Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

Un Caballero En Moscú by Amor Towles

35 reviews

hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: N/A

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emotional hopeful reflective relaxing slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

I went into this book with such high hopes and I was a little concerned at the beginning — it felt too slow and it didn't grab me — but at some point I got immersed in it and came to the realisation that it was just so delightful and the writing wonderful.

The characters, the setting, the emotion, the sprinkles of humour, the history, the life lessons, and more!

A beautiful book!

(Warning: The book features spoilers for Anna Karenina, The Brothers Karamazov, and the film Casablanca. You'll get even more out of the book if you're familiar with the latter!)

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emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad 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: Yes

This book read like a poem at parts. I childishly compare it to "Suite Life of Zack and Cody" only in early-to-mid-twentieth-century Russia, but I was surprised at how joyful this novel was. There is grief and sadness and plenty of political tension, but the microcosm of this hotel created such room for joy and laughter. Perhaps it moves alongside the heaviness of Russian history at the time, sometimes feeling like it sidesteps the tension. Though that is the perk of remaining within the hotel. 

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challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad 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: Yes

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adventurous emotional funny 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: Yes

I didn't think I'd like listening to this! However the pov character, narrator, and audiobook reader made this tiny world so lovely. He's so charming and charmed by the world. I think normally I would find this kind of book a bit boring. But because Alexander finds such delight in "little things" and the world and people around him, it's fun and exciting and interesting to experience with him. 

His relationship with his daughter truly made me cry. I cried over how much they love each other. I cried when his
best friend died
and he cried because
he said that the last of those who knew him when he was young was dead

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-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

I've had this book on my TBR for years, and let me tell you it completely exceeded the already lofty expectations that I had for it! A Gentleman in Moscow follows the journey of Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov, who is living under house arrest in Bolshevik Russia shortly following the Russian Revolution. Set in Moscow's Metropol Hotel, we follow the Count's relationships with guests and employees at the hotel, as well as how he reacts to the circumstances of living out his life in one place. The evolutions of these relationships and circumstances throughout the years are fascinating and will leave you constantly guessing at what will happen next. The book is beautifully written, both in its prose and its content, and I found myself connecting with numerous characters from all walks of life. I can certainly add A Gentleman in Moscow to the shortlist of one of the best books I have ever read, and I look forward to reading Amor Towles' other works. This book is simply a masterpiece.

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emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad 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: Complicated

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emotional 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: No

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reflective fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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