Die sieben Männer der Evelyn Hugo

The Unseen Nook&Canny reviewed Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

That was a surprise.

5 stars

The book was gifted to me for Christmas. The life story of a Hollywood diva from the '50s and her seven husbands that spans all the way into the 2010s. I didn't expect much. I, not really a fan of romance novels or even interested in film icons and their lives, wasn't particularly inclined to read this book... until I did.

It didn't even take a full chapter before I couldn't put it down. Jenkins' writing style has something truly special that completely captivated me. So refreshing and the words were appropriately chosen.

I loved the structured writing, which makes the novel easy to read and follow.

Particularly close to the end when everything unfolds, you begin grasping the meaning, that there is more than just the seven marriages of Evelyn Hugo.

I didn't expect the end, though. Conclusive but it left me sad.

Obviously, there was / is a …

The book was gifted to me for Christmas. The life story of a Hollywood diva from the '50s and her seven husbands that spans all the way into the 2010s. I didn't expect much. I, not really a fan of romance novels or even interested in film icons and their lives, wasn't particularly inclined to read this book... until I did.

It didn't even take a full chapter before I couldn't put it down. Jenkins' writing style has something truly special that completely captivated me. So refreshing and the words were appropriately chosen.

I loved the structured writing, which makes the novel easy to read and follow.

Particularly close to the end when everything unfolds, you begin grasping the meaning, that there is more than just the seven marriages of Evelyn Hugo.

I didn't expect the end, though. Conclusive but it left me sad.

Obviously, there was / is a hype about this book and if so, it is totally worth it. It's an astonishing, touching and amazingly written historical fiction novel about unconditional love, passion power, guilt and loss, as well as the shocking and toxic reality behind fame and old Hollywood's glamour. I even might read it a second time to digest the bits and pieces of wisdom by Evelyn.

Valerie reviewed The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

What true love is

4 stars

I enjoyed reading this book about a fictional celebrity who wishes to tell her story. The magazines made headlines for her seven marriages and then divorces. But what was hidden behind them ? Fame and money don't bring happiness. Who still doubts it ? Not Evelyn Hugo.

ju reviewed The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Quick and pleasant read

No rating

Good story and pleasant read, but I wasn't really taken by the writing.

Tony H reviewed The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Fun read.

4 stars

It's a fun, breezy read, even if it does bog down a tetch toward the end as it ties up some loose ends, but there's clearly a Blanchett ot a Streep or a Julianne Moore or someone who's gonna win an Oscar for playing the title role in the movie adaptation.

sof reviewed The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Decepcionada por las expectativas

2 stars

Los siete maridos de Evelyn Hugo es un libro del que esperaba algo más, aunque no sé muy bien qué. Es una lectura amena, no me fue difícil entrar en la historia y enganchar capítulo tras capítulo para ver qué pasaba, pero me faltaba algo. Quizás era conectar más con lo que me contaba y con los personajes, lo que solo conseguí en momentos muy concretos de la historia. Puede que a mí en general me cueste empatizar con la gente rica (la mayoría de personajes lo son), pero el estilo además no ha ayudado en absoluto, la manera de contar las cosas lo volvía todo superficial: lo que sentían los personajes, cómo se relacionaban, la experiencia de tener una sexualidad no normativa o ser racializada… Quizás se trate de eso, de la superficialidad de Hollywood, del dinero y la fama, pero no me parece que fuese eso lo que …

Los siete maridos de Evelyn Hugo es un libro del que esperaba algo más, aunque no sé muy bien qué. Es una lectura amena, no me fue difícil entrar en la historia y enganchar capítulo tras capítulo para ver qué pasaba, pero me faltaba algo. Quizás era conectar más con lo que me contaba y con los personajes, lo que solo conseguí en momentos muy concretos de la historia. Puede que a mí en general me cueste empatizar con la gente rica (la mayoría de personajes lo son), pero el estilo además no ha ayudado en absoluto, la manera de contar las cosas lo volvía todo superficial: lo que sentían los personajes, cómo se relacionaban, la experiencia de tener una sexualidad no normativa o ser racializada… Quizás se trate de eso, de la superficialidad de Hollywood, del dinero y la fama, pero no me parece que fuese eso lo que la escritora quería contar ni lo que la mayoría de lectores se lleva.

Había oído hablar mucho y muy bien de esta novela, así que esperaba algo mejor. Es el típico problema de las altas expectativas a la hora de leer un libro. Me pregunto si lo hubiera disfrutado más si no hubiera esperado gran cosa de él, pero si no hubiese escuchado esas alabanzas probablemente ni hubiera sabido que existía y no hubiera habido lectura.

AndySoc1al@bookwyrm.social reviewed The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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

4 stars

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.

Flauschbuch

rated it

Dec 13