically to her.
It's clear that Reid knows her Hollywood stars and made Evelyn a composite of them. The romances and multiple marriages certainly call to mind Elizabeth Taylor. Both Ava Gardner and Bette Davis granted book length interviews later in life with writers who became close friends. (In fact I have Davis' book The Girl Who Walked Home Alone which is attributed to Davis and her interviewer/author, Charlotte Chandler.) Like Rita Hayworth (formerly Margarita Carmen Cansino) did with her Hispanic origins, Evelyn had to hide a Latina background to pass as white. Formerly Evelyn Herrera, she dyed her hair and eyebrows blond, removed all traces of her Cuban-American accent and knowledge of the Spanish language, and changed her name to Evelyn Hugo to receive the starring roles and fame that her white counterparts did.
Evelyn is the typical poor girl who becomes famous. Technically, there isn't anything really new to her personal trajectory. But she is written so well and multifaceted that Evelyn herself is unique even if her story is not.
Even during her youth in Hell's Kitchen, New York with an abusive and potentially incestuous father that she can't wait to get away from, Evelyn is in control of herself and her path. She is aware of her developing body and how she attracts men and certain women. She already has an allure that draws many to her. Once she goes from local beauty to glamorous movie star, Evelyn's attraction only increases.
We see Evelyn's career take off when she gets the part of Jo in a film adaptation of Little Women with fellow actress Celia St. James (who eventually plays an important part in Evelyn's life) as Beth. We see her scandalous romances and private life and how it played into her film career and the audience's perception of her. We see her setbacks when one failed romance lowers her standards as a bankable actress until a sexy role in a French film and the lead in Anna Karenina bring her back to A list status. We experience her triumphs like winning an Oscar for All of Us and her troubles especially later in life when changing entertainment tastes and the losses of those closest to her leads her to becoming a recluse.
Evelyn is the type of star who is beautiful and smart enough to know what she wants off camera. Even as a senior, she coldly informs Monique that she is not there to confess her sins. She is there to tell her life story matter of factly. She made choices in her life that ended up not always being the right ones but they were made, and there is no point in regretting the past.
Over that glamorous upfront nature, there is a hidden insecurity that few get to experience. Once Evelyn is under the spotlight, she does everything that she can to stay there. She makes choices at the expense of her own heart and personal happiness. Sometimes, her head rules over her heart and it's only later that Evelyn realizes this.
Evelyn is like many people who are good in their craft: charming, charismatic, forceful, devoted, fiercely loving, alluring, obstinate, self-absorbed, stylish, talented, exasperating, unique, and independent.
While Evelyn is the star, the supporting cast of characters is excellent as well. Her seven husbands are a mixed bag
There is Ernie Diaz, whom she married to get out of Hell's Kitchen, Don Adler, an actor with an alcoholic abusive temper, Mick Riva, a gullible singer that Evelyn married after a quick courtship, Rex North, Evelyn's Anna Karnina co-star whom she married for publicity, Henry Cameron, a producer and one of Evelyn's closest friends, Max Girard, a controlling director who loved the image of Evelyn he created rather than the real woman, and Robert Jamison, an heir who marries Evelyn to help her with a final request.
Some like Ernie, Mick, and Robert come and go so quickly that their presences are barely known before they are divorced. Some like Don and Max turn out to be abusive and controlling.
By far the best husband is Harry, Evelyn's closest friend. Even though they are not in love with each other, for reasons that I will get to in a minute, they are best friends who will do just about anything for each other. They even have a daughter, Connor. It is clear that this is one of the truly happiest moments in Evelyn's life where she can be herself to someone who knows her well, sometimes as much as or even better than she knows herself.
Actually, the greatest love of Evelyn's life is none of her husbands. Her true love is Celia St. James, her former co-star and rival. When Celia reveals her feelings towards the other actress, Evelyn kisses her in return. The two embark into an affair that is mostly secret for fear of the decline of their careers, ostracization, and for a time in prison.
Celia is more passionate and emotional than Evelyn with a focus more towards the personal than the professional. Even though she wins three Oscars and is as highly regarded as Evelyn, one gets the feeling that if Evelyn asked her to, she would give it all up to be with her. If they lived in a more accepting and free time period, she might have.
But they don't and Celia has to stand in silence as Evelyn marries to avoid the gossip that surrounds the two women's closeness.
As compared to Evelyn's seven marriages, Celia only marries once: to football quarterback, John Braverman. This also plays into Evelyn and Harry's marriage which occurs at the same time. In reality, the seeming heterosexual marriages were covers for the two sets of gay and lesbian lovers: Evelyn and Celia and Henry and John. Once again, this shows a real closeness and love in this small family. It isn't fair that they couldn't be with the ones that they truly love but the quartet (quintet counting Connor who also loves her "Aunt Celia and Uncle John" as much as her Mom and Dad). are supportive and devoted to one another and their meaning of love, friendship, and family. It is also significant that this is the first time any of the four make any sort of public acknowledgement of their sexuality. After the Stonewall Riots, they donate anonymously to LGBT causes. They are not totally public, but it was a better gesture than anything that they have done for others like them so far.
The open marriage between the two couples is a happy time that unfortunately does not last.
Monique does not do a whole lot until towards the end of the book but it is clear that Evelyn's story has an effect on her. She becomes more assertive in her conversations with her boss and ex-husband. She also ends up confronting a long hidden family secret and learns the exact reason why Evelyn chose her to tell her story. Monique's reaction to this revelation shows that in some ways she was the right person to hear and share Evelyn's story with the world.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is among the best books about Old Hollywood by revealing the real human beings behind the glamorous aloof surface. It is like its protagonist a real star.
