Hello! First and foremost, this is going to be my first time writing in full English on Medium. So, bear with me.
Previously, I wrote my general thoughts on ‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’ here in Bahasa Indonesia. Then, remembering that the book has this ‘Topics & Questions for Discussion’ section on its last pages, I thought, “Why don’t I write about that as well?” Thus, here I am, revealing my responses to the section.
I already posted this in a Twitter thread beforehand, so please remember when you find similar answers on that platform, it’s me. Don’t worry.
1. Each husband’s section opens with an illustrative moniker (for example, “Poor Ernie Diaz,” “Goddamn Don Adler,” “Agreeable Robert Jamison”). Discuss the meaning and significance of some of these descriptions. How do they set the tone for the section that follows? Did you read these characterizations as coming from Evelyn, Monique, an omniscient narrator, or someone else?
These ‘illustrative monikers’ are actually helping me to get a glimpse of these particular husbands and what I may find along the way reading through their relationships with Evelyn.
Regarding the perspective of these characterizations, I read this as coming from Evelyn at first. Yet, after reading the book until the end, I decided to think of this as coming from Monique instead, since she would be the one making the biography. Plus, I don’t think Evelyn would make such a narrow title for each of her husbands as she knew better than anyone.
2. Of the seven husbands, who was your favorite, and why? Who surprised you the most?
Definitely Harry Cameron. I think that out of the seven husbands, Harry has the most layers of personality. He’s Evelyn’s best friend for years, he’s gay, he’s under the pressure of being a male in Hollywood that should have a wife and a child, he’s in love with these two men at different times, he’s making strategies with Evelyn plus his and her lovers, and many more. This gives me many chances to know him better and even sympathize with him. Yet, even so, I still didn’t see the plot twist coming from him on his last ‘situationship’.
3. Monique notes that hearing Evelyn Hugo’s life story has inspired her to carry herself differently than she would have before. In what ways does Monique grow over the course of the novel? Discuss whether Evelyn also changes by the end of her time with Monique, and if so, what spurs this evolution.
The obvious ones are the changes of Monique’s view on her own divorce with David, her ex-husband, and her late father which unexpectedly crossed fate with the whole thing. Thanks to Evelyn who shared her experiences and takes on her own decisions over time, Monique begins to realize the best reasons for her situation–an epiphany of her own, if I could say.
As for the other way around, I haven’t thought about it that much since I see Evelyn as someone who has her values rooted deep already. I guess the incident that happened to involve Monique’s father is the biggest factor in this case.
4. On page 146, Monique says, “I have to ‘Evelyn Hugo’ Evelyn Hugo.” What does it mean to “Evelyn Hugo”? Can you think of a time when you might be tempted to “Evelyn Hugo”?
In this context, I assume that ‘to Evelyn Hugo’ means this: to gracefully get the upper hand over something. It doesn’t have to be for a cunning reason–both parties can be benefited, but one gets more. In that case, I think everyone would have done this to gain momentum for their hard situation–in the workplace, for example, just like what Monique does.
5. Did you trust Evelyn to be a reliable narrator as you were reading? Why, or why not? Did your opinion on this change at all by the conclusion, and if so, why?
I trusted her as a narrator, though there is a bit of a question whether or not Monique has intervened in the narration one way or another as I keep reading until the last page. I feel like there is a possibility this narration is retold by Monique, but still using Evelyn’s point of view. It’s not a bad possibility, per se.
6. What role do the news, tabloid, and blog articles interspersed throughout the book serve in the narrative? What, if anything, do we learn about Evelyn’s relationship to the outside world from them?
I think it’s public knowledge that these forms of media are leeching off celebrities for profits throughout history, specifically since the 20th century, and I like seeing this reality being shown to affect Evelyn Hugo and the people around her–the consequences are a different story, though. It’s almost like an interlude for the readers to get ready for each upcoming sequence, also like a test for Evelyn. How far could she stay up there with such social-pressuring articles that most likely would target her and people around here every second? I think this brings lessons of Evelyn’s resilience throughout her life.
7. At several points in the novel, such as pages 81–82 and 174–81, Evelyn tells her story through the second person, “you.” How does this kind of narration affect the reading experience? Why do you think she chooses these memories to recount in this way?
For pages 81–82, that kind of situation is more likely to happen in reality as well for some people. By using ‘you’, I feel like Evelyn tries to reach out and talk to those who unfortunately ever had or have that kind of abusive relationship–share her empathy in an indirect way. While for pages 174–181 (though it also applies to the first pages), I think this is Evelyn’s way to dissociate herself with this specific circumstance, showing that she’s not quite fond of that memory.
8. How do you think Evelyn’s understanding and awareness of sexuality were shaped by her relationship with Billy — the boy who works at the five-and-dime store? How does her sensibility evolve from this initial encounter? As she grows older, to what extent is Evelyn’s attitude toward sex is influenced by those around her?
I think it was mature and naive at the same time for her as a 13-year-old kid. It was mature in her way of realizing and utilizing her sexuality on the hooked Billy, yet also naive in her way of utilizing it for candies and feeling disappointed in herself when she no longer satisfied Billy. Her sense of maturity regarding her sexuality got developed even more when she realized she could utilize it for bigger purposes, mainly to get out of Hell’s Kitchen and get a better life.
Also, it is noted that she didn’t even get sexually attracted to anyone who sexualized her until she was around eighteen and met Don Adler–confirming her main view of sex and sexuality as tools for work, then for her own pleasure if she found a lover.
9. On page 53, Evelyn uses the saying “all’s well that ends well” as part of her explanation for not regretting her actions. Do you think Evelyn truly believes this? Using examples from later in her life, discuss why or why not. How do you think this idea relates to the similar but more negatively associated phrase “the ends justify the means”?
I think Evelyn does believe this. For her case with Ernie specifically, we know they both used each other for their gains, even though it looks like Evelyn won more. Their means were not so pure either: Evelyn wanted to ride her way to Hollywood, and Ernie wanted a trophy wife. This pattern happened many times with her other husbands, though the reasons varied. Thus, this idea also relates to the said negative phrase.
10. Evelyn offers some firm words of wisdom throughout her recounting of her life, such as “Be wary of men with something to prove” (p. 76), “Never let anyone make you feel ordinary” (p. 207), and “It is OK to grovel for something you really want” (p.191). What is your favorite piece of advice from Evelyn? Were there any assertions you strongly disagreed with?
I think my favorite is “It is OK to grovel for something you really want”, since I know I still restrain myself to do what I want. A people pleaser, if you will. It’s not necessarily encouraging me to literally grovel for something I want, but it’s ensuring me that it’s okay to have something you really want, even when people say it’s not going to be worth the hardship–kind of connected to the phrase “Never let anyone make you feel ordinary”.
11. Several times, Evelyn mentions having cosmetic surgery. What was your reaction to this? How do these decisions jibe with the value system and ethical code that she seems to live by? Why do you think Evelyn continues to dye her hair at the end of her life?
I don’t think that much about his decision to take surgical actions regarding her looks. Thus, for now, I think it has something to do with the persona of Evelyn Hugo merged with Evelyn Herrera.
Also, I wouldn’t say this jibes with her views about her ethnicity, though. Instead, I would say her actions show her efforts to regain the authority of her own body — since she had this renowned appearance because she was forced to so that she could blend into the fame of Hollywood in the first place.
12. Review the scenes on pages 198 and 345, in which Evelyn relays memories of conversing in Spanish after years without speaking it. Discuss the role language plays in her understanding of who she is. In what ways does her relationship to her Cuban identity parallel her experiences with her sexuality, and in what ways does it differ?
In my opinion, her Cuban identity tightly relates to
- Her hometown, Hell’s Kitchen, where she grew up with her abusive father and her late mother,
- Her first realization of the physical changes she had in becoming a teenager, and
- The beginning of the sexualization of her body by men around her hometown.
Thus, not speaking the language of these people to her means that she let this unpleasant past of hers go and no longer wanted to speak about her whereabouts–ironically, this includes the memories of her mother. On page 198, she got reminded of her origin after years of letting go of and forgetting it, which she ironically (again) just realized that she mainly did herself, not because of her circumstances for Hollywood. It is quite symbolic to regain her Cuban roots in her house–her home, supported by Luisa.
Then, on page 345, when she was no longer heavily associated with Hollywood and lived in Spain with people she loved, I see that she was back gradually in her element by speaking Spanish. Though she first did it to survive, we could see that she eventually enjoyed and embraced her culture as a Cuban–no longer tied up with her past since she had grown up and seen things differently since then. It included speaking the language conveniently.
13. If you could meet and interview one celebrity at the end of their life, who would it be? What would you ask them?
I think it would be SHINee Jonghyun, who died due to suicide. I wish I could ask him how he was doing, how the struggles were for him being an idol and facing the consequences that followed, how his well-being was around other SHINee members and his family, how he felt being in the music industry and how he made a huge impact, not only in music but also other things, mainly mental health discussions.
