So for the first time, we tried reading an author rather than a book and it was fun! To explain, we read either A Gentleman in Moscow or Rules of Civility both by Amor Towles (reader's choice) , so we could discuss the style and contrast of the author's approach rather than the book itself.
This is the format of my book club when I lived in Moscow. We had to get what we could find in our language of choice in our native countries. We selected authors at the end of the spring for the following school year. We then read our own choice of work by that author. Since we met weekly (!) and spent three weeks on an author, it was a learning experience to say the least. Week one, a presentation on the history and critical analyis of the author (great with Tolstoy, a bit more challenging with Tsetyava, Bulgakhov was a blast), the next week a visit to something related to the author, usually a tour of home, studio or museum. The third week was full discussion of all we had learned and read. It was wonderful.
So this time, in a variation of that format, we read whatever we wanted of Amor Towles two novels. No doubt he could have more, but there is the complication of a full time job as an investment banker. And, we had a great discussion!
The good - a great grasp of a story built around a compelling character that held the imagination and more importantly the emotion of the reader. In one case, the aristocrat bound for thirty years to never leave a luxury hotel in Moscow, the other a man seemingly living in luxury but in fact enabled by a rather demanding paymaster.
Both stories were rich in atmosphere - easily believed, impactful and rather overwhelming in detail, so easy to fall into and become one with the wallpaper. Both had snappy plots that moved along and swept us up with them. Oh, did you say not so believeable all the time? Sure, there were quibbles of likelihood and logical outcome. And yet,we all agreed, so what, we were happy to be included in the process.
If I were inferring favorites from the commentary, Gentleman in Moscow seemed to be our favored choice of the two. But both were lovely, warm, interesting and fun reads. Let's hope Mr. Towles has time for another.
For August, we are lucky to go to Susan Victoria's, Susan's 2605 E. Franklin Apt 1 in Church Hill. Please ask her to have more SubRosa Shortbread cookies while we are there! The book is Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders. We had read Tenth of December a while ago, his collection of short stories. This is a novel and it is an amazing thing from so many vantage points.
See you all there!
