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4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
Felt like a dragging start but was hooked by the 3rd chapter. Masterfully written and wonderfully paced
I almost stopped reading this, but because it was a book club selection, I made it through. I'm glad I did, because the small little vignettes that didn't seem to lead up to much of a plot, started to take significance halfway through the book. It was a beautifully written book.
'"If only I were there and she were here,' she sighed. And there, thought the Count, was a suitable plaint for all mankind."
"But the objection being raised was not due to the phrase's overall lack of verve, rather it was due to the word facilitate. Specifically, the verb had been accused of being so tepid and prim that it failed to do justice to the labors of the men in the room."
"...but the tenure of friendships has never been governed by the passage of time. These two would have felt like old friends had they met just hours before."
"'One must make ends meet,' confirmed Audrius matter-of-factly, 'or meet one's end.'"
"For when life makes it impossible for a man to pursue his dreams, he will connive to pursue them anyway."
'"If only I were there and she were here,' she sighed. And there, thought the Count, was a suitable plaint for all mankind."
"But the objection being raised was not due to the phrase's overall lack of verve, rather it was due to the word facilitate. Specifically, the verb had been accused of being so tepid and prim that it failed to do justice to the labors of the men in the room."
"...but the tenure of friendships has never been governed by the passage of time. These two would have felt like old friends had they met just hours before."
"'One must make ends meet,' confirmed Audrius matter-of-factly, 'or meet one's end.'"
"For when life makes it impossible for a man to pursue his dreams, he will connive to pursue them anyway."
Too sophisticated for my current tastes
Wonderfully written characters, offering keen insights into relationships and history. The overarching story is intriguing, and the epicyclic stories are delightful in themselves while magically contributing to the grander story. Lovely read!
Arguably one of the best novels I’ve ever read. Equal parts funny, poignant, romantic, adventurous, inspiring, exhilarating, and lovely. It is an homage to times past in an unchangeable kind of way. It almost says more with what it doesn’t say than what it does. This novel is a masterpiece in character study. It is a case study in utilizing blank spaces and words left unsaid. I’ve already recommended it to everyone I know with the zeal of an evangelist. I’ll be proselytizing the unwilling on the streets if left to my own devices for very long. This is definitely one I’ll reread, and pine for the chance to read it again for the first time. It is simply wonderful historical fiction.
I feel differently than most folks about this book. He was privileged. How very haughty of him to proclaim in the beginning that gentlemen don’t work. How privileged of him to be “imprisoned” in a fancy hotel. His family accumulated wealth while impoverished people existed all around him, how surprising he finds it. In some ways he disgusts me with naïveté. It’s easy to be a gentlemen with legs full of gold coins. Money affords you a lot of leeway.
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Little character development and Alexander's "good intentions" are never questioned in the book. Still certainly an entertaining read.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I found this book a bit difficult to get into but once I did? Really great. There are parts that are certainly slow (in my opinion) but the narrator is so fun that it doesn’t matter too much!
I really enjoyed this book. It is a completely romanticized idea of the philosopher aristocrat, but it pulls off the story in such a way that you want to root for the main character and all of the staff at the hotel throughout the entire story. My biggest gripe with the book is also perhaps my biggest reason I liked it and that is because the main character Alexander Rostov is too perfect of a character. Even though the early portions of the book show him trying to deal with his incarceration, he is mentally able to handle the task with little difficulty. Alexander though is truly a likable character in every way and he is able to project mentoring advice to almost every person whom comes in contact with him.
The middle section of the book did get slow for me and I did lose interest, struggling to get through some parts. The ending wrapped up really well though.
The middle section of the book did get slow for me and I did lose interest, struggling to get through some parts. The ending wrapped up really well though.