A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Read January 13 to 18, 2017
Sister Read Review by Norma & Brenda
Brenda and I definitely have different opinions of this book but do share similar thoughts on what we both got out of it. For the purpose of this review it gets a combined rating of 3.5 stars. Brenda gives it 4 stars and I give it 3 stars.
For Brenda: A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW reminded me to be gracious, kind and to appreciate the small things again. To look at life with some humor and laugh more. That we can find pleasure in an environment we might not expect.
For me this was a very frustrating and hard book to stay focused and interested in until I was approximately 48% into the novel then it was a little bit easier to read. What I really enjoyed was Count Rostov’s interactions he had with the people he encountered and lived with as well as his surroundings. You need peace and quiet to really appreciate this book.
A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW by AMOR TOWLES is a charming story that was filled with so much personal wisdom from a Gentleman that was under house arrest in a luxury hotel named the Metropol Hotel that was ran with a standard of excellence. It demands your attention requires discipline to quiet your mind, and also has you appreciating your surroundings. This story was very well written with lots of personal wisdom for us to ponder.
The title was perfect for this novel as we were showed what it means to be a gentleman. Where a gentleman is defined as courteous, honorable, respectful and a man of purpose. Count Alexander Rostov was cultured, kind-hearted, canny, charming, dignified, respectful, and an old-fashioned gentleman who was also a great conversationalist.
As the story progresses we see how Count Alexander Rostov comes to realize and understand what it means to be a man of purpose as he ultimately finds his purpose and recognizes that he is that gentleman, a man of purpose.
We both agree that we absolutely loved the Count and the interactions he had with the people he met from the hotel and guests especially Nina, Sophia and Anna.
Memorable quote: “Who would have imagined,” he said, “when you were sentenced to life in the Metropol all those years ago, that you had just become the luckiest man in all of Russia.”
To sum it all up it was well written, interesting, slow-paced, with a satisfying ending that had it’s purpose. Would recommend!!
Penny For Our Thoughts 