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Ева
Clive Thurston was a hard, ruthless Hollywood writer. But his fame and reputation rested on the work of another man - a brilliant playwright who had conveniently died. Clive thought his secret was safe - but then he met Eve. Eve was on the game. To Clive she was an enigma - bold, shy, wanton, and childlike by turn. Clive was a pushover, from the moment he saw her he was a man possessed - possessed by a woman who was beautiful to look at but lethal to love...
286 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1945
20 people are currently reading
650 people want to read
About the author
James Hadley Chase
649 books997 followersRené Lodge Brabazon Raymond was born on 24th December 1906 in London, England, the son of Colonel Francis Raymond of the colonial Indian Army, a veterinary surgeon. His father intended his son to have a scientific career, was initially educated at King's School, Rochester, Kent. He left home at the age of 18 and became at different times a children's encyclopedia salesman, a salesman in a bookshop, and executive for a book wholesaler before turning to a writing career that produced more than 90 mystery books. His interests included photography (he was up to professional standard), reading and listening to classical music, being a particularly enthusiastic opera lover. Also as a form of relaxation between novels, he put together highly complicated and sophisticated Meccano models.
In 1932, Raymond married Sylvia Ray, who gave him a son. They were together until his death fifty three years later. Prohibition and the ensuing US Great Depression (1929–1939), had given rise to the Chicago gangster culture just prior to World War II. This, combined with her book trade experience, made him realise that there was a big demand for gangster stories. He wrote as R. Raymond, James Hadley Chase, James L. Docherty, Ambrose Grant and Raymond Marshall.
During World War II he served in the Royal Air Force, achieving the rank of Squadron Leader. Chase edited the RAF Journal with David Langdon and had several stories from it published after the war in the book Slipstream: A Royal Air Force Anthology.
Raymond moved to France in 1956 and then to Switzerland in 1969, living a secluded life in Corseaux-sur-Vevey, on Lake Geneva, from 1974. He eventually died there peacefully on 6 February 1985.
In 1932, Raymond married Sylvia Ray, who gave him a son. They were together until his death fifty three years later. Prohibition and the ensuing US Great Depression (1929–1939), had given rise to the Chicago gangster culture just prior to World War II. This, combined with her book trade experience, made him realise that there was a big demand for gangster stories. He wrote as R. Raymond, James Hadley Chase, James L. Docherty, Ambrose Grant and Raymond Marshall.
During World War II he served in the Royal Air Force, achieving the rank of Squadron Leader. Chase edited the RAF Journal with David Langdon and had several stories from it published after the war in the book Slipstream: A Royal Air Force Anthology.
Raymond moved to France in 1956 and then to Switzerland in 1969, living a secluded life in Corseaux-sur-Vevey, on Lake Geneva, from 1974. He eventually died there peacefully on 6 February 1985.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
October 28, 2017
Sí, lo sé, la portada es horrible! Vamos, que si hubiera tenido que escoger este libro solo por la cubierta... (Juro que el yo saqué de la biblioteca es mucho mejor) A parte de esto solo puedo decir que la historia me ha encantado en mayúsculas. Me encantan las novelas con personajes atípicos y sin duda Chase es un maestro a la hora de crearlos. Ella es una prostituta y él un ser sumamente egoísta, falto de moral y, hasta, violento. En cuanto a la trama, redonda.
June 17, 2020
This novel features a "wanton" woman (Eve) who has no scruples, no alleged heart of gold, as she sells herself to diverse men to survive. Clive, the main male protagonist here becomes obsessed with her, and his "successful" life is ruined in the end. Yet Clive himself is a fraud, his success anchored on the creative genius of another man. Clive passes himself off as a resourceful, fine playwright, but he has actually stolen the work of someone else. And Clive shows in this book that he is not only vain and shallow, he is a fool. His preference of Eve to the superb Carol is one evidence of his idiocy.
Mr Gold, a very important Hollywood personality, is spot on with his assessment of Clive: "I am surprised that Carol has fallen in love with anyone quite so worthless as you... you are not only a bad writer with no future, but you are also an exceedingly unpleasant character... you have actually been stupid and weak enough to let this woman (Eve) infatuate you. Surely there can be no better example of spineless degeneracy than that? ..."
And at the end, Clive receives a horrific beating at the hands of Eve! "There was no escape from that whistling thong that cut at me with white-hot streaks of pain" . This seems like a symbolic punitive atonement for Clive's misdeeds, his shallowness, and idiocy. He deservedly loses it all.
Mr Gold, a very important Hollywood personality, is spot on with his assessment of Clive: "I am surprised that Carol has fallen in love with anyone quite so worthless as you... you are not only a bad writer with no future, but you are also an exceedingly unpleasant character... you have actually been stupid and weak enough to let this woman (Eve) infatuate you. Surely there can be no better example of spineless degeneracy than that? ..."
And at the end, Clive receives a horrific beating at the hands of Eve! "There was no escape from that whistling thong that cut at me with white-hot streaks of pain" . This seems like a symbolic punitive atonement for Clive's misdeeds, his shallowness, and idiocy. He deservedly loses it all.
July 10, 2020
I found it interesting that the narrator here, Clive Thurston, tries to convince us throughout the book that he has little talent as a writer and could hardly write convincing dialogue, prose etc. Of course his fame largely rested on the play he stole and put his name on as the author/playwright. Yet the evidence is there in this work that Clive himself writes well, and he really need not have an inferiority complex as a writer (ironically Eve the 'bad woman' in the book is continuously stated to have an inferiority complex as an individual too). But my point here is that I think Clive is actually a fine writer in his own right too. Here are two small examples, as he writes:
"A big glittering moon hung above the hills, casting black sharp etched shadows and lighting the lake, making it look like a burnished mirror."
"... we could see the still waters of Big Bear Lake reflecting the fir trees and the lazy white clouds that drifted like balls of whipped cream in the brilliant sky"
"A big glittering moon hung above the hills, casting black sharp etched shadows and lighting the lake, making it look like a burnished mirror."
"... we could see the still waters of Big Bear Lake reflecting the fir trees and the lazy white clouds that drifted like balls of whipped cream in the brilliant sky"
June 20, 2020
I have noted before in my other reviews' of Chases books how he loves to create larger than life women who of course destroy the lives of hapless men. Yet at the same time, the author hardly gives us convincing physical descriptions of such women who one would expect to be irresistible beauties. Here is how he describes the "magnetic" Eve here: "It wasn't that she was pretty. She was, if anything plain, but there was something magnetic about her... just to look at her was like getting a jolt of electricity " And as the story goes on we see that Eve is selfish, very dishonest, calculating and callous. And a prostitute. So one wonders what her irresistible attractions are. One would expect that if a woman is physically plain, one might be attracted to her by other qualities, maybe decency, being friendly and nice, considerate and kind etc...but the fact is that Eve is thoroughly bad and cold. She is even quite filthy, as the "hero", Clive Thurston testifies. Yet he continues to be crazy over her, happily ruining his own life in the process.
It might well be that the author (judging from his books) really believed that men can be so daft, but for me his approach does not ring true. The simple truth is that the way Eve is presented in this book, she is unattractive, almost repulsive, someone to avoid. Yet the men keep on going back to her, especially our Clive. Daft, daft.
It might well be that the author (judging from his books) really believed that men can be so daft, but for me his approach does not ring true. The simple truth is that the way Eve is presented in this book, she is unattractive, almost repulsive, someone to avoid. Yet the men keep on going back to her, especially our Clive. Daft, daft.
February 28, 2019
Eve was the downfall of Adam when she, at the behest of the serpent, cajoled him into eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge. In James Hadley Chase’s 1945 thriller, “Eve,” Clive Thurston blames his downfall on a tart, a call girl, named Eve, who somehow bewitched him, although she is indifferent and cold to him.
This novel is a walk through the life of a man plagued by guilt and feelings of unworthiness because his playwriting and Hollywood screenwriting is all based on a play he stole from the home of a writer-friend who conveniently had a heart attack.
Despite having risen to fame and brief fortune, Thurston lives in fear that he will one day be found out as a fraud and a thief and cannot for the life of him write another successful work. This guilt and shame ties in with his obsession with Eve.
Although this story is yet another one about an insider’s view of Hollywood, it is unlike most Hollywood soap operas and it is about obsession and guilt and paranoia. Is Clive Thurston just some scurrilous rat? Is he being an honest narrator or is he even more horrible than he admits? How did the writer end up conveniently having a heart attack? Was Eve really this beguiling evil woman or was Thurston a mad stalker who simply wouldn’t leave her alone? Was Thurston simply powerless to resist her or was he a heartless womanizer? Were the head of major studios out to get him or was he just another failed writer who blamed his lack of success on others?
There is something compelling about the way Chase presents this story through the eyes of Thurston, a cheat, a fraud, a cad.
This novel is a walk through the life of a man plagued by guilt and feelings of unworthiness because his playwriting and Hollywood screenwriting is all based on a play he stole from the home of a writer-friend who conveniently had a heart attack.
Despite having risen to fame and brief fortune, Thurston lives in fear that he will one day be found out as a fraud and a thief and cannot for the life of him write another successful work. This guilt and shame ties in with his obsession with Eve.
Although this story is yet another one about an insider’s view of Hollywood, it is unlike most Hollywood soap operas and it is about obsession and guilt and paranoia. Is Clive Thurston just some scurrilous rat? Is he being an honest narrator or is he even more horrible than he admits? How did the writer end up conveniently having a heart attack? Was Eve really this beguiling evil woman or was Thurston a mad stalker who simply wouldn’t leave her alone? Was Thurston simply powerless to resist her or was he a heartless womanizer? Were the head of major studios out to get him or was he just another failed writer who blamed his lack of success on others?
There is something compelling about the way Chase presents this story through the eyes of Thurston, a cheat, a fraud, a cad.
February 9, 2019
Ossessione Noir
Eva è una ossessione da cui è meglio star lontani.
Ti porta alla vita, ti fa innamorare così poi non riesci a lasciarla andare, ti scava dentro e sotterra una catena emotiva che porta alla rovina.
Eva ha capito tutto degli uomini, dell'ipocrisia dei loro propositi e ha annientato quel sentimento chiamato fiducia.
È una professionista del mestiere: ama un solo uomo, capace di dominare la sua indipendenza, gli altri sono solo mezzi di sopravvivenza.
Eva è una prostituta.
A farne le spese qui è Clive Thurston, uno scrittore furbetto che crede di poter fare i suoi comodi, risucchiato in un vortice ansiogeno senza limiti.
Prendendo dai migliori del suo tempo, Chandler, Hammett e Cain, Chase diventa un artigiano del genere di tutto rispetto.
Autore dinamico e cinematografico, sia nei dialoghi quanto nell'azione, si attiene alla realtà dei fatti delle sue storie per non svilirle con improbabili lieti fine di stampo consolatorio.
Eva è una ossessione da cui è meglio star lontani.
Ti porta alla vita, ti fa innamorare così poi non riesci a lasciarla andare, ti scava dentro e sotterra una catena emotiva che porta alla rovina.
Eva ha capito tutto degli uomini, dell'ipocrisia dei loro propositi e ha annientato quel sentimento chiamato fiducia.
È una professionista del mestiere: ama un solo uomo, capace di dominare la sua indipendenza, gli altri sono solo mezzi di sopravvivenza.
Eva è una prostituta.
A farne le spese qui è Clive Thurston, uno scrittore furbetto che crede di poter fare i suoi comodi, risucchiato in un vortice ansiogeno senza limiti.
Prendendo dai migliori del suo tempo, Chandler, Hammett e Cain, Chase diventa un artigiano del genere di tutto rispetto.
Autore dinamico e cinematografico, sia nei dialoghi quanto nell'azione, si attiene alla realtà dei fatti delle sue storie per non svilirle con improbabili lieti fine di stampo consolatorio.
August 28, 2015
Eve is unlike any of James Hadley Chase’s works. No gangsters or cops, no double cross, no murder, no danger, no intrigue, no blond bombshells and no tough guys here. Instead you have a tale of infatuation the lead character has with a prostitute with leads to his downward spiral both in personal and professional life.
Clive is a playwright dabbling with Hollywood biggies having earned big bucks from his sensational debut play and its royalties. He had quite literally stolen the play from his friend’s death bed and claimed it as his own. The play’s success brought him prosperity and with the showbiz industry come all the associated pitfalls namely money splurging, endless partying, girls, griping with the big wigs. He has a steady income, a good friend, a prospective offer from a big Hollywood producer and an intelligent, sensible girl who loves him. What can go wrong?
Instead what does he do, he falls for a tart, dubiously named Eve, takes no step to write a new novel or play, gets into fist fights with his competitors, loses all his money, leaves his girlfriend (Carol) who had loved him to distraction and wanted to marry him, makes up with Carol and again ends up chasing Eve even after having promised himself and Carol that he won’t have anything to do with her.
Eve has had a troubled childhood, sleeps with all sorts of guys, waits for her make believe hubby who is into some mining job and loathes all men including Clive, in the final chapter she beats him with a dog whip and her boyfriend cum customer kicks him into a gutter.
A sad tale and as I said very unlike Chase’s other works but nevertheless it’s an engrossing story of how mad love can blind anyone from all logic and reasoning thereby leading to eventual self-destruction.
I rate Eve 3 and a half but since it’s from an author I admire immensely I would settle for 4 stars.
Clive is a playwright dabbling with Hollywood biggies having earned big bucks from his sensational debut play and its royalties. He had quite literally stolen the play from his friend’s death bed and claimed it as his own. The play’s success brought him prosperity and with the showbiz industry come all the associated pitfalls namely money splurging, endless partying, girls, griping with the big wigs. He has a steady income, a good friend, a prospective offer from a big Hollywood producer and an intelligent, sensible girl who loves him. What can go wrong?
Instead what does he do, he falls for a tart, dubiously named Eve, takes no step to write a new novel or play, gets into fist fights with his competitors, loses all his money, leaves his girlfriend (Carol) who had loved him to distraction and wanted to marry him, makes up with Carol and again ends up chasing Eve even after having promised himself and Carol that he won’t have anything to do with her.
Eve has had a troubled childhood, sleeps with all sorts of guys, waits for her make believe hubby who is into some mining job and loathes all men including Clive, in the final chapter she beats him with a dog whip and her boyfriend cum customer kicks him into a gutter.
A sad tale and as I said very unlike Chase’s other works but nevertheless it’s an engrossing story of how mad love can blind anyone from all logic and reasoning thereby leading to eventual self-destruction.
I rate Eve 3 and a half but since it’s from an author I admire immensely I would settle for 4 stars.
August 20, 2018
Не читал Чейза со школы. Никаких предубеждений, просто человек совсем вышел из ротации. Короче говоря, умер и оказался погребен под телами многочисленных преемников. Вспомнить про автора «Миража» пришлось в этом году, когда внезапная экранизация Чейза с Изабель Юппер (а потом и версия 1962 с Жанной Моро) заставили взять в руки совок и порыться на книжных полках.
«Ева» (1945) - совсем не типичный роман для Чейза. К тому же, один из ранних и самых амбициозных. Фанаты писателя всячески его хуесосят. Мол, мало экшена. В самом деле, преступление в книге всего одно, еще на первых страницах, и оно не пахнет особым криминалом, быть может, чуточку нафталином. Клерк с рыбзавода по имени Клив Фарстон забирает рукопись пьесы у умершего от рака соседа и издаёт её под своим именем. Пьеса становится дико популярной, её ставят на Бродвея, героя приглашают в Голливуд, он пишет и издаёт еще три романа. Уже собственных, но почти бездарных. Избалованный деньгами и всеобщим признанием, Клив встречает однажды женщину, которая сломает ему шаблон. Проститутка Ева Марлоу спит с ним за деньги, но не спешит демонстрировать писателю любовь, обожание или хотя бы эмпатию. Мужчин она вообще считает за грязь, а Клива Фарстона - высокомерного, самовлюбленного, тщеславного, очень мерзкого и пустого - держит на одном уровне с остальными клиентами. Влипнув в эту токсичную историю «перспективный» драматург методично уничтожает свою репутацию, будущее, а также женщину, которая в него, на самом деле, влюблена.
По духу - классическое американское кино «золотого века». Нуар без нуара. Большая драма из жизни голливудских магнатов и роковых фемин. Чейз явно писал текст, с оглядкой на будущую адаптацию, но ждать первого кивка от киношников пришлось излишне долго. Роман местами наивен и трогательно прямолинеен, но зато крайне удобен для интерпретаций. Особенно на том мета-уровне, где автором текста является его главный герой - редкостная мразь и - главное! - абсолютная бездарность. Здесь даже необычное для Чейза название книги приобретает в финальной сцене на катере смертельную долю сарказма.
«Ева» (1945) - совсем не типичный роман для Чейза. К тому же, один из ранних и самых амбициозных. Фанаты писателя всячески его хуесосят. Мол, мало экшена. В самом деле, преступление в книге всего одно, еще на первых страницах, и оно не пахнет особым криминалом, быть может, чуточку нафталином. Клерк с рыбзавода по имени Клив Фарстон забирает рукопись пьесы у умершего от рака соседа и издаёт её под своим именем. Пьеса становится дико популярной, её ставят на Бродвея, героя приглашают в Голливуд, он пишет и издаёт еще три романа. Уже собственных, но почти бездарных. Избалованный деньгами и всеобщим признанием, Клив встречает однажды женщину, которая сломает ему шаблон. Проститутка Ева Марлоу спит с ним за деньги, но не спешит демонстрировать писателю любовь, обожание или хотя бы эмпатию. Мужчин она вообще считает за грязь, а Клива Фарстона - высокомерного, самовлюбленного, тщеславного, очень мерзкого и пустого - держит на одном уровне с остальными клиентами. Влипнув в эту токсичную историю «перспективный» драматург методично уничтожает свою репутацию, будущее, а также женщину, которая в него, на самом деле, влюблена.
По духу - классическое американское кино «золотого века». Нуар без нуара. Большая драма из жизни голливудских магнатов и роковых фемин. Чейз явно писал текст, с оглядкой на будущую адаптацию, но ждать первого кивка от киношников пришлось излишне долго. Роман местами наивен и трогательно прямолинеен, но зато крайне удобен для интерпретаций. Особенно на том мета-уровне, где автором текста является его главный герой - редкостная мразь и - главное! - абсолютная бездарность. Здесь даже необычное для Чейза название книги приобретает в финальной сцене на катере смертельную долю сарказма.
October 7, 2019
Chase, bella scoperta. Manca l'impianto tradizionale (detective più delitto), ma più noir di così non si può.
January 5, 2021
Just before Eve appeared in print, James Hadley Chase had published Miss Shumway Waves a Wand. Both novels deal with a similar theme: the female personality divided into a good half and a bad half. Miss Shumway is a marvelous and successful comic story. With Eve, Chase attempted a serious psychological study. Carol Rae is the the good half in the book, while Eve is the bad half. Involved with Eve is a lengthy exploration of her emotional failings, leading her into prostitution. At one point, Chase even turns over an entire chapter to a psychological analysis of Eve. Essentially, the book fails. It holds interest for the first half almost, but then begins a repetitious slide into bringing its characters over and over into the same situation. The protagonist is Clive Thurston, certainly one of Chase's most disgusting creations. Clive steals, betrays, lies, cheats, fails at work, and represents an entirely wasted style of life. And it is he who plays the role of analyst to Eve.
This is not a very good book. Nevertheless, I give Chase credit for working his theme through two different genres, comedy and melodrama. And it is also easy to see how his earlier interest in White Slavery in several novels eventually leads to an exploration of the act of prostitution per se. Noble challenge. But failed book. And, by the way, there is very little violence and no murders in this book. Chase apparently wanted it to be a serious of work of literature. He managed to bounce around that goal a bit, but ultimately he didn't make it.
This is not a very good book. Nevertheless, I give Chase credit for working his theme through two different genres, comedy and melodrama. And it is also easy to see how his earlier interest in White Slavery in several novels eventually leads to an exploration of the act of prostitution per se. Noble challenge. But failed book. And, by the way, there is very little violence and no murders in this book. Chase apparently wanted it to be a serious of work of literature. He managed to bounce around that goal a bit, but ultimately he didn't make it.
January 3, 2013
A complete mindless plot,much unlike of any James Hadley Chase that i read till date!!What a waste of time(& money) on this 200+ pager which never supplied any thrill,with no twist either.And on top of the all,the story is quite immoral & idiotic.
May 21, 2025
Went to the library last month and got nostalgic when I saw a bookshelf there filled with James Hadley Chase's books. Used to read Chase when I was a teenager but grew out of his books after that. There were two books of his that I'd wanted to read – this one, 'Eve', and 'Hit and Run'. When I saw 'Eve' in the library, I thought I'll read it first.
The story is about a playwright and novelist being obsessed with a mysterious woman called Eve and how that impacts his life. It is hard to like the main character when he makes one bad decision after another, and at times, I wanted to throw the book in anger. The first chapter was very interesting and fascinating, and the last two chapters were beautiful with some tragic happenings, but in the middle, I really hated the main character. This book is very different from other Chase novels that I've read. It looked very similar to Irving Wallace's 'The Sins of Philip Fleming'. The only difference was that in Wallace's novel, the main character somehow manages to come out of everything unscathed, while here, the main character loses everything.
I don't read this kind of stuff now, am too old to read books like this now. But it was interesting to read this and think about an author I used to enjoy reading when I was young.
The story is about a playwright and novelist being obsessed with a mysterious woman called Eve and how that impacts his life. It is hard to like the main character when he makes one bad decision after another, and at times, I wanted to throw the book in anger. The first chapter was very interesting and fascinating, and the last two chapters were beautiful with some tragic happenings, but in the middle, I really hated the main character. This book is very different from other Chase novels that I've read. It looked very similar to Irving Wallace's 'The Sins of Philip Fleming'. The only difference was that in Wallace's novel, the main character somehow manages to come out of everything unscathed, while here, the main character loses everything.
I don't read this kind of stuff now, am too old to read books like this now. But it was interesting to read this and think about an author I used to enjoy reading when I was young.
May 12, 2019
I’ve read many JHC books but this was completely different from his usual style - in writing and the context. I found it very refreshing, and unlike other stories he worked with human emotions which I thought was very interesting.
January 10, 2024
ΒΙΠΕΡ Νο.500
Η ΚΙΡΚΗ
Δεν ξέρω αν η δημοτικότητα ενός συγγραφέα μετριέται με το πόσα βιβλία πούλησε ή με το πόσα γίναν ταινίες, η σημασία για μένα έγκειται στο να μπορεί να με εξιτάρει, να μου ξυπνάει συναισθήματα.
Ολοκληρωμένη άποψη, παρουσίαση, κριτική και σκέψεις/σχόλια μπορείτε να βρείτε στην ομάδα* μας στο facebook https://m.facebook.com/groups/1267229...
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Όταν πρωτογνώρισα το goodreads, εντυπωσιάστηκα!
Ήταν η Μetropolis του βιβλίου.
Τόσα δεδομένα μαζεμένα δεν είχα ξαναδεί.
Το είπα "μεγάλη δεξαμενή".
Σε σχέση με τα φόρουμ της εποχής, τούτο ήταν κάτι διαφορετικό. Δεν υπήρχε πρόβλημα να γράψεις κακή κριτική για όποιο βιβλίο δεν σου άρεσε. Ήταν εύχρηστο, αντικειμενικό, φιλικό. Και ο χρήστης δεν ένιωθε την ανάσα των λειτουργών (operators) και των ιδιοκτητών (admins) να τον ελέγχουν και να τον παρατηρούν σαν άλλοι big brothers.
Από τότε πέρασαν πολλά χρόνια. Κύλησε πολύ νερό στον μύλο, μεγαλώσαμε μαζί του.
Άρχισε να γερνάει. Να δείχνει κάποιες ατέλειες και αδυναμίες. Νέα χαρακτηριστικά σε νέους ιστότοπους έρχονταν να το υπερκεράσουν.
Πόσες φορές, θυμάμαι, με είχε απασχολήσει ένα θέμα εδώ. Αλλά το μόνο "εργαλείο" αλληλεπίδρασης των χρηστών είναι τα mail μεταξύ φίλων. Έστελνα κι εγώ, λοιπόν, ομαδικές επιστολές. Όπου θάμουν ευτυχής αν έπαιρνα απάντηση σε μία από κάθε δέκα που έστελνα. Είναι φανερό. Οι περισσότεροι αρέσκονται στο να λαμβάνουν μόνο. Να διαβάζουν κριτικές, να μην γράφουν δικες τους, να μη συμμετέχουν σε απορίες χρηστών ή καλέσματα φίλων.
Αλλά για να γράψω εγώ και να μοντάρω κάποιες σκέψεις μου για ενα βιβλίο που μόλις διάβαζα, χρειαζόμουν ένα ολόκληρο απόγευμα. Άνισο δεν νομίζετε;
Κάπως έτσι...
Αποφάσισα κι εγώ να μεταφέρω τις κριτικές μου και τα σχόλια, σιγά σιγά σε ομάδες στο διαδίκτυο. Ξεκινώντας από το facebook. Ψάχνοντας την αμεσότητα, την ανοιχτή συζήτηση. Την συμμετοχή όσων μας ενώνει το κοινό μας χόμπυ.
https://m.facebook.com/groups/1267229...
Η ΚΙΡΚΗ
Δεν ξέρω αν η δημοτικότητα ενός συγγραφέα μετριέται με το πόσα βιβλία πούλησε ή με το πόσα γίναν ταινίες, η σημασία για μένα έγκειται στο να μπορεί να με εξιτάρει, να μου ξυπνάει συναισθήματα.
Ολοκληρωμένη άποψη, παρουσίαση, κριτική και σκέψεις/σχόλια μπορείτε να βρείτε στην ομάδα* μας στο facebook https://m.facebook.com/groups/1267229...
*Goodreads μετάβαση
Όταν πρωτογνώρισα το goodreads, εντυπωσιάστηκα!
Ήταν η Μetropolis του βιβλίου.
Τόσα δεδομένα μαζεμένα δεν είχα ξαναδεί.
Το είπα "μεγάλη δεξαμενή".
Σε σχέση με τα φόρουμ της εποχής, τούτο ήταν κάτι διαφορετικό. Δεν υπήρχε πρόβλημα να γράψεις κακή κριτική για όποιο βιβλίο δεν σου άρεσε. Ήταν εύχρηστο, αντικειμενικό, φιλικό. Και ο χρήστης δεν ένιωθε την ανάσα των λειτουργών (operators) και των ιδιοκτητών (admins) να τον ελέγχουν και να τον παρατηρούν σαν άλλοι big brothers.
Από τότε πέρασαν πολλά χρόνια. Κύλησε πολύ νερό στον μύλο, μεγαλώσαμε μαζί του.
Άρχισε να γερνάει. Να δείχνει κάποιες ατέλειες και αδυναμίες. Νέα χαρακτηριστικά σε νέους ιστότοπους έρχονταν να το υπερκεράσουν.
Πόσες φορές, θυμάμαι, με είχε απασχολήσει ένα θέμα εδώ. Αλλά το μόνο "εργαλείο" αλληλεπίδρασης των χρηστών είναι τα mail μεταξύ φίλων. Έστελνα κι εγώ, λοιπόν, ομαδικές επιστολές. Όπου θάμουν ευτυχής αν έπαιρνα απάντηση σε μία από κάθε δέκα που έστελνα. Είναι φανερό. Οι περισσότεροι αρέσκονται στο να λαμβάνουν μόνο. Να διαβάζουν κριτικές, να μην γράφουν δικες τους, να μη συμμετέχουν σε απορίες χρηστών ή καλέσματα φίλων.
Αλλά για να γράψω εγώ και να μοντάρω κάποιες σκέψεις μου για ενα βιβλίο που μόλις διάβαζα, χρειαζόμουν ένα ολόκληρο απόγευμα. Άνισο δεν νομίζετε;
Κάπως έτσι...
Αποφάσισα κι εγώ να μεταφέρω τις κριτικές μου και τα σχόλια, σιγά σιγά σε ομάδες στο διαδίκτυο. Ξεκινώντας από το facebook. Ψάχνοντας την αμεσότητα, την ανοιχτή συζήτηση. Την συμμετοχή όσων μας ενώνει το κοινό μας χόμπυ.
https://m.facebook.com/groups/1267229...
March 9, 2012
هذه الرواية تصلح أن تكون فيلما لربما صارت كذلك فعلا !
أشعر أن اسم إيفا كفيلم مر علي ّ وربما أتخيل
لا أدري عموما تحكي الرواية قصة أربعيني وصل إلى هوليود بطريقة غير نزيهة واشتهر بمحض صدفة ساعدته على ذلك , يتعرف على إيفا وهي مومس غريبة التركيبة والشخصية وتقلب هذه المرأة كيانه بالكامل وتؤثر على حياته كأنها شبكة عنكبوت سقطت بها حشرة , الرواية ترصد الكثير من العلاقات الإجتماعية والأخلاقية والعملية وتكشف عن عمق التناقضات الموجودة في شخصية الإنسان من خلال بطليها في مطاردة فريدة من نوعها
الرواية مشوقة لم أتركها من يدي ,ولم أكن أتوقع ذلك تميزت بسلاسة اللغة ومباشرتها
وتركيبة الشخصيات الغريبة التي جعلتني أتابع انفعالاتها كما أتابع فيلم
أشعر أن اسم إيفا كفيلم مر علي ّ وربما أتخيل
لا أدري عموما تحكي الرواية قصة أربعيني وصل إلى هوليود بطريقة غير نزيهة واشتهر بمحض صدفة ساعدته على ذلك , يتعرف على إيفا وهي مومس غريبة التركيبة والشخصية وتقلب هذه المرأة كيانه بالكامل وتؤثر على حياته كأنها شبكة عنكبوت سقطت بها حشرة , الرواية ترصد الكثير من العلاقات الإجتماعية والأخلاقية والعملية وتكشف عن عمق التناقضات الموجودة في شخصية الإنسان من خلال بطليها في مطاردة فريدة من نوعها
الرواية مشوقة لم أتركها من يدي ,ولم أكن أتوقع ذلك تميزت بسلاسة اللغة ومباشرتها
وتركيبة الشخصيات الغريبة التي جعلتني أتابع انفعالاتها كما أتابع فيلم
November 19, 2012
The Joseph Losey film version was a mess, so I sought out the book mainly to see where that went wrong. It's a strong tale of toxic obsession, and the first person narration means that there's more of a connection with the main character, who in the movie just comes across as an annoying twerp. Eve is also a fully-rounded and interesting character in the book; in the movie she's just insane. Even so, I recommend both book and movie so you can see the ways an adaptation can go wrong.
October 8, 2016
bogey ... mi sei mancato ...
Clive Thurston ha ‘ereditato’ il testo di “Rain Check”, una commedia di successo che lo renderà famoso. Lascia New York per Hollywood. Affitta uno chalet a Three Point. Ha un maggiordomo ed è fidanzato con la deliziosa Carol. Improvvisamente, Eva irrompe nella sua vita ...
Clive è odioso, dannatamente sopra le righe, ma Eva … Eva è una magnifica, sensualissima … Lauren Bacall. E tu vorresti prendere a cazzotti Clive, ma resti lì, in adorazione …
Clive Thurston ha ‘ereditato’ il testo di “Rain Check”, una commedia di successo che lo renderà famoso. Lascia New York per Hollywood. Affitta uno chalet a Three Point. Ha un maggiordomo ed è fidanzato con la deliziosa Carol. Improvvisamente, Eva irrompe nella sua vita ...
Clive è odioso, dannatamente sopra le righe, ma Eva … Eva è una magnifica, sensualissima … Lauren Bacall. E tu vorresti prendere a cazzotti Clive, ma resti lì, in adorazione …
June 21, 2025
Eve begins not with a bang, but a man teetering on the edge of success—and sanity.
Our protagonist is Clive Thurston, a bestselling playwright whose career is built on lies. His success? Stolen. His ego? Titanic. And his downfall? Coming fast.
Enter Eve Marlow, a platinum-haired enigma, beautiful and cold as an ice sculpture. She's a call girl with nothing to lose and zero interest in Clive, which of course means he falls for her hard. And from that moment, the story becomes a slow-motion car crash you can’t look away from.
Clive tries to possess Eve, tame her, save her, even destroy her—but she remains untouched. She doesn't love. She doesn’t care. She just... exists. Like a mirror reflecting Clive's own emptiness. His obsession ruins relationships, careers, and eventually, himself.
This isn’t your typical Chase caper. There’s no big heist. No gun-slinging twist. Instead, it’s a study of male ego and emotional masochism. The prose is stark. The dialogue burns. And Eve? She’s not evil—she’s elemental. Like fire. You don’t blame fire for burning. You blame the fool who reached in.
I read Eve during my early twenties—idealistic, dramatic, and freshly heartbroken (yes, it was that kind of phase). I thought, “Let me read a classic noir to feel cooler.” Instead, the book stared right back at me like a therapist with a cigarette. That ending? Brutal. Not just because of what happened, but because Clive never sees it coming—and deep down, neither did I.
In essence, Eve is James Hadley Chase’s meditation on obsession, self-destruction, and the myth of control. It’s not about who Eve is—it’s about what she represents: desire that can’t be owned. It's one of Chase's most haunting and literary novels—no car chases, no shootouts, just one man circling a flame until there’s nothing left but ash.
Our protagonist is Clive Thurston, a bestselling playwright whose career is built on lies. His success? Stolen. His ego? Titanic. And his downfall? Coming fast.
Enter Eve Marlow, a platinum-haired enigma, beautiful and cold as an ice sculpture. She's a call girl with nothing to lose and zero interest in Clive, which of course means he falls for her hard. And from that moment, the story becomes a slow-motion car crash you can’t look away from.
Clive tries to possess Eve, tame her, save her, even destroy her—but she remains untouched. She doesn't love. She doesn’t care. She just... exists. Like a mirror reflecting Clive's own emptiness. His obsession ruins relationships, careers, and eventually, himself.
This isn’t your typical Chase caper. There’s no big heist. No gun-slinging twist. Instead, it’s a study of male ego and emotional masochism. The prose is stark. The dialogue burns. And Eve? She’s not evil—she’s elemental. Like fire. You don’t blame fire for burning. You blame the fool who reached in.
I read Eve during my early twenties—idealistic, dramatic, and freshly heartbroken (yes, it was that kind of phase). I thought, “Let me read a classic noir to feel cooler.” Instead, the book stared right back at me like a therapist with a cigarette. That ending? Brutal. Not just because of what happened, but because Clive never sees it coming—and deep down, neither did I.
In essence, Eve is James Hadley Chase’s meditation on obsession, self-destruction, and the myth of control. It’s not about who Eve is—it’s about what she represents: desire that can’t be owned. It's one of Chase's most haunting and literary novels—no car chases, no shootouts, just one man circling a flame until there’s nothing left but ash.
February 7, 2023
En lineas generales me gusto el libro pero tengo algunos puntos que me hacen ruido.
El protagonista (clive thurston), nunca pude simpatizar con el,es un personaje desagradable y literalmente nos lo presentan así desde la pagina 1. Investigando sobre el autor me entere que este tipo de protagonista es común en sus historias.
Los personajes femeninos, en la historia tenemos a eva y carol, la primera es la que mueve la trama pero mi problema con eva es que no tiene sentido porque clive se siente atraído hacia ella si bien en su primer encuentro le genera curiosidad y por ende al lector pero una ves que la conocemos no hay atributo que destaque, en personal yo perdí el interés,, y la revelación de su pasado casi llegando al final no repercute en la historia.
Ahora hablemos de carol, esta parecería un personaje interesante a primera vista pero funciona más como una herramienta narrativa por que no tiene personalidad y solo esta para complacer al protagonista. No importa que tan desagradable nos parezca clive o lo que haya hecho, ella siempre estará ahí y digo que es una herramienta narrativa por el "giro" que da la historia al final pero la podrías cambiar por otro personaje y el resultado seria igual.
Me gustó que el libro nos muestre este hollywood de los años 30 y como se manejaba desde el interior con los estudios y los guiones (algo que también hizo peter jackson con su adaptación de king kong) pero llegado cierto punto el libro se vuelve repetitivo y pareciera que no avanza para al final darnos un final que no diría que es predecible (ya que lo podemos intuir por como esta escrito el libro) pero se ve venir pero no es un mal final.
El protagonista (clive thurston), nunca pude simpatizar con el,es un personaje desagradable y literalmente nos lo presentan así desde la pagina 1. Investigando sobre el autor me entere que este tipo de protagonista es común en sus historias.
Los personajes femeninos, en la historia tenemos a eva y carol, la primera es la que mueve la trama pero mi problema con eva es que no tiene sentido porque clive se siente atraído hacia ella si bien en su primer encuentro le genera curiosidad y por ende al lector pero una ves que la conocemos no hay atributo que destaque, en personal yo perdí el interés,, y la revelación de su pasado casi llegando al final no repercute en la historia.
Ahora hablemos de carol, esta parecería un personaje interesante a primera vista pero funciona más como una herramienta narrativa por que no tiene personalidad y solo esta para complacer al protagonista. No importa que tan desagradable nos parezca clive o lo que haya hecho, ella siempre estará ahí y digo que es una herramienta narrativa por el "giro" que da la historia al final pero la podrías cambiar por otro personaje y el resultado seria igual.
Me gustó que el libro nos muestre este hollywood de los años 30 y como se manejaba desde el interior con los estudios y los guiones (algo que también hizo peter jackson con su adaptación de king kong) pero llegado cierto punto el libro se vuelve repetitivo y pareciera que no avanza para al final darnos un final que no diría que es predecible (ya que lo podemos intuir por como esta escrito el libro) pero se ve venir pero no es un mal final.
January 4, 2025
Una obra de tinte realista que a simple vista nos habla de un escritor con suerte que se enamora de una trabajadora sexual, y creemos que se desenvolverá, progresivamente, la relación de amor de ambos personajes. Pero he de decir que es mucho más que eso. Esta6 novela de James Hadley Chase explora con profundidad la mente humana hasta llegar a lugares recónditos y perversos (recordemos que la narrativa del siglo XX tiene esta característica debido a los estudios Freudianos), lo que la vuelve realmente atractiva. En cuanto a la narrativa del autor, ¿Qué decir? Sabe captar la esencia del estadounidense de su tiempo aún siendo británico. Su escritura llega a ser coloquial y amena, pero sin llegar a ser vulgar, y eso le proporciona al lector un mayor acercamiento del lector a la Historia, incluso uno se siente parte de aquellas conversaciones telefónicas. La primera obra que leo del autor, y definitivamente fue una gran lectura.
September 27, 2021
Seriously, what's with Chase and his love for prostitutes?
Minor spoiler alert
The first three random novels of his that I picked up (or was rather given to me by the friendly elderly security guard at the office) all have pretty much the same motifs and progression: the protagonist falls for a prostitute, loses himself and then loses everything. With a varying degree of the damage that he does to himself, the absolute peak being Eve.
Not as cringe-worthy as But a Short Time to Live where every move and decision made by the protagonist was severely painful to observe, but the damage that the main character did to himself in Eve felt a lot worse overall. Arguably in BSTL the protagonist loses his life, but in Eve the downfall felt much more pronounced, as the protagonist fell from a higher place - he had more and thus he lost more.
Or maybe it's just that the book is about 30% lengthier than BSTL with Chase having used more space to better develop the characters and their relationships. I don't know and I don't care.
Another good toilet read, fairly gripping, fun and I'll probably forget all about it by the end of the year.
Minor spoiler alert
The first three random novels of his that I picked up (or was rather given to me by the friendly elderly security guard at the office) all have pretty much the same motifs and progression: the protagonist falls for a prostitute, loses himself and then loses everything. With a varying degree of the damage that he does to himself, the absolute peak being Eve.
Not as cringe-worthy as But a Short Time to Live where every move and decision made by the protagonist was severely painful to observe, but the damage that the main character did to himself in Eve felt a lot worse overall. Arguably in BSTL the protagonist loses his life, but in Eve the downfall felt much more pronounced, as the protagonist fell from a higher place - he had more and thus he lost more.
Or maybe it's just that the book is about 30% lengthier than BSTL with Chase having used more space to better develop the characters and their relationships. I don't know and I don't care.
Another good toilet read, fairly gripping, fun and I'll probably forget all about it by the end of the year.
June 17, 2021
La novela está narrada en primera persona, nuestro protagonista Clive Thurston vivía una vida monótona, hasta que conoce John Coulson, tras la muerte de Coulson, Clive se adueña de su obra maestra y se vuelve un escritor famoso teniendo todo lo que siempre deseo, hasta que aparece Eva, está mujer detonara en el una pasión obsesiva por tenerla, hacer que ella se enamore de él y lo necesite, pero eso no sucede haciendo que la vida de este hombre se vuelva un verdadero infierno.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2025
One of those books u want give 3.5 stars but lean on 3 due to lack of choice. A book steeped in possibilities and about Eve who is as complicated as made to be and shaped by her childhood and circumstances as most of us are. The make believe stories which people carry about themselves leading to delusion while on other side being blind to true love, all is there in the book. A fast paced read
January 6, 2018
"القصة، اي فصة لا تنتهي ابدا، ألق حصاة في بركو ماء، فهي تختفي في بضعة ثوان، و لكن لم يمتهي اي شيء، ففي المكان الذي سقطت فيه الحصاة، يحدث دوار بل دوامة، تمتد مشكلة موجات دائرية تظل تتوسع الى ان يتحرك كل سطح الماء في البركة مشكلا تأرجحا هادئا، و ينقضي وقت طويل قبل ان تهدأ تماما سطح الماء"
August 9, 2018
"Eva" (5/5)
Un escritor exitoso, pero sin mucho talento ni escrúpulos, conoce a una peculiar prostituta y queda prendado de ella, sumergiéndose en una obsesión enfermiza, que le hará perder progresivamente todo lo que vale la pena en su vida. El libro no trata de una mujer, ni de una relación, sino del inexorable camino de un hombre hacia la autodestrucción.
08.08.18
Un escritor exitoso, pero sin mucho talento ni escrúpulos, conoce a una peculiar prostituta y queda prendado de ella, sumergiéndose en una obsesión enfermiza, que le hará perder progresivamente todo lo que vale la pena en su vida. El libro no trata de una mujer, ni de una relación, sino del inexorable camino de un hombre hacia la autodestrucción.
08.08.18
March 6, 2019
Like other reviews say, this book is nothing like others by James Hadley chase, and not in a good way. The narrator is not at all likable. He leads a life based on a lie and yet judges Eve for lying. What's worse is he blames Eve for destroying his life, when in fact there was no one to blame but him and his obsession with Eve. Overall quite a disappointing read. Don't waste ur time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2020
Just finished reading "Eve" by James Hadley Chase.
Not the usual stuff & surprisingly somewhat boring.
It is very much unlike other JHC books with nothing much happening and the reader flipping pages in anticipation.
Not the usual stuff & surprisingly somewhat boring.
It is very much unlike other JHC books with nothing much happening and the reader flipping pages in anticipation.
January 23, 2020
A different JHC
March 29, 2020
How can I get the whole novel to read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews