Page 6 May 23, 2019 EL SEGUNDO HERALD
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn
Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Reviewed by Desiree De La Cruz-Miller,
Library Assistant, El Segundo Public Library
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a
scandalous novel written by Taylor Jenkins
Reid about a young, inexperienced journalist
who gets the opportunity of a lifetime
to interview Hollywood’s glamorous and
oh-so-outrageous Evelyn Hugo. As with
other books by Taylor Jenkins Reid, you
will find this one hard to put down. She
takes you on twists and turns while you
feel a rollercoaster of emotions as you read
Evelyn’s shocking history.
Monique Grant is shocked by the opportunity
when approached by her editor to interview
Evelyn regarding the auction of the latter’s
gown collection. Monique knows the request
is odd considering there are more seasoned
writers at the magazine she works for (Vivant),
but Ms. Hugo specifically requested her. Monique
approaches this interview warily and
after much anticipation, at the book’s end,
Evelyn reveals why she chose her.
Evelyn has worn many gowns over the years.
She was nominated for awards and snubbed
Entertainment
many times throughout her career. Monique’s
assignment is to interview Evelyn about the
auctioning of the gowns. An interview like
this will sell millions of copies since Evelyn
has been off the radar over the last 20-plus
years. But the real assignment that Frankie,
the magazine’s editor, has given Monique is
to find out about all the juicy details of the
life and loves of Evelyn Hugo. Having been
entrusted with the story, Monique is eager
to make it happen. However, is she willing
to do what Evelyn wants for a tell-all if it
will cost her? Why did Evelyn pick Monique
for this interview?
Taylor Jenkins Reid held my attention
throughout the novel. The reader travels
through each era with the character and
experiences the issues that were surfacing at
the time. She approaches the topics of AIDS
and the struggles many have faced with coming
out in an age when being gay was not
widely accepted. Taylor does a good job of
connecting the reader to the characters. I felt
myself rooting for them on their low points
and cheering them on during the highs. To
find out more about this book, come visit
us at the El Segundo Public Library and
check out a copy of The Seven Husbands
of Evelyn Hugo. For help locating the book,
please see the reference desk. We are happy
to help you! •
Check It Out
Film Review
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Desiree De La Cruz-Miller
Burning: This South Korean
Thriller Will Fire You Up
By Kailee Andrews for www.cinemacy.com
Burning (available to stream now on Netflix)
tells the story of a directionless Jong-su
(played by acclaimed Korean film star Yoo
Ah-in), who falls into a love triangle with a
girl from his hometown who herself has the
affection from a wealthy playboy.
The drama begins with a chance meeting
when Jong-su runs into his mysterious
childhood neighbor Hae-mi (played with
wide-eyed intensity by Jong-Seo Jeon) after
she has been rendered unrecognizable by
plastic surgery. She’s a free-spirited presence
who sweeps Jong-su into a relationship. She
loves to reinvent herself, dancing and speaking
with a vulnerable rawness that Jong-su
lacks. The plot thickens when Hae-mi travels
to Africa alone to seek out a group that
teaches people to release the small hunger
of life to seek the “Big Hunger” of spiritual
meaning. When Hae-mi returns, she is joined
by the fit and wealthy Ben, played by Steven
Yeun (Walking Dead, Sorry to Bother You)
in his first Korean language role. Once this
main trio is in place, the film bursts with
ambiguous rivalries.
Jong-su and Ben are constantly contrasted.
Where Jong-so is slouching, Ben is suave.
While Jong-su is burdened by his family’s
financial troubles, Ben commands vast
wealth. Jong-su calls Ben a Korean Gatsby,
ranting, “How does he live like this at his
age? Traveling abroad, driving a Porsche,
listening to music while cooking pasta.”
He seems to believe that Ben is everything
insincere, while his own connection with
Hae-mi is real. Jong-su claims he’s an
observer of life’s mysteries rather than a
judge, but we watch as his -- and our --
judgmental, pattern-seeking impulses flare
at Ben’s behavior. It’s not long until Jong-su
gets the idea that Ben’s interest in Hae-mi
is sinister.
Accomplished director Lee Chang-Dong
knows just when to mete out information
to keep an audience yearning, adding more
mysteries and ominous moments to the film’s
Jenga-like structure. Much unease stems from
the unsatisfied, troubled characters, who all
have reasons to tease, manipulate or harm
one another to fulfill their own desires.
I won’t spoil the conclusion. I’ll only say
that the more we watch these characters, the
less sure we become of them. Are their relationships
sincere or transactional? Are their
memories honest or unreliable? If creeping
dread and haunting mysteries fire you up,
you’ll get endless fuel from Burning.
Burning is not rated. 148 minutes. Available
to stream on Netflix. •
Burning, courtesy of Well Go USA
Calendar of Events from page 2
Sheldon St., Call Pam at: 310-318-2856.
MONDAY, JUNE 3
• Canasta Group, 11:30 AM. – 3:00 PM.,
50 Plus, Free, Senior Club of El Segundo,
339 Sheldon St., Call Pam at: 310-318-
2856.
TUESDAY, JUNE 4
• Pinochle, 11:30 AM. – 3:30 PM., Senior
Club of El Segundo, 339 Sheldon St., Call
Pam at: 310-318-2856.
• City Council Meeting, 6:00 PM., City Hall,
350 Main Street, Call: 310-524-2306.
• El Segundo Kiwanis Club Meeting, 12:10
PM., The Lakes at El Segundo, Contact:
elsegundokiwanis.org.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5
• ESHS PTA Meeting, 7:00 PM., ESHS Library,
640 Main Street, Call: 310-615-2662.
• Bowling, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM, 50 Plus,
Senior Club of El Segundo, Gable House
Bowl, 22501 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance,
Cost: $8.50 for 3 games, Call Joyce at:
310-322-7621.
THURSDAY, JUNE 6
• El Segundo Certified Farmer’s Market, 3:00
PM. – 7:00 PM., located on Main Street,
Downtown El Segundo
• CSS Spring Sing Performance, 8:30 AM. –
11:00 AM., CSS Quad, 700 Center Street,
Call: 310-615-2676
• El Segundo Historical Committee Meeting,
7:00 PM. – 8:00 PM., El Segundo Public
Library, 111 W. Mariposa Ave, Call Sari:
310-364-0117. •
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for twenty words or less.
Email class@heraldpublications.com or call 310-322-1830 for more information.