Play Book Tag discussion

Table for Two - Towles
Audio performance by Eduardo Ballerino and J.Smith-Cameron
5 stars

To begin with, in the section called New York, there are six excellent short stories. I enjoyed every one of them. They were full of interesting characters, wonderful New York City atmosphere, humorous situations, and surprise endings. The audio performers, especially Ballerino, were able to express every sly nuance.

Part two of this book, Eve in Hollywood, begins as a series of connected short stories. These stories were previously published as an ebook. The stories are a continuation of events from Rules of Civility. They follow Evelyn Ross after she leaves New York City. I’d read these stories before. I was lucky enough to purchase a kindle copy before the author removed it from distribution. They were very good stories, but they left Eve before her Hollywood adventure really began. Towles was right to extend her story. With a few alterations and some additional content, Eve has the chance to really leave her mark on Hollywood. Towles connects the dots of the original sequence of stories to tie all the characters together for a very satisfying revenge caper.

My only regret in reading this book was that I didn’t reread Rules of Civility first.

Great review!

I'm about 1/2 way through and I'm loving the New York stories.

So should we read them in this order?

Rules of civility
Table for two
Eve in Hollywood

Or is Eve in Hollywood now included within Table for Two?

I really liked Rules of Civility. I saw some so-so reviews of Eve so I never picked it up. I generally like short stories though so I’m looking forward to this.

I’m pretty sure I liked Eduardo Ballerini - - or maybe it’s partly because I love saying his name out loud.

Eve in Hollywood is included in Table for Two - it's a novella that is the extended version of the short story of that title that he published for free in ebook only on his website several years ago - and of course it was for a very limited time and hasn't been available for years.

I cannot believe you have read this and posted a review already! I was at his NYC Q&A last night - and got my signed copy! He was so engaging, great speaker, and lots of great info shared. Just about all the New York stories were published elsewhere years ago. He uses short stories to hone is writing and as outlets while he spends 2 or 3 or even 4 years writing his books. He is open about his process, writing habits, and his excitement about and love for it all shines through. The Q&A was led by his audio reader - Eduardo Bellirini - and he has a lovely voice, fabulous Q&A manner. He even read a bit from it last night!

If you get a chance to go to or even just listen to Towles at a Q&A or interview, do so. He's wonderful and you might even hear a few stories of his being a young married in NYC, why he went into investment banking and why he left to become a writer.

Theresa - How wonderful you were able to go to his book signing! So jealous!

Sue wrote: "Theresa - How wonderful you were able to go to his book signing! So jealous!"

It was so wonderful - it was a ticketed paid event - sold out at the Union Square B&N - and it included the presigned book. It's a large space and I'd say 95% of those in attendance where women and mostly over 45. Interesting demographic I thought. His wife was there - no surprise because he lives just a few blocks away in Gramercy Park - but she got up and left early at which point he told a story from their young married days announcing that since she had left, he could tell the real story, rather than 'his version' vs. hers. LOL. So funny. He also mentioned how she was taking him out to dinner after, which is one reason the books were presigned.

I could have listened and chatted with him for hours - and I was exhausted after a long intense work day and little sleep the night before. I never know what to say to that question, if there was one author you would like to have dinner with, who would it be? Well now I know. Oh and he mentioned he was just turning 60 multiple times. May he write for many many more years.

I'm so jealous, Teresa! And what a bonus that Balerini was there also. He is one of my favorite audio performers. I will see if any Towles interviews are posted somewhere so I can watch them.

NancyJ wrote: "So should we read them in this order?

Rules of civility
Table for two
Eve in Hollywood

Or is Eve in Hollywood now included within Table for Two?

I really liked Rules of Civility. I saw some so..."

Teresa is correct. Eve in Hollywood is included in Table for Two. It isn't exactly the same as that original free ebook. It's longer and much better.

I only wish that I'd reread Rules of Civility because I read it so long ago. I know that I liked it, but I've lost many of the details. I think I would appreciate it more now that I've read his other books. I'm more familiar with his style.

Jgrace wrote: "I'm so jealous, Teresa! And what a bonus that Balerini was there also. He is one of my favorite audio performers. I will see if any Towles interviews are posted somewhere so I can watch them."

I have heard there is one with Ann Patchett - who owns a bookstore and promotes contemporaries at it. Have not had time to look for it.

Jgrace wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "So should we read them in this order?

Rules of civility
Table for two
Eve in Hollywood

Or is Eve in Hollywood now included within Table for Two?

I really liked Rules of Civility..."

I plan to reread Rules of Civility first. He talked about it a lot and there were so many things I had forgotten from just the general comments he made! Though I did love it, thinking of it as a novel of an American Lost Generation.

But as I am not going to be reading Table for Two anytime soon, since he made clear it is about a 4 year process between books. I figure the next is at least 3 years in the future. Need to know I have a new one to dip into.

It occurs to me that at least one of the short stories and the final novella of this book qualify it for next month's Crime tag.