53 pages • 1 hour read
Linda HolmesEvvie Drake Starts Over
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2019A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Themes
Starting Over Because of Forces Beyond One’s Control
While the title of the book refers to the hard stop and restart of Evvie’s life due to the death of her husband, all the significant characters in the novel—except the deceased Tim—must restart their lives thanks to circumstances beyond their control. Andy’s wife abruptly leaves him after the birth of their second daughter. Similarly, Evvie’s mother, Eileen, leaves Frank in the middle of the night within hours of him purchasing his new lobster fishing boat. Unavoidable change is forced upon Dean when he suddenly loses the ability to throw a baseball accurately. Evvie is loading her car to begin a new life when irresistible change paralyzes her. Beyond the unforeseen but unavoidable change forced upon them, the other common thread they share is they were suddenly brought low at the height of their achievements: whether that’s pitching in the World Series or finally asserting one’s freedom from an abusive relationship.
There is another way to understand the book title, if readers consider that “starting over” implies not just encountering an unforeseen life-changing event but also successfully adapting to the changes resulting from that event. Evvie’s father and Andy both managed to rebound successfully from the loss of their wives. Although Dean struggled with the loss of his ability, readers may note that he made real gains in acquiring a new way of living before Evvie pushed him to go back to pitching.
For Evvie, starting over does not mean merely resuming her life after Tim’s death. In fact, she continued to withdraw within and live as recluse, fearful of challenging the prevailing wisdom that she could not get over her grief for Tim. Evvie does not really start her life over until Dean walks out, and she has a screaming emotional meltdown. Only after this event does she rework her friendship with Andy, sell her house, move to an island, adopt a dog, get rid of Tim’s memorabilia, reclaim her maiden name, go into therapy, and invite the renewed Dean back into her new life. Holmes expresses that these changes in Evvie might not have happened. She might have remained mired in emotional paralysis. That she took the steps necessary to heal means she has finally started her life over.
When Healing Is Needed, Help is Available
Throughout the narrative, Holmes describes the healing power of family and friends. Overwhelmed by negative press and unable to meet expectations, Dean turns to his childhood friend Andy, who welcomes him and provides a place to live. When Eileen leaves, Frank builds an unbreakable bond with Evvie. Andy turns to Evvie for help raising two daughters, and she becomes a constant source of strength for him. Holmes argues that loved ones and close friends are there to help people heal from brokenness. Evvie is the exception that proves the rule in that, while she is loved and watched over by family and friends, she does not disclose her inner conflict. Dean warns her that she must become honest if she is to heal. Her first moment of complete candor with Andy launches her personal reformation. For Holmes, the underlying principle is that deceit and denial destroy one’s emotional lives; by contrast, honesty and acceptance heal and rebuild lives.
Holmes, who acknowledges that therapy has been essential for her own healing, also expresses that professional counselors are extremely helpful and sometimes necessary. Dr. Talco, the counselor Evvie relies on, compares the process of healing from extreme emotional affliction to pulling one’s own teeth. Holmes raises the topic of medical intervention when Monica acknowledges to Evvie that she has been on anti-depressants since she was 17. The author implies that Evvie may be taking some medication at the end of the narrative when Evvie says that she is seeing a psychiatrist, who can prescribe medicine. Holmes’s underlying intention is to impress upon her readers that it is okay and necessary to ask for and receive help. The longer one goes without seeking professional help, as in Evvie’s case, the longer one suffers.
Healing From Great Loss Means Encountering Powerful Emotions
Evvie pushes her emotions away from her own consciousness and conceals them from others. Holmes implies that stuffing her emotions this way prevents Evvie from restarting. When Dean comes into her life, Evvie systematically and slowly becomes aware of experiencing powerful emotions, including embarrassment, anger, joy, affection, and arousal. While Holmes describes Dean’s physical features slowly throughout the text, she also describes the slow emotional awakening of Evvie.
The epitome of this occurs in Evvie’s kitchen when she breaks down and emits a bizarre roar of grief and rage. Holmes implies that the emotions of sadness and anger Evvie had been holding at bay finally express themselves. The result is the commencement of healing. Once those powerful emotions break free, Evvie intuitively knows what to do, calling Andy to come over so she can apologize and restore their friendship. This process of embracing emotional honesty continues for Evvie. When she enters Dr. Talco’s office, before she says a word, she breaks down in tears, a sign of her emotional openness and self-awareness. When Dean comes to Evvie’s new home, she quickly admits her true motives in pushing him to return to baseball: She wanted to demonstrate her worthiness by healing him so he would love her. Healing, Holmes professes, requires experiencing and acknowledging the most powerful emotions.
Societal Expectations Versus Self-Determination
Holmes uses Evvie as an example of the way common social expectations force people into predictable behavioral boxes with preset identities. Rebelling against those expectations can result in criticism and judgment. For instance, at the beginning of the narrative, the citizens of Calcasset—even Evvie’s family and closest friends—assume Evvie is perfectly content. They believe she is leading an idyllic life, married to her high school sweetheart and deeply in love. After Tim’s death, Evvie realizes a new set of social expectations has descended upon her since she is now the grieving widow, devastated by the loss of her beloved husband. None of these assumptions, with their accompanying expectations, are accurate. To avoid upsetting the citizens of her community and her loved ones, Evvie refuses to speak and act in any way that will betray their assumptions about her.
Evvie is not the only person who suffers from societal assumptions. Andy knows that those who observe the close relationship between him and Evvie assume they are lovers and judge them because of this assumption. Dean, who loves New York City, must flee to Calcasset to escape the judgment and condemnation of former fans. These fans assume his problem is a mental glitch that he could wish away, and they are insulted when he does not do so. Holmes uses the tabloid journalist Ellen Boyd to demonstrate the extent of societal judgment: All of Boyd’s innuendoes work because they play on the unexamined assumptions of her readers. Holmes implies that, because they have been labeled, Dean and Evvie have ceased being unique human beings and instead are nothing more than the assumptions of those who know nothing about them.
