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literaryjunarin's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“If patience wasn’t so easily tested, then it would hardly be a virtue. . . ”
In the year 1922, Count Rostov was sentenced to house arrest at the grand Hotel Metropol in Moscow, Russia. If he did but one step outside the hotel, he will be shot dead. In a span of more than 30 years, this book laid out his life as he ventures through emotional discovery, forges a friendship with the hotel crews, and muses about life and purpose.
I did not expect to like this book at all. I prefer books that are action-packed with thick plots but this book hardly has a plot! But while reading, and I read this very slowly as well, I found myself enjoying Count Rostov's musings. His wit, his view about life, intellect, class. He is very charming. I would love to have dinner with him and have him explain different kinds of wine.
Towle's sentences are so, so full of life. Every scene is beautifully created. The experience is very immersive. I have nothing but praise. This book talks about family, friendship, parenthood, politics, and love. I cried a bit toward the end. Now, Count Rostov feels like an old friend of mine.
In the year 1922, Count Rostov was sentenced to house arrest at the grand Hotel Metropol in Moscow, Russia. If he did but one step outside the hotel, he will be shot dead. In a span of more than 30 years, this book laid out his life as he ventures through emotional discovery, forges a friendship with the hotel crews, and muses about life and purpose.
I did not expect to like this book at all. I prefer books that are action-packed with thick plots but this book hardly has a plot! But while reading, and I read this very slowly as well, I found myself enjoying Count Rostov's musings. His wit, his view about life, intellect, class. He is very charming. I would love to have dinner with him and have him explain different kinds of wine.
Towle's sentences are so, so full of life. Every scene is beautifully created. The experience is very immersive. I have nothing but praise. This book talks about family, friendship, parenthood, politics, and love. I cried a bit toward the end. Now, Count Rostov feels like an old friend of mine.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide attempt
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
...where do i even start? i had an inkling this would be good, yet it ventured in unexpected directions and still exceeded my quite lofty expectatons. idk how to describe this book w/ suitable adjectives, all i know is my heart feels full from reading it. a gentleman in moscow was filled w/ tender moments and vignettes, wise rumination of the theme of time, scenes that were as uncommon as they were singularly charming and heartwarming, and it managed to be evocative w/o ever being melodramatic or resorting to emotional manipulation.
this book showed what stories are abt, what life is abt. i particularly enjoyed the writing--it was as subtly poetic and witty as its main character--and the touching depiction of friendship and found family. my only gripes would be the fact that the middle felt like a blur given its lack of any major or dramatic plot points, and i wish there were scenes during the war yrs; not for any trauma porn, but it wouldve gone quite a long way in showing how different (or not) life in the metropol was in that period, for as much as the count was physically limited under house arrest, he was nevertheless cocooned w/in the comforts of one of moscow's best hotels. regardless, this was a great--if even rare--read that i cant wait to reread while seeking for some comfort in the yrs to come.
this book showed what stories are abt, what life is abt. i particularly enjoyed the writing--it was as subtly poetic and witty as its main character--and the touching depiction of friendship and found family. my only gripes would be the fact that the middle felt like a blur given its lack of any major or dramatic plot points, and i wish there were scenes during the war yrs; not for any trauma porn, but it wouldve gone quite a long way in showing how different (or not) life in the metropol was in that period, for as much as the count was physically limited under house arrest, he was nevertheless cocooned w/in the comforts of one of moscow's best hotels. regardless, this was a great--if even rare--read that i cant wait to reread while seeking for some comfort in the yrs to come.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Police brutality, Alcohol, and Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent and Kidnapping
ashlynhare's review against another edition
challenging
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt
keishag's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Gun violence
gloomi_sundai's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
it took me so long to read cuz i went weeks even months without reading so i cannot give an honest review but i did throughly enjoy it and i think i will love it more when i reread it in ten years
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Grief and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Gun violence, Murder, and Racial slurs
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