"No one is just a victim or a victor. Everyone is somewhere in between. People who go around casting themselves as one or the other are not only kidding themselves, but they're also painfully unoriginal."
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo's READER GUIDE CLUB section, which functions much like a thoughtful recap, was instrumental in securing my rating. This unique addition, incredibly beneficial for works of fiction, actively encourages reader participation and discussion, enhancing the overall reading experience.
When it comes to expressions of love within Chinese culture, there is often a reliance on non-verbal cues and an intuitive understanding of emotions. Despite this cultural backdrop, a letter from Evelyn's lover, penned in straightforward yet impactful English, resonated with me deeply: "I like to run my fingers over the words, feeling the way the pen had embossed the paper. I liked hearing her voice in my head..."
The story is fiction, yet it provides a profound portrayal of women's issues. It opens up avenues for deep introspection on self-awareness, intimacy, love rights, sexual initiative, friendship, beauty vs. wealth, LGBTQ issues, and the meaning of marriage.
At the outset, the book appeared to merely graze the surface of these significant themes, not delving deeply into any particular one. Yet, as I progressed through the pages, it dawned on me that these subjects are not isolated; they are entwined within the intricate tapestry of every woman's life, much like the protagonist's, Evelyn.
Through her journey of seven marriages and a myriad of fleeting romantic encounters, Evelyn is portrayed as seeking—but never quite finding—a union that satiates her yearning for both spiritual and physical connection. The narrative suggests that her truest form of love was found not within the confines of marriage but in transient moments of pleasure—effortless to attain yet elusive to maintain. This brings to mind the poignant realization that "It's a cruel thing to marry someone you love dearly." The institution of marriage, it seems, does not guarantee love; it is rather about stumbling upon the right person at the right juncture in life.
Marriage is a momentary decision, but it deceives partners into pursuing lifelong eternity. Eternal love is a false proposition; one must first be honest with oneself to recognize this. "Impermanence" dictates that "change" is constant. Your environment, yourself, and those you love are always transforming. Eternal love isn't unattainable, but it's a rare feat. It calls for you and your beloved grow in sync and continuously, time and again, fall in love with each other in every fleeting moment of forever. Otherwise, it's just a dream or an expectation.
True love transcends all relationship definitions. I never yearn for eternal love, but to be always loved.
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