Debating whether I should read: A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW. I want to hear the positives and negatives about this book. Which genre does it fit?
Debating whether I should read: A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW. I want to hear the positives and negatives about this book. Which genre does it fit?
I loved it. A little slow at first. The twist doesn’t come until the end. I would call it classical style literature. It’s beautifully written.
I tried 4 times to finish it and I could not. I wanted to finish it so badly! I rarely don’t finish a book.
@Donna I finished because someone chose it for bookclub
I read it but didn’t enjoy it.
Loved this book. One of my recent favorites.
One of the best books I have ever read. I have passed it along to so many friends. It takes a little pages to really get going, but I was so attached to the characters,and it was such an interesting story. And its fun to Google the hotel after you read it and see how well he described the place. I loved it!
Read it with my book club & everyone enjoyed it. I really liked it & thought it was an interesting idea for a book & well written.It’s considered historical fiction. Saw it will be a movie.
Nobody in my book club liked it, wordy, boring and none of us could relate. We liked the little girl and the end was the best part
Everyone in my book club loved it. One of the best books I’ve ever read.
Great novel. In the style of old classics…lots of lovely characters
Ditto
Loved it! It was slow at first and then!
You must, a charming story of a difficult age in history, lovely book!
I tried to read it but couldn’t get into it. Is it worth plowing along?
I absolutely LOVED it. I would say it falls into the Literary/Historical Fiction category. However, your tolerance for slow, character-driven rather than plot-driven stories needs to be high. I read over 125 books per year, and very few books stick with me, but this one several years later remains a favorite.
I loved Rules of Civility. Haven’t cracked this one open yet.
It was a favorite in my book club!
Loved it! Give it time to get into it, then you won’t be able to put it down.
Includes history romance philosophy the genre is really good fiction
Slow start, but an interesting read!
Yes— literary/historical fiction, multi-layered, lots of subtle clues and clever twists. Keep your eye on the “willowy” lady. And about 2/3 the way through, take a look at Casablanca in preparation for a discussion the protagonist has with his Russian friend. Not essential, just helpful. It’s not a funny book early on, but it has funny moments sprinkled here and there. Are you looking for an easy-breezy book? Then skip this one now and save it for later. I also enjoyed Rules of Civility, more a woman’s fiction read.
@Julie , I am not fond
of easy breezy books.
@Evie good for you! AGIM was slow starting for me, but one of those reads I thought about for some time afterwards.
A favorite in last years book club! Definitely read it!
I just finished reading it and is one of my favorite read this year
The writing is beautiful, but the story itself can be hard to slog through, if that makes sense
This was my favorite book of last year. It is hard to put it in a genre but I suppose historical fiction is close. I loved it because it was beautifully written. There were many times I would stop and reread a sentence because the words were just so beautifully woven. The story takes you through a very difficult period in Russian history. The characters are rich. It is not an action book.
One of my favorite books of all time. The writing is so beautiful…you can picture everything vividly in your minds eye as u read.
Nope. Kind of wish I hadn’t. Didn’t get the hype?♀️
I couldn’t finish it
@Cari , me either!
@Julie and I tried 3 separate times!
@Cari, I wanted to like it!
Could not put it down. Actually read it slowly. You have to in order to keep all the pieces in your mind in some sort of order. ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT.
Historical/literary fiction. I enjoyed the character development and the twist at the end. Description was aslo well done. Worth reading.
So many people loved it, but it seriously almost bored me to death. I was so glad when it ended but sad I couldn’t get the time I spent reading it back.
soooooo agree with you @Mary. I kept wanting to like it. Nope.
There are some books that are destined to be classics and studied in years to come. I think this is one of them.
This was my favorite read (and final one) of 2018. I’d had it for a while and my work Book Group decided to read it together. Boy, am I glad I did! I started it on Christmas Eve and finished it on Christmas morning–didn’t want to put it down.
It’s definitely literary and historical fiction. It meanders but thrives on gorgeous language, attention to nuanced human behaviors, and rich character development (in my estimation). I’m someone who reads more for language and I love literary works with strong characters with whom I can empathize. The sense of space is lovely–you can imagine yourself in every room of the hotel.
Anyone who likes to read for plot or wants a “thriller” may want to look elsewhere.
Lastly, although I read it quickly, I still went back to reread certain moments and jot down some quotations. I need to read Amor Towles’ Rules of Civility now.
(p.s.–I second Katie Williamson above!)
@Cristina – Rules of Civility is also very good. The writing style is, of course, the same. I’ll let you make your own opinion of it, but it is worth reading.
@Katie, thanks! I’m currently reading about 5 books at the moment (and teaching two others–I’m an American Literature teacher), but I definitely have my eye on it for Summer Break!
I loved it!
I really disliked this book. I kept forcing myself to read it because all these people gave it rave reviews. I thought something interesting must happen eventually. But nothing ever happened. It was so incredibly boring. As a previous commenter said, I can never get that wasted time back.
agree 100%
Heard so many positives on this book. Read it, and found it work.
If books were paintings, Towles would be Renoir. This book is a beautiful work of art and the pinnacle of talented writing, imo. A masterpiece!
Really liked this book! Not an action-packed page turner for sure. Pass if that is what you are looking for. Very well written and descriptive. This is a “kick back, take your time, enjoy the words and characters stories” kind of book. So worth the time to read.
Ugh. No.
It was interesting but not enthralling. I read it with a book club and thought it was valuable as a book different from one I would have chosen.
My friend said it was really good. She gave me the book. I’m about to read
Eh.
My book club read it last month but I was unable to get a copy.
I tried listening to it and I couldn’t focus. I am interested enough to try reading it but the audio definitely wasn’t working for me.
Read it; believe it would be historical fiction
I love this book. My book club picked it and I didn’t want to read it because it didn’t seem interesting to me but ended up not wanting it to end. It is character driven as someone else mentioned. It takes a bit to get into but then I found I fell in love with the count. I would say it reminds me of classical literature.
Read it.
I loved this book because it was beautifully narrated. The writing was fantastic, subtle. The characters were interesting and complicated. I never knew what was going to happen next. The setting was unusual. Terrific read!
It’s not an easy read, but if you like excellent writing and a bit of Russian history go for it! One of my favorites!
I loved it. The characters are fascinating and so was the history.
I listened to it and loved the audio, the writing is superb
I loved the book!
I enjoyed this book as did our book club. Very well written.
Oh my gosh, the best book I read in years!!!
I found it boring, I couldn’t finish it
boring boring boring
Loved the book, & my book club loved the book.
One of My favorite books…but then again, I do love historical fiction!
I finished it but didn’t like it. Some parts were okay but I found it kind of repetitive and boring.
agree 100%
Very good book.
Its excellent.
It’s historical fiction. I liked it a lot but it took about 200 pages to get going.
Yup, definitely a slow starter but worth it!
Agreed, but I ended up loving it. The characters are great.
@Cathy Thats alot of pages to get going
@Gail it is a lot of pages. I am a skimmer so I skimmed the first part and then slowed down a little when the pace picked up. When I got done, I went back to the beginning to review what I missed. That’s what I end up doing if the book is off to a slow start and if it still doesn’t pickup, I drop it.
I loved it, the prose was beautiful.
It is a work of art. Because it introduces a cast of characters, the relationship with them takes time to grow. It is so worth it, however, and I missed all of them when the book was finished. Like classic novels, this one ties all major and minor characters into a satisfying ending.
@Carolyn the author explained the pace of the book when I heard him give a talk. It starts slowly because the first third of the book takes place over years. The timing then switches to months, weeks, and days as it reaches the climax. The reader needs to put themselves in the Counts place as he settles into the routine of the hotel. It is masterfully done.
Loved it!
It’s a wonderful, exquisitely-written book. I had the opportunity to hear the author, Amor Towles, talk about the book this past Wednesday at a sold-out event in Milwaukee, WI. He was a very interesting and engaging speaker!
@Heidi i must have been sitting in about the same row but on the other side! You’re right- very engaging!
I was sucked in immediately and really enjoyed the book. And I learned a lot of history. It was a great read!
Wonderful book!
Wonderful book!
My favorite read of all times! L
Great book…definitely read!
Simply terrific. One of the all-time greats. Mostly historical fiction.
I’m sad to say, about half-way through I was so bored I gave up and quit. ?
Jackie Young, I’m reading his Rules of Civility and that’s how I feel right now.
@Stephanie Good luck!
Don’t feel badly @Jackie. It doesn’t get any better
Humour, pathos , informative and thoroughly enjoyable !
I was so bored I couldn’t even make it to page 50.
Soso
I think it will be a 21st century classic. Exquisitely written and unforgettable characters. ??
Loved it
Read it. Read it now. You will not regret it.
My book club and I loved it and all the characters.
I hated it. I love historical fiction, but couldn’t get into this one. Tried a few times but was unsuccessful each time. Cant figure out what everybody saw in this book. I guess that’s why there are so many books to choose from!
@Ellen I have not read it yet but I have seen mixed views