A Gentleman in Moscow - Amor Towles
Have you ever been charmed by something? I mean, to the point where it made you smile, and laugh, and maybe tear up, and you just can't put your finger on it but the delight is present and accounted for? Well, this book charmed me. The premise was nothing to write home about...aristocrat spends his life under house arrest in a hotel in Moscow. OK, so what...his pals come to see him and he gets a lot of room service? Nope, not even close.
This book clocks in at an impressive 453 pages of delight. From the first page I was captivated and did not stop being thrilled until the end. I am not one to balk at long books (the longer the better, bring it on) but this one did not stop being great for even a single page in between. The writing is a little dense so if that's troublesome, you may have to stick it out until you fall into the rhythm. But once you do, oh, the joy!
I'm no historian, not of American history and certainly not of Russian history so I will admit to googling a couple of things while reading this book to get some context, but its not necessary, and frankly I'm not sure that my high school teacher's guidance of "things a well rounded adult should know" doesn't cover most of it so I think that's on me...but I was just so interested in finding out more because of this book!
Towles's writing is sublime:
Leaning forward, Nina cupped her palms against the glass and squinted.
"If only I were there and she were here," she sighed.
And there, thought the Count, was a suitable plaint for all mankind.
and
True, it would not be a new venture for him. But need it be? Could one possibly accuse him of nostalgia or idleness, of wasting his time simply because he had read the story two or three times before?
and a little fun with c's for all of us if you are clever enough to catch it:
In a single week, there might be committees, caucuses, colloquiums, congresses, and conventions variously coming together to establish codes, set course of action, levy complaints, and generally clamor about the world's oldest problems in its newest nomenclature.
and
So, as Marina began stitching the Count's pants-the laying of locomotive tracks writ small, if you will-he described the Assembly and all his various impressions.
and
While the splendors that elude us in youth are likely to receive our casual contempt in adolescence and our measured consideration in adulthood, they forever hold us in their thrall.
I have a dozen other quotes that I highlighted as I went through the books...it was quite extraordinary. Beyond all this, though, A Gentleman in Moscow is a love story, yes romantic love and platonic love and build your own tribe love and parental and child love, it had its Owen Meany moments (if you don't get the reference you need to go read A Prayer for Owen Meany right now!), it made me think and it kept me riveted. I found it delightful in every way. Or, to quote the Count. it was "Simply marvelous!"
Rating: #2 Fabulous!!
This book clocks in at an impressive 453 pages of delight. From the first page I was captivated and did not stop being thrilled until the end. I am not one to balk at long books (the longer the better, bring it on) but this one did not stop being great for even a single page in between. The writing is a little dense so if that's troublesome, you may have to stick it out until you fall into the rhythm. But once you do, oh, the joy!
I'm no historian, not of American history and certainly not of Russian history so I will admit to googling a couple of things while reading this book to get some context, but its not necessary, and frankly I'm not sure that my high school teacher's guidance of "things a well rounded adult should know" doesn't cover most of it so I think that's on me...but I was just so interested in finding out more because of this book!
Towles's writing is sublime:
Leaning forward, Nina cupped her palms against the glass and squinted.
"If only I were there and she were here," she sighed.
And there, thought the Count, was a suitable plaint for all mankind.
and
True, it would not be a new venture for him. But need it be? Could one possibly accuse him of nostalgia or idleness, of wasting his time simply because he had read the story two or three times before?
and a little fun with c's for all of us if you are clever enough to catch it:
In a single week, there might be committees, caucuses, colloquiums, congresses, and conventions variously coming together to establish codes, set course of action, levy complaints, and generally clamor about the world's oldest problems in its newest nomenclature.
and
So, as Marina began stitching the Count's pants-the laying of locomotive tracks writ small, if you will-he described the Assembly and all his various impressions.
and
While the splendors that elude us in youth are likely to receive our casual contempt in adolescence and our measured consideration in adulthood, they forever hold us in their thrall.
I have a dozen other quotes that I highlighted as I went through the books...it was quite extraordinary. Beyond all this, though, A Gentleman in Moscow is a love story, yes romantic love and platonic love and build your own tribe love and parental and child love, it had its Owen Meany moments (if you don't get the reference you need to go read A Prayer for Owen Meany right now!), it made me think and it kept me riveted. I found it delightful in every way. Or, to quote the Count. it was "Simply marvelous!"
Rating: #2 Fabulous!!
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