The introducing pages to the novel show a scene where Evye and her mother are escaping, which appears again nearing the end of the book. This clue shows that there are going to be drastic changes, because the “beginning” of the story actually takes place in a small, tranquil town near Manhattan, little after WWII, where Evye is just a regular girl who lives with her mom, her mom’s husband (who is just like her dad), and her stepdad’s mom. The contrast between the two scenes already creates the tone, I think; and gives some sort of clue that matches the title: crime and mystery.
There are many scenes that give the air of mystery, which could be the general tone: for example, how Evye’s mom keeps hanging around her and Peter, even though Peter is supposed to be secretly in love with Evye, and yet mom’s intention doesn’t seem protective when she’s around, but even a little flirty. This attitude is suspicious. The real intention is revealed in the end. But the truth is never confessed, and Evye saves her family.
The book wasn’t exactly a heavy lecture filled with hidden meanings or a secret bias towards a strange conspiracy, and I feel it doesn’t pinch upon a theme repeatedly or meaningfully. But the book mentions several times the gap of beauty between bomb-shell Beverly and small, plain Evye. Everyone seems to notice it (particularly Evye and her parents- probably because they are the people who surround her). This is mentioned pretty much throughout the story, wether it is when she looks at her self in the mirror, or when people mention her mother, or when Joe is trying to compliment her by telling her that she came from her mother. This feeling or inferior looks goes on until, also boarding the end of the story, Evye wears a beautiful “grown up” dress, courtesy of the wife of the wealthy Jew, to a dinner with the hotel guests. In this scene she is aware of her beauty, and feels confident that she’ll make an entrance as soon as she slides down the stairs; which seems to come true telling from the expressions of the faces of all those who were waiting for her. This scene is interesting because you expect things will change and Evye will feel confident about herself now that she understands her beauty, but this is not the case. As she analyzes the perplex faces of her admirers, she discovers that two of them, even though equally amazed, did not posses that gazing charm that the others had; these two were Joe and Barb; angry at her, disappointed at her… but above all, frightened for her.
Later we find out that Evye’s beauty was always ignored and shadowed because Beverly wanted to protect her from making the same mistakes she did as some one aware of her looks. It seemed to her that if Evye did not know she was pretty, she would be safe from the dangers of men…and the obvious consequences.
As I said before, it’s not a really strong theme of anything difficult to figure out, but…it is something touched upon and later revealed.
I don’t think this book observes or comments on life; I think it’s just a catchy novel with a touch of noire film. I did enjoy it.
Book Report 