By Amor Towles
Viking, 2016. 462 pgs. Fiction.
In 1922, Count Alexander Rostov was sentenced to house arrest by a Bolshevik tribunal because of his aristocratic legacy and attitudes. His “house” is the Metropol, a grand hotel in the heart of Moscow. And so a new life for him begins in a tiny attic room several floors above the large suite he previously occupied.
Fortunately, Rostov is an optimist and thanks to his gentlemanly charms he establishes a rich life filled with friends and purpose, despite his limited mobility. He also has a front row seat to decades of history in a city in almost constant upheaval, vastly different from the Russia of his youth.
I fell in love with the writing style of Amor Towles when he wrote Rules of Civility. A Gentleman in Moscow solidifies his standing as one of my all-time favorite authors. Count Rostov stole my heart with his kindness and efforts to show everyone the greatest respect. Add to the Count a cast of other vibrant characters, a rare look at a slice of history, and a range of beautiful insights to life and you have a wonderful treasure of a novel.
CG
1 comment:
I can't even begin to write a review for this book. I have started and erased my review several times because I just can't seem to find the right words to describe how much I enjoyed this book. Amor Towles is a gifted writer who transported me to a different time and place. The rich descriptions of the food and people made me feel like I was actually there. The characters were charming. I wish it was possible to actually meet Count Rostov. He treated everyone with respect and interest, no matter what their age or position in society. He found enjoyment in observing and interacting with those who came in and out of his life because of the Metropol hotel where he was under house arrest. This book reminded me to smile more, to be more gracious and kind, and to embrace life's circumstances.
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