Play Book Tag discussion

This sophisticated and entertaining first novel presents the story of a young woman whose life is on the brink of transformation. On the last night of 1937, twenty-five-year-old Katey Kontent is in a second-rate Greenwich Village jazz bar when Tinker Grey, a handsome banker, happens to sit down at the neighboring table. This chance encounter and its startling consequences propel Katey on a year-long journey into the upper echelons of New York society—where she will have little to rely upon other than a bracing wit and her own brand of cool nerve. With its sparkling depiction of New York’s social strata, its intricate imagery and themes, and its immensely appealing characters, Rules of Civility won the hearts of readers and critics alike.

To start with, I liked this novel more than A Gentleman in Moscow. It was more dynamic and had more interesting characters. Nevertheless, I wasn't particularly attracted to any of the main characters. Eve was too annoying, Tinker was more absent than present in the story, and Katherine was too difficult for me to understand. I sympathised more with the other guys, especially Dicky and Wallace.

I have to say that I expected another war story, especially after the first chapter (view spoiler)[where we see Tinker's two photos (hide spoiler)]. But it appeared to be something different. And it was a pleasant surprise.

Another thing I liked in this novel is how books are tied into the story. It was interesting to try remembering things from the books discussed and seeing their connection to the events described.

One thing that made me wonder is Towles' interest in Russian people. I read only two of his books, and both have Russian characters in them. It would be interesting to know what attracts him so much in all things Russian.

I also liked this one more than Gentleman in Moscow. It is partly a love letter to a former New York City.

This is my favourite Towles book.

I see this as an American Lost Generation book, a tag bestowed by Gertrude Stein on the generation of atritsts, writers, creators and thinkers in Paris between the wars, and that really piqued my interest. As did the fact it was to me so different from A Gentleman in Moscow.

After reading The Lincoln Highway a couple months ago, which is different from his 2 other books, I found an interview with Towles that said each of his books, though unrelated to each other, has a reference to those earlier writings.

There is much of interest about Towles writing in that interview, and I was gratified when it confirmed what I thought: you will never be able to predict whhat a Towles book will be. I don't have a favorite.

The interview: https://www.amortowles.com/the-lincol...

It's interesting to see how different pbt members react to his books. This was my least favourite of the three, although I liked it a lot.