Book group discussion for a gentleman in moscow

On june 21, 1922, count alexander ilyich rostov is sentenced to a life of house arrest in moscow s metropol hotel. A gentleman in moscow offers a chance to sink back into a lost attitude of aristocracy equal parts urbane and humane just what we might expect from the author of that 2011 bestseller. A m or towles shares a recipe for latvian stew, inspired by his novel, a gentleman in moscow. William blake famously wrote, to see a world in a grain of sand,and heaven in a wild flower,hold infinity in the palm of your hand,and eternity in an hour. A gentleman in moscow is the story of one man confined to one hotel for one lifetime and what a lifetime it was. Love, new york and all that jazz books the guardian. Similarly, the little copper plates on the bottom of antiques designating them as property of the people are a.

A gentleman in moscow is a 2016 novel by amor towles. Our thursday evening book discussion group will be meeting to discuss a gentleman in moscow by amor towles. I have no doubt, count rostov, that some in the galley are surprised to find you charming. Book club questions for a gentleman in moscow by amor. It took me longer to read a gentleman in moscow than some other books because many of the storys details were almost hidden in the wellcrafted prose. 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. Having fallen head over heals for katie kontent in rules of civility, i had high hopes for a gentleman in moscow. When, in 1922, he is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a bolshevik tribunal, the count is sentenced to house arrest. Amor towles answers questions on his novel, a gentleman in. A gentleman in moscow immerses us in another elegantly drawn era with the story of count alexander rostov. What occurs over the course of book four to lead him to this decision.

Hello and thank you for this discussion opportunity of my most interesting book of 2016. The book picked for this month was a gentleman in moscow by amor towles. A gentleman in moscow is a best book club book for discussion, a novel about a russian count sentenced to house arrest in a grand hotel across from the kremlin. Here are a small selection of discussion topics for a gentleman in moscowwhich may help your book group launch a discussion relevant to your groups interests and other books you may have discussed. And the result is a winning, stylish novel that keeps things easy. Count alexander ilyich rostov, the chief protagonist of a gentleman in moscow, was born in saint petersburg, russia on the 24th of october in 1889. The book is technically historical fiction, but you would be just as accurate calling it a thriller or a love story. Recommending new books each month to spark lively conversation. This 108page guide for a gentleman in moscow by amor towles includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis, as well as several more indepth sections of. Theres fantastical romance, politics, espionage, parenthood and poetry. To ask other readers questions about a gentleman in moscow, please sign up. There is, however, an overarching narrator with a perspective different from the counts.

This will become count alexander ilyich rostovs daily challenge and his lifelong campaign, to see the whole world as defined by the confines of a single building. Answered questions 168 i loved a gentleman in moscow and rules of civility. 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 1922, count alexander rostov is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a bolshevik tribunal, and is sentenced to house arrest in the metropol, a grand hotel across the street from the kremlin. From the moment the count passes through the hotels revolving doors, the narrative begins opening steadily outward.

His second novel, a gentleman in moscow, published in 2016, was also a new york times bestseller and. In book five, the count has decided to get sofia out of russia. Racism and cultural bias is a strong theme throughout the book. Born and raised in the boston area, amor towles graduated from yale university and received an ma in english from stanford university. A gentleman in moscow is laced with sparkling threads they will tie up and tokens they will matter.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers. Sentenced to house arrest in moscow s 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. This study guide consists of approximately 105 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of a gentleman in moscow. The literary epicurean book club selection march 29, 2017 by amor towles book description courtesy of goodreads. Discussion questions a gentleman in moscow do you find the count an appealing, even memorable character. Today is the day for our tenth book club discussion. American author amor towless story tells the tale of a russian count trapped at a hotel in the city by order of. Here are a small selection of discussion topics for a gentleman in moscow which may help your book group launch a discussion relevant to your groups interests and other books you may have discussed.

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. A gentleman in moscow as the book opens, you find count alexander in the midst of a trial for crimes against the country. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on litcharts. Reading guide for a gentleman in moscow by amor towles. A gentleman in moscow book club discussion, all welcome. Essentially, a gentleman in moscow takes the shape of a diamond on its side.

Topics such as perspective and place are common themes across novels and can serve as interesting points of comparison. Instant downloads of all 1291 litchart pdfs including a gentleman in moscow. A gentleman in moscow is the utterly entertaining second novel from the author of rules of civility. A gentleman in moscow latvian stew recipe from amor towles. A gentleman in moscow book club discussion questions. Discussion questions a gentleman in moscow by amor towles 1 in the transcript at the opening of a gentleman in moscow, the head of the tribunal and count rostov have the following exchange. Anyone have recommendations for a book like these beautifully written, preferably historical, leaves you feeling expansive and engaged in life. Suggested book and reading club discussion questions for a gentleman in moscow. Take our free a gentleman in moscow quiz below, with 25 multiple choice questions that help you test your knowledge. Teach your students to analyze literature like litcharts does. Book companion a gentleman in moscow is the utterly entertaining second novel from the author of rules of civility. His first novel, rules of civility, published in 2011, was a new york times bestseller and was named by the wall street journal as one of the best books of 2011. 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.

T he other day, my husband strolled into my office bearing major booty in the form of a proof of a gentleman in moscow, the new novel by amor. Amor towles goodreads author topics about this book topics that mention this book. From the new york times bestselling author of rules of civilitya transporting novel about a man who is ordered. A gentleman in moscow is a novel that aims to charm, not be the axe for the frozen sea within us. A gentleman in moscow characters from litcharts the. Initially, this narrator appears in footnotes, then in the addendums, then in the historical introductions of 1930, 1938 and 1946. Here are a small selection of discussion topics for little fires everywhere that may help your book group launch a discussion relevant to your groups interests. The majority of a gentleman in moscow is told in the third person from the counts point of view. Join our discussion of towless a gentleman in moscow. In this novel count alexander rostov is sentenced by the bolsheviks to house arrest in a grand hotel in early 20th century moscow. Initially, this narrator appears in footnotes, then in the addendums, then in the historical introductions of. From the new york times bestselling author of rules of civility comes a transporting novel about a man who is ordered to spend the rest of his life inside a luxury hotel. In the transcript at the opening of a gentleman in moscow, the. Discussion questions well add publisher questions if and when theyre available.

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. A gentleman in moscow relevant reading book discussion. The brown bag book group s may 16 discussion will be on amor towles latest novel, a gentleman in moscow. The very first paragraph of amor towless novel, a gentleman in moscow, contains a description of st. Russia north asia 20th century multiple decades 2016 bookbrowse top 20 best books.

A gentleman in moscow is an amazing story because it manages to be a little bit of everything. Exceptional storytelling brings a changing moscow inside the walls of one building. Determine which chapters, themes and styles you already know and what you need to study for your upcoming essay, midterm, or final exam. Over the next two hundred pages detailed descriptions accumulate of people, rooms, objects, memories. Initially, this narrator appears in footnotes, then in the addendums, then in the historical introductions of 1930, 1938, and 1946. 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 amor towles, 2016 penguin publishing 480 pp. It is his second novel, following the release of the new york times bestselling novel rules of civility 2011. 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. Towles debut novel, rules of civility, was acclaimed by critics and was. Just to help get you thinking, if you have a hard time figuring out what you want to say, there are some questions below that i found online.

A gentleman in moscow by amor towles reading guidebook. See our book club recipe inspired by juliette fays the tumbling turner sisters in the the. There is, however, an overarching narrator with a perspective different from the count s. Book group to discuss a gentleman in moscow may 16. A latvian stew recipe with pork, apricots and prunes from author amor towles, paired with his novel, a gentleman in moscow. The sentence is handed down by a bolshevik tribunal because the count had written a poem in 19 with revolutionary undertones. Book companion discussion questions a gentleman in moscow. He is a member of the russian nobility, which is quickly being dissolved in favor of a communist government structure, and so when he returns to the. A gentleman in moscow is a 2016 novel set in moscow in the early twentieth century. 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.