Amor towles answers questions on his novel, a gentleman in. No reading group should be without this book club companion to amor towless acclaimed novel, a gentleman in moscow. A gentleman in moscow meet your next favorite book. A gentleman in moscow latvian stew recipe from amor towles. A gentleman in moscow, the story of one man confined to one hotel for one lifetime and what a lifetime it was. See more ideas about russian recipes, moscow and gentleman. The story is set amongst the socially chaotic birth of communist russia, yet celebrates the dominion of the individual. First of all, if you have come to this readers guide because you have read a gentleman in moscow, i owe you my heartfelt thanks. Having read a gentleman in moscow, who would you recommend it to. A gentleman in moscow by amor towles 9780099558781 booktopia. A gentleman in moscow is the story of count rostov, a russian aristocrat sentenced by the bolsheviks to a lifetime of house arrest in moscows metropol hotel. When in 1922, the thirty year old count is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a bolshevik tribunal, he is sentenced to house arrest in the metropol, a grand hotel across the street from the kremlin.
A gentleman in moscow by amor towles penguin books australia. Discussion questions book club recommendationsdiscussion. A gentleman in moscow book club discussion questions arlenes. Find exciting ideas from book clubs all over the country what theyre reading, what theyre eating, and how theyre blending the two as well as recipes from some of your favorite authors and book giveaways.
Here we see a country in repeated upheaval over the course of decadesfrom the end of imperial russia in the bolshevik revolution past the rise of the ussr, a period that includes the defeat of one of historys greatest evils by a country that becomes anotherand we see it all from. Sep 06, 2016 a gentleman in moscow is epic in its ambition, enthralling in its storytelling, entertaining in its humour and eloquent in its prose. Mar 01, 2017 a latvian stew recipe with pork, apricots and prunes from author amor towles, paired with his novel, a gentleman in moscow. If you were discussing a gentleman in moscow you could make borscht or blini pancakes served.
Sep 27, 2016 i did not quite feel that way about gentleman in moscow but i was stunned every day, reading this book, by his ability to write in a similar tone some of the russian classics. A gentleman in moscow as the book opens, you find count alexander in the midst of a trial for crimes against the country. A gentleman in moscow book club discussion questions arlene. The book the the novel opens, a count alexander ilyich rostov a russian aristocrat rostov is called before the court to answer for a counterrevolutionary poem he wrote. To ask other readers questions about a gentleman in moscow, please sign up.
A gentleman in moscow is the 30year saga of the count alexander ilyich rostov, who is placed under house arrest inside the metropol hotel in moscow in 1922 when the bolsheviks spare him from death or siberia because of his 19 revolutionary poem written in university. In each book club session, we dine on a delicious menu related to the book while we enjoy a lively discussion. A gentleman in moscow this is the story of count alexander rostov, a former person i. To enhance your book club check out a study guide for book clubs. A gentleman in moscow by amor towles reading guide.
Count alexander ilyich rostov is sentenced to living out the rest of his life inside the hotel metropol for writing a poem that was interpreted as politically incorrect. The count charms and disarms, and his story sparks much joy and a new antikondo philosophy. On june 21, 1922, count alexander ilyich rostov is sentenced to a life of house arrest in moscows metropol hotel. A gentleman in moscow by amor towles is the story of a russian aristocratturnedwaiter who lives 32 years of his life under house arrest at the hotel metropol in moscow. A gentleman in moscow is epic in its ambition, enthralling in its storytelling, entertaining in its humour and eloquent in its prose. To keep the discussion interesting, class size is limited to 16. Even as young man, i was a fan of the 1920s and 1930s, eagerly reading the novels, watching the movies, and listening to the music of the era. A gentleman in moscow is written by amor towles, and it tells the story of count alexander rostov, who is a russian aristocrat. A gentleman in moscow is a novel that aims to charm, not be the axe for the frozen sea within us. Apr 20, 2017 book description courtesy of goodreads. A gentleman in moscow is the story of one man confined to one hotel for one lifetime and what a lifetime it was. I could have bought every maeve binchy book ever written, but there was not a single copy of a gentleman in moscow to be found.
The count charms and disarms, and his story sparks much joy. Anyone have recommendations for a book like these beautifully written, preferably historical, leaves you feeling expansive and engaged in life. A gentleman in moscow by amor towles is an enjoyable and stylish novel. Apr 21, 2017 a gentleman in moscow is the story of one man confined to one hotel for one lifetime and what a lifetime it was. Sep 25, 2016 a gentleman in moscow by amor towles 462 pp. Review of gentleman in moscow and latvian stew recipe. And the result is a winning, stylish novel that keeps things easy. Book club questions for a gentleman in moscow by amor. Notes from a gentleman in moscow 1922 1954 tale over 32 years characters. He is spared from death and placed under house arrest at the mtropol hotel, located just across the street from the kremlin. A m or towles shares a recipe for latvian stew, inspired by his novel, a gentleman in moscow. Amor towles skillfully transports us to the metropol, the famed moscow hotel where movie stars and russian royalty hobnob, where bolsheviks plot revolutions and intellectuals discuss the merits of contemporary russian writers, where spies spy, thieves. And we know how challenging it can be to find a book that is both entertaining as well as interesting and provocative enough to spark a good, engaging discussion while, perhaps, you nosh on cheese and sip wine.
Count was sentenced to a house arrest for being associated with a poem which had revolutionary overtones even though he was not the one who composed it. Author amor towles to introduce a gentleman in moscow to. Every now and again, along comes an outstanding novel that hits every aspect of what a great book should be. For example, if your book club was reading moby dick, you might serve new england style lobster rolls. Set in postrevolutionary russia, the novel follows its protagonist, count alexander ilyich rostov, as he develops new friendships, family, and loves, all while confined within the walls of the metrop.
In 1922, count alexander rostov is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a bolshevik tribunal. A latvian stew recipe with pork, apricots and prunes from author amor towles, paired with his novel, a gentleman in moscow. He is a member of the russian nobility, which is quickly being dissolved in favor of a communist. Dinner and a book club a gentleman in moscow by amor. Towles creates such a memorable character in rostov and this book brings something for everyone humour, history, friendship and philosophy irish times a gentleman in moscow is exquisitely propped and styled, from the silver samovars to the red covers of baedeker guides.
There were however, lots and lots of copies of reading lolita in. Similarly, the little copper plates on the bottom of antiques designating them as property of the people are a. Answered questions 168 i loved a gentleman in moscow and rules of civility. Amor towles answers questions on his novel, a gentleman in moscow. His structure, his knowledge of history, his ability to put this kaleidoscope together into a story that kept me reading, shows his true talent. In the transcript at the opening of a gentleman in moscow, the.
Apr 22, 2020 welcome to a meeting place for publishers, authors, and book clubs to connect. A gentleman in moscow immerses us in another elegantly drawn era with the story of count alexander rostov. A gentleman in moscow august cc book club selection page. Pdf a gentleman in moscow ebooks includes pdf, epub and. A gentleman in moscow features one of literatures more memorable characters and gives a peek into stalinist russia rarely seen before it is june 21, 1922, and 33yearold count alexander ilyich rostov is convicted of being a class enemy of the soviet socialist republic. I knew exactly what the author was writing about and i appreciated all the subtle cultural references peppered throughout the book to make me want to reread some of the. See our book club recipe inspired by juliette fays the tumbling turner sisters in the the. A gentleman in moscow by amor towles 9780099558781. When, in 1922, he is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a bolshevik tribunal, the count is sentenced to house arrest in the metropol, a grand hotel across the street from the kremlin.
Count alexander rostov born 1889 1954 65 years old at end of book 33 years old when imprisoned. Amor towles tells the story of a gentleman in moscow seeking to understand what it truly means to live a life with purpose. Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers. A gentleman in moscow its 1922, russia is experiencing an evolution in its politics, with moscow the center of it all. We typically guide our discussion using questions found online and then go where the conversation leads us. A beautiful reminder that a rich life is made of so much more than ones circumstances, and that purpose is often found in the most unexpected places. A gentleman in moscow book club discussion questions. Heres the description from the superstore website for a gentleman in moscow. Somehow fiction is woven into the historically accurate facts so well that you can believe that it could have really happened.
Exceptional storytelling brings a changing moscow inside the walls of one building. Sentenced to house arrest in moscows metropol hotel by a bolshevik tribunal for writing a poem deemed to encourage revolt, count alexander rostov nonetheless lives the fullest of lives, discovering the depths of his humanity. A wine and food connoisseur, while at the hotel the count dines at the hotels restaurants. The very first paragraph of amor towless novel, a gentleman in moscow, contains a description of st. A gentleman in moscow summary from litcharts the creators. When choosing a book for a book club there are a lot of factors to consider. A count becomes a waiter in a novel of soviet supremacy the. Our new facebook group, book club favorites brings together a dynamic community of readers.
Russia north asia 20th century multiple decades 2016 bookbrowse top 20 best books. Never has a book brought about such an indepth discussion for our group. Book club questions for a gentleman in moscow by amor towles takes an in depth look at this charming and original novel. In terms of a gentleman in moscow, for instance, the launch of the worlds first nuclear power plant in russia in 1954 is an historical fact, but the assembly of party leaders to observe the blackingout of moscow is an invention. A gentleman in moscow, the second book by new yorkbased writer amor towles, and one of the july selections for the bee book club, takes place almost entirely within the ornate metropol. Aug 08, 2019 some book clubs serve entire dinners at their meetings, with menus that reflect themes or settings of the book.
Genre, setting, topic, theme, and discussion questions, just to name a few. For those interested in learning more about the background of the book or my process, i encourage you to browse this site where i have placed a variety of supporting materials. A gentleman in moscow is a worthy update to the great. A gentleman in moscow is a story rich of wit and humor, effectively presented through an impressive cast of characters and dialogue beautifully woven together. The sentence is handed down by a bolshevik tribunal because the count had written a poem in 19 with revolutionary undertones. Count alexander ilyich rostov descendant of many counts and other nobility, product of a genteel upbringing by his ohsoproper grandmother, graduate of elite russian schools, and allaround member of the czars upper crust is condemned to permanent house arrest in a grand hotel in moscow. Feb 09, 2017 a gentleman in moscow is the 30year saga of the count alexander ilyich rostov, who is placed under house arrest inside the metropol hotel in moscow in 1922 when the bolsheviks spare him from death or siberia because of his 19 revolutionary poem written in university. Reading guide for a gentleman in moscow by amor towles.
See more ideas about moscow, yummy drinks and gentleman. A gentleman in moscow is the story of count rostov, a russian aristocrat. Book club questions for a gentleman in moscow by amor towles. See more ideas about moscow, yummy drinks and russian tea. A gentleman in moscow is exquisitely propped and styled, from the silver samovars to the red covers of baedeker guides. Some book clubs serve entire dinners at their meetings, with menus that reflect themes or settings of the book.
A gentleman in moscow is the utterly entertaining second novel from the author of rules of civility. This comprehensive guide includes useful literary context. A gentleman in moscow amor towles, 2016 penguin publishing 480 pp. Welcome to a meeting place for publishers, authors, and book clubs to connect.