Eve in Hollywood

These stories give us a glimpse at what happened to Evelyn Ross after she disappears from the scene in Towles' first novel, Rules of Civility. Towles' tells her story through her interactions with people in Hollywood, most notably a young Oliva DeHavilland. As is the case with all his work, strong characterization and an incredible sense of place make for great reading. If you haven't read Rules of Civility, these stories might not be that satisfying, but as a bit of a conclusion to an open-ended story, it is really great. I hope he does the same for some of the characters in his latest book, The Lincoln Highway, which leaves us wanting to know a lot about what happens when the book ends.

This book is not available on Amazon or from show more chain bookstores. You have to get it from Shakespeare & Company in New York City, Powells, or places like that. It is pretty expensive for a slim paperback, but Shakespeare & Company has signed copies, so that's what I got. show less

Eve in Hollywood – Amor Towles

4 stars

Rules of Civility was one of those books. I didn’t want it to end. I wanted to go back and start over as soon as it was done. Mostly, I wanted to know what happened to Eve. My curiosity was not completely satisfied with this short story collection, but it does provide six fascinating glimpses into the life of a remarkable character. The first five stories look at Eve through other eyes. The last story is specifically Eve’s.

Just as the original book made me want to time travel back to an earlier New York City, these stories make me wish for a trip to the hay days of Hollywood. I want to walk through the revolving doors of the Beverly Hills Hotel and have a drink in the bar with Eve and Olivia show more de Haviland.

First, you should read Rules of Civility. When the first book leaves you wanting a bit more, follow Eve to Hollywood. show less

Amor Towles’s Eve in Hollywood expands on his first novel, Rules of Civility, exploring Evelyn Ross’ journey to Hollywood. The novella alternates perspectives from a detective on a train to a washed-up movie star, Olivia de Havilland, a paparazzo, and more. The stories capture a bygone era of Hollywood with the backroom deals, studio system, and contrast of cultures. Towles demonstrates his great skill for character development and description even in so short a medium, so this novella will appeal to his fans. The work was originally released as an e-book, but Shakespeare & Co. in New York City offered a special print copy of the novella for Towles’ fans.

I was a huge fan of Towles, Rules of Civility, so when I saw that he had extended the story to write about the character, Evelyn Ross, and her time in Hollywood,I was happy indeed.

This Kindle single consists of six interconnected short stories that chronicle Eve's life in Hollywood in 1938. As ever, she is the independent, intelligent and savvy character she was in Towles' New york story. She doesn't suffer fools, but to others who might be ignored by the general public she shows compassion, always understanding that there is no one from whom you cannot learn something.

She befriends Olivia DeHaviland, gets the better of a sleazy tabloid journalist and also stars down David O. Selznik at the height of his Hollywood power. Hollywood is show more just a way station for Eve. At the end of the book she's about to embark on new adventures elsewhere. One hopes that Towles will let us hear from her again. show less

Read this on Kobo (thus no page numbers). Did not love it the way I loved Rules of Civility, but enjoyed it well enough. It follows Eve as she decides not to get off the train to meet her parents in Chicago, instead continuing all the way west to LA. We see Eve through the eyes of a few others, including a man on the train, a retired old actor in the hotel where she's staying, and a rising actress, and Eve remains as independent and headstrong as she was in New York. Even though this story focused on her, I don't feel as though I know her much better than I did after reading Rules of Civility.

Quotes

He sat on the couch in his robe as the room filled with the odor of the unfinished breakfast and as the minutes dismantled the hours. show more (Prentice)

The scientists call it human nature; which is just a fancy term for the God-given flaws we have no intention of giving back. (Litsky)

As the sign over the cash register made clear, the three ways you could get your coffee at Chester's were sweetened, unsweetened, and somewhere else. (Eve)

[On "Now I've seen everything."] What was it about that phrase, mused Eve, that made it so popular with those who had no business using it? (Eve)

How different it was from New York, where those tiresome silhouettes incessantly reminded its citizens that theirs was a city built on effort and achievement. Los Angeles wasn't built on any of that, thought Eve with a sense of serenity. It was built on something more essential, tenuous, and rare. (Eve) show less

I love Towles' writing, it is purposeful and poetic. I didn't think I needed more information on Eve, but I sure did enjoy catching up.

From The Book Wheel:

Oh, how I love Amor Towles. Granted, I’ve only read two things by him, but I’ve loved both of them. Last summer I raved about Rules of Civility and it made my Top 13 Books of 2013 list without a fight, so when he released this novella as a follow-up on my birthday, I was thrilled. Even though it took me a few months to get around to reading it, I devoured it in one sitting and can say that his incredible writing was not a one-time thing.

Although Eve in Hollywood picks up where Rules of Civility leaves off, it is a distinctly independent novella that follows Eve in, well, Hollywood. Each chapter's told by a different person she encounters along the way, all of whom she has a resounding effect on. From shy starlets show more to movie producers to chauffeurs, Eve impacts each of their lives with a nonchalant charm that few can pull off.

For this review and more, show less