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4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
A beautiful book about how to live, no matter where life leads you. I'll be thinking about this one for a long time. Very much recommended.
*And as she talked, the Count had to acknowledge once again the virtues of withholding judgement.*
*...But when the Count opened the small wooden drawer of the grinder, the world and all it contained were transformed by that envy of the alchemists - the aroma of freshly ground coffee.*
*And as she talked, the Count had to acknowledge once again the virtues of withholding judgement.*
*...But when the Count opened the small wooden drawer of the grinder, the world and all it contained were transformed by that envy of the alchemists - the aroma of freshly ground coffee.*
Former Person Count Alexander Rostov is sentenced to indefinite house hotel arrest after he publishes a poem which questions the rise of the Bolsheviks.
I didn't know what to expect going into this book, and nearly every chapter was a delightful surprise. Despite not being exciting in the traditional sense, this story is gripping, and the Count is an indisputably original character who kept me on my toes with his quirks and refreshing simplicity. Weirdly, I never felt the need for him to do anything particularly exciting—I just wanted to stay with him in the Metropol.
I didn't know what to expect going into this book, and nearly every chapter was a delightful surprise. Despite not being exciting in the traditional sense, this story is gripping, and the Count is an indisputably original character who kept me on my toes with his quirks and refreshing simplicity. Weirdly, I never felt the need for him to do anything particularly exciting—I just wanted to stay with him in the Metropol.
emotional
funny
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
a masterpiece.
At first, I was enjoying the beautiful writing and liking the Count, enjoying being delighted over and over. Then, I reached a chapter where I was laughing out loud (which continued through the rest of the book) and then I cried (joy and relief). Then, I started to think about the book when I wasn't reading and wished I was reading it. Then I could not stop reading despite knowing I would be sad to come to the end. Now I suspect I will have the biggest book hangover EVER. The best fiction book I have read in memory. Highly recommend.
Count Rostov is on house arrest at the metropol hotel. the book follows him over several decades. He makes a life for himself in the hotel and the novel captures the beautiful friendships while also covering Russian history and culture. Made me want to return to Chekhov and Dostoevsky. A book to savor.
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
slow-paced
Very slow story with vignettes of the main characters life. Not really any plot. This particular book wasn't for me.
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Print or digital would have worked better for me than audio.
I received this book in a giveaway, although I don’t remember if it was from Goodreads or Random House.
An interesting take on one Russian aristocrat’s experiences in the years after he is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol hotel.
An interesting take on one Russian aristocrat’s experiences in the years after he is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol hotel.