A Gentleman in Moscow

By Amor Towles, Viking, 2016, 462 pages, audio read by Nicholas Guy Smith
Reviewed by Kathleen Gobos, June 29,2020

Set in Moscow during the Stalin era, this is not the typical book/genre that I would pick up, but it was highly recommended by a friend who has never steered me wrong. This book did not ruin my friend's recommendation reputation, I absolutely loved it!

Not only did I read this book, I also downloaded the audio version and listened along as I read it. The audio version read by Nicholas Guy Smith made this book extra enjoyable as his voice was smooth as butter.

My bullet point thoughts:

• It took me about 15 to 20 pages into the book before I fell in love with it, the story, the language, all the extra descriptive words.

• This book was so descriptive, so much so that I felt part of it, I felt I had an intimate relationship with each character.

• Reading this book was like having afternoon tea or a lingering glass of wine or brandy.

• The characters were well developed, and I honestly want to hang out with all of them, such characters. They linger with you long after you've put the book down.

• Surprisingly upbeat and humorous, pulls at all your emotions. You probably will find yourself chuckling out loud and shedding a tear or two.

• The genre says historical fiction, but it could also be said to be a thriller, love story, development and importance of friendships

• Loved the in-depth thinking of the book

• I'll never look at Humphrey Bogart movies the same way.

• I could go on and on but I'll just end with: A great read!

By Amor Towles, 2016, Viking, 462 pages
Reviewed by Janet Cleveland, May 15, 2021

I’m 180 pages into “A Gentleman in Moscow,” and I’ve had it.

I have two beefs, both major: I don’t care about any of the characters, and I don’t see a plotline.

Where’s the conflict? So far, the poor count, deemed an unrepentant aristocrat, is prisoner in the Metropol Hotel near the Kremlin; he has met an intellectually superior little girl; he is witty; he eats great meals and drinks fine wine, even though the Bolsheviks removed the labels and he can’t tell whether he’ll be drinking rotgut or a vintage French wine with his osso buco; his friends drop by occasionally; and he can be droll and funny.

But who cares? Is something going to happen after the first 180 pages?

At first, I was impressed by the writer’s descriptions and analysis. Here’s an example:

From primitive tribes to the most advanced societies, someone has occasionally been told by his fellow men to pack his bags cross the border, and never set foot on his native land again. But perhaps this is to be expected. After all, exile was the punishment God meted out to Adam in the very first chapter of the human comedy, and that He meted out to Cain a few pages later. Yes, exile was as old as mankind. But the Russians were the first people to master the notion of sending a man into exile at home.

Bingo from a guy forever a prisoner in a luxury hotel during the Stalin era. He is a deep thinker, all right, and if the reader has the patience to unravel the poetic descriptions, that’s a great intellectual exercise.

Feel free to tell me that “Gentleman” is a fabulous book and that what I’ll learn about humankind will make me a better person. One of my best friends said this:

“Yes, something does eventually happen, but if you’re just not feeling it by page 180, you’re probably not going to. Sigh. It’s one of my favorites from the past couple of years.”

I know that another Cooper Clapper Caper reviewer found “Gentleman” to be outstanding as well.

But at this point, I need to be persuaded to push on to page 181.