Second post and I already have what is most likely going to be an unpopular opinion: I didn’t love this book. I don’t know if it’s because I read it directly after this biography of Louisa Adams (which I absolutely loooved) or what.
Actually, okay, that’s a lie. I do know what it was (and yes, it partially was because of fallout due to the LA biography). While enjoyable and at times engrossing, I didn’t exit the story feeling like I knew Huguette Clark any better than I did beforehand, and, for me personally, that’s what I want out of a biography. Yes, this mystery is part of the allure of Huguette’s story, but I was hoping that the book would shed some more light on to who this complicated, and at times confusing, woman was. I mean, you have a woman whose family describes her as childlike, obsessed with dolls and uninterested in adult conversation, yet she (allegedly) carried on a passionate and loving affair with a married man, supporting him and his family while also being friendly with his wife, until he died. How is it possible Huguette was both of these women? The author does at one point say that it’s not the job of the biographer to make assumptions on what the subject thought or felt, it’s their job to just lay out the facts, but I’m a narrative person. Of course I didn’t want him to put words into her mouth, but perhaps I would have enjoyed it more if there were a few more connections drawn between her actions, instead of just the line that was her actions themselves, if that makes sense.
My biggest problem with this book was that it felt like the entire narrative, the stories of W.A. Clark’s and Huguette’s lives (oh yeah, the first section details the rise, fall(ish), and rise again of Huguette’s father), were all just a means to get to the climax that was her court case. Now, I don’t know if this is because I knew that the author had been the reporter at NBC News who first discovered the story of Huguette’s empty mansions, and published the articles that led to the case itself, because admittedly that section of the book is small. It’s just that after the distance kept between Huguette and the readers, the most intimate writing of the entire book took place describing the battle between her family and the defendants – but, to be fair, the author actually got to interview these people in person, and that in and of itself lends a stronger type of intimacy to the relationship.
But, all of my whining aside, the story is interesting. Born to arguably the wealthiest forgotten man in America, Huguette grew up in a lifestyle that most of us can’t even imagine, and was far more generous with her money than anyone would expect or demand her to be. She was reclusive and shy in public, opinionated and warm in private, a woman who got divorced after only nine months yet kept friendly correspondence with her ex-husband until his death years and years later. Huguette Clark was undeniable a mystery, and maybe one that we’re never meant to solve.
Would still recommend to Internet Strangers, fully aware this one’s on me, 2/5 Japanese Hina dolls.
Advertisements Share this:
