Reviews

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

adholmes3's review against another edition

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slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

kkalk's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

karinanne's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

lhart2222's review against another edition

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1.0

It is with great disappointment that I say I did not finish A Gentleman in Moscow. After absolutely loving The Lincoln Highway by the same author: raving continually about how it's one of my favourite books. AGIM wasn’t for me and at only 70 pages in I've decided it's not worth me finishing.

Set in 1922 Russia the book tries to encapsulate the time by writing the book in the style of a 1920s Russian aristocrat. This became tedious fast. Using lengthy words and sentences, which are choppy and very stop-start, after only a few paragraphs I felt I was reading the dictionary rather than a storybook.

I found it almost impossible to get lost in this book. From the story to the writing and even the characters, I don't have any positives. The story was, in my opinion, non-existent, I didn't care for any of it. The writing is so unnecessarily complicated it gives this book an air of superiority type feel. Finally, the characters. Although I've only encountered two of the major cast, I dislike both.

Describing Alexander Rostov as “charming, witty and elegant” would be a lie. I found him rather boring and slightly pretentious. Nina, the young girl whom Rostov befriends is even worse. A ten-year-old girl who speaks like an adult and is patronising beyond belief brought me nothing but annoyance.

Overall I'm gutted, after seeing the rave reviews I was looking forward to this book, to say I'm let down is an understatement. Realistically I should have known, seeing as I dislike most books with a philosophical undertone, however, I just hoped this would be different… it wasn't.

sophiafroehlich's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was a riveting read about how to make the most of a bad situation, and how love and purpose can get you through. The main character is at once irreverent and the most respectful, well mannered individual. He’s loveable and quirky enough that even going through his typical everyday routine is entertaining. The historical backdrop in communist Russia is so interesting and we get lots of historical tidbits as we follow our main characters life trapped in a hotel.

martha_bookworm's review against another edition

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emotional funny informative mysterious 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? Yes

3.75

s_nor_e's review against another edition

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5.0

So attached to this book. Started slow but as it continued was so worth the read and the end had me in tears.

cbarschdorff's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective relaxing

4.0

laurenb's review against another edition

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4.0

3.5 stars. I liked the book but since it took me almost 7 months to finish, I just can’t give it more than that! Rounded up to 4 at least.

josie_e's review against another edition

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4.0

4.5/5 stars

*Chefs kiss