Just finished Gentleman in Moscow and was pleasantly surprised.

Submitted by iamthedanger1985 t3_11btuia in books

It took me a little time to get thru the first half. Although I enjoyed his personality and interactions it was a little slow. It kept me interested enough though to keep going.

Then when Sofia is introduced I finished the rest in a couple days. Highly recommend to anyone who wants a good read.

Just ordered: Razorblade Tears (read Blacktop Wasteland before Gentleman in Moscow and it was very entertaining), Nothing man, Magpie Murders and Court of Thorns and Roses (skeptical on this one but the series is so popular I’ll give it a shot).

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bronte26 t1_ja094zh wrote

I loved Gentleman in Moscow. After avoiding it because of its popularity, I finally read it last month. (actually listened to it) I found it a near perfect book. Writing is excellent, story compelling and I loved the characters. I will read anything Amor Towles writes.

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vanalm t1_ja3bvd5 wrote

I also listened to the audio book and I loved it. I enjoyed the narration as well.

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charliere13 t1_ja98xa3 wrote

You should read rules of civility I liked it even better than GIM

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bronte26 t1_ja999c8 wrote

I was wondering about that. I read the Lincoln Highway first. Now I will read rules of civilty. thanks for the recommendation

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BrotherPegasus t1_j9zwnsx wrote

I found the first third sort of twee, and the Count two-dimensional, but I agree that Sofia’s involvement changes everything and gives the book momentum and purpose. I loved it. Picked up Rules of Civility right afterwards. Also wonderful. Towles is now a favorite author.

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iamthedanger1985 OP t1_j9zxa1t wrote

How does it compare to Gentleman in Moscow? Better?

I’m getting John Irving vibes. Like Owen Meany was a masterpiece and his rest were just ok.

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BrotherPegasus t1_ja08uss wrote

RoC is similarly structured but set in NYC in the late 20s, 30s, with bits of the late 60s. It’s more intense, more compelling to a broader audience. More immediately tragic. Thought GiM took the core tragedy of Russians in that era too lightly and nobility’s losses too significantly. Rules of Civility is very satisfying literature. His best that I’ve read of his books. I can see Irving’s sweep in Towles’ novels. I’m having trouble with his latest, Lincoln Highway. I can’t find a way in, so I set it aside for now.

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iamthedanger1985 OP t1_ja0a2r8 wrote

Yea agree. I stopped Irving after Window for a Year. But thanks for the recommendation. I’ll pick up RoC 👍

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Coubert-Morningstar t1_ja09uc4 wrote

I was slightly skeptical about American writing a book set in this time and era but the book was ok. I did not quite understand the hype around it as it was nothing special and I felt that the author did not utilize the era properly. There are flashes here and there of the atrocities of what the boshelviks were doing to people but I still missed a a bit depth relating to this story. For me it was nice read but definitely not a book I will be re-reading.

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iamthedanger1985 OP t1_ja0ag8l wrote

I read it more as what Russia lost during all the changes in the early 20th century. That and just a good story.

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AUWarEagle82 t1_ja0loo2 wrote

I have enjoyed Gentleman in Moscow and The Lincoln Highway. I have Rules of Civility on my shelf queued up. There are a very few anomalies in the "Gentleman" but I could live with them accepting them as artistic license.

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terminalilness t1_ja1pyvt wrote

I read this with my book club last summer. I didn't care for it but everyone else in the group liked it.

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Ineffable7980x t1_ja2kk0z wrote

I have not yet read A Gentleman in Moscow, but I did read the authors The Lincoln Highway, which I thought was okay but not amazing. I still intend to get to Gentleman at some point.

I absolutely adored Blacktop Wasteland. I thought it was better than Razorblade Tears, which is still a good book.

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Eeeegah t1_ja3pnsv wrote

Been on my to read pile since the day it came out. Still there. Someday...

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