Becky 7.5 - 8
Read Rules of Civility and loved it. This had good reviews so she chose it thinking it was paperback. Was occasionally not sure where she was, especially with so many different names. His writing style was engaging and fun. Had a great historical setting, but it wasn't necessarily historical fiction. Found it to be a story of friendship. The Count could have been a snob-type, but he was charming and friends with everyone. Loved the bouillabaisse coming together after 3 years of planning, the reasons for the clock only chiming twice, the wine bottles with no labels, and the description of the aroma of coffee. Life is every bit as clever as death with just as many surprises.
Sandy 9.75 - 9.75
We The Living, Cutting For Stone, and now A Gentleman in Moscow are Sandy's top 3 books. Made the Latvian Stew but found it a bit sweet. Loved his rationale for being a step behind in romance, belief that weather is the largest natural contribution to human behavior, that giving consideration to appetizers can only lead to regrets, and keeping all his buttons in their separate boxes. 'What's your dolly's name?' he was so kindhearted thinking to ask the perfect question to put Sophia at ease. He was the luckiest man in Russia when he realized he could get Sophia out.
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| Author's recipe and reason for choosing |
Caroline 8 - 8
Marveled at the fact that the author was an investment broker for 20 years, then quits and writes Rules of Civility and now this. Loved the description on page 32 likening a long book to the Sahara and crawling across the sentences like peaks of dunes, pitcher of water in reach. Nina was such a deep thinker and Alex needed her to accept his imprisonment and find the world within the hotel. Who would have thought that he would find a friend in a little girl? Loved his secret room behind the closet. Was upset with Nina for dropping Sophia off on him.
K'Lynn 8 - 8.5
Had everything she looks for in a book, what she looks for in life: to be able to handle adversity and come out on top. Felt she knew the characters. Evicted to the belfry, he adapted and could still enjoy the hubbub of the hotel. Loved it when he tore apart his closet creating the secret room. Some things that exists in secret can be large in dimension. He was able to see through the eyes of a child as Nina took him about the hotel. K'Lynn didn't originally care for his affair with Anna, but with their kindred spirits and the Count's openness and charm they were able to meet her approval. Simple decency and respect towards everyone underlies the credos of basic humanity. Great pick.
Pat 9 - 9.5
This would make a great James Bond flick assuming 007 were in similar circumstances. The Count could be every bit as daring and debonair along with powerful observations of human behavior to boot. Shooting Stalin's portrait was straight up Bond. In fact, you could call it a spy novel with an extremely long fuse. The round about ways of describing things were at first tiresome, but I went with it and eventually enjoyed them. His descriptions of food and music were fantastic. I never knew what was going to happen next and was always entertained with the direction he went. Towles connected so many different things that had no business being together, and he did so effortlessly. Learned a lot about Russian history. Really enjoyed this. Great pick.
Maggie 7.5 - 8
Slow start. How to sustain over 462 pages? Thought the writing wonderful with much humor, but that some was fill in order to make a long book. The Count took everything in stride and this seemed too good to be true. He never had a moment's doubt. Found herself laughing out loud a lot. The minor characters were well described but she couldn't get a visual on the hotel. Very insightful comments for Nina at age eleven; and how sad her life ended in Siberia. Loved all the friendships. So many things happened that were inconsequential at the time but connected at the end. Liked the imagery of a dancing reel of concerns keeping him awake at night. Loved the Russian history
Letitia 9.25 - 9.5
Read nine months ago and enjoyed it more the second time around. So much humor. Alex enjoyed life, literature, music, food, but didn't really have a purpose. His imprisonment gave him purpose. You could go to any chapter and find a quote that's tremendously wise. So entertaining. Crawling around in the balcony . . . he was unruffled by anything. Every character was fleshed out. He always won a battle of wits except against women.
Miles 9.75 - 9.75
Fantastic book. Original, unpredictable. Hooked from the beginning courtroom scene. Thought it would make a great script with Daniel Day Lewis as the Count. Such interplay between Nina and Alex and then to Sophia. To go from Uncle to Papa with no syrup. You rarely get such a bond between two people in a story but you do here. He was a master of circumstances always. Miles has never understood Humphrey Bogart's appeal. Saw him as a twerpy, not handsome, scowling actor who can't act, but his dad loved him. Still doesn't get it, so he was fascinated to see him so revered in the story. It's rare in a movie or book when the perfect thing is said at the perfect time, but there were many examples of this throughout.
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| Author at the Hotel Metropol |
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