Bell Bottoms to Gucci
A Novel by Ellen Everman
A Review
By Dale Simpson
For those of us coming of age in the early sixties the period was a brilliant explosion of events, emotions and transitions. Ms. Everman captures in Bell Bottoms to Gucci an engaging story of a generation’s struggle to define itself in times of billowing tumult. From the intellectual hotbed of Berkley the principle characters of Patti and David are launched into the Vietnam-era of anti-war protests, the free speech movement and a rapidly changing moral climate. Their story careens with a young love in the midst of riots to the breathless desperation of a couple on the edge of terror.
Ms. Everman’s style is sophisticated and eminently readable. She tells a story at once believable and exciting. Her rhythm and flow carry the story smoothly from one dramatic peak to the next, setting a pace that keeps the reader leaning forward, into the story. I thoroughly enjoyed her handling of historic events from the Kennedy assassinations to Kent State with great respect and an accurate, sensitive connection to her story. Her style is grounded tenderly in the time period enhancing the reader’s sense of place.
From the very first the author develops her characters with a canny skill. I was fascinated by her use of subtext to create an intimate bond between her , her protagonist and her reader. She guides us through Patti’s evolution from a young woman, barely more than a teenager, consumed by her lover to the grown-up struggling with the ambiguity of life in turmoil. All of her characters are richly drawn moving the story forward in a coherent way tying together historic moments with the character’s personal drama. All her characters breathe deeply in the moment energizing the plot with vitality needed to carry a story through a generation.
And finally, Ellen Everman’s integrity rings throughout this entire work. She is literate and charming. A great story teller and is exciting without ever being crude. But most importantly for me she is a lady of principle. She stands for her values of free speech and dissent. She gets what so many people today don’t get. Many people, enamored with being comfortably numb, settle for a suburban ghetto while our values and legacy are looted by common criminals masquerading as politicians. Ours is a government of the people, all the people and only the people. The words of the brave lift us up and those people are the real patriots. Thank you for your patriotism Ellen Everman!
