September Book Club 2021

Many thanks to Laura who volunteered her patio for this month's book club. It was a beautiful evening to sit outside for our discussion.  

September's book was A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. We had loved his book, "Rules of Civility," several years ago. 

A "Gentleman in Moscow" is about an aristocratic Russian, Alexander Rostov, who is arrested in 1922 at the end of the Russian Revolution. He is convicted, of being an aristocrat. But, rather than being executed by the Bolesheviks, he is put under house arrest in a luxury hotel, The Metropol, in Moscow. There he lives out the next 30 years of his life. 

(What follows is paraphrased from Amor Towles website)

A novel set in Soviet Russia in an era of austerity in which the hero spends three decades of his life in the confines of a single building might seem dull. But, it's the perfect opportunity for the author to investigate the depths of the Russian soul. 

As the author draws you deep into Alexander's existential malaise, a willowy actress enters the scene. In the kitchen three collaborators convene, connive and, cook. Knives are juggled, passports stolen and disguises adopted. Alexander adopts a daughter. There are many story lines connecting the people who work, as well as live, at the hotel. And, we follow it all with interest until one day in 1954 a well orchestrated escape is executed.

Amor Towles, admits to his own personal love affair with the Russian authors and way of life. He weaves into his story history, food, wine and the culture of a people who endure the long, hard Russian winters. 

I felt from the start that his book was an homage to Dostoevsky as the writing style reminded me very much of Anna Karenina. 

The book rated 4.5