A review by booksandbongs
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

“For what matters in life is not whether we receive a round of applause; what matters is whether we have the courage to venture forth despite the uncertainty of acclaim.”

A Gentleman in Moscow is a multi-decade literary historical fiction novel by Amor Towles. 

For the crime of being an aristocrat, Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov is given a sentence to remain in his beloved hotel for the rest of his life, or be shot. Almost exclusively set inside the Metropol Hotel in Moscow, we begin our journey with the Count in 1922, shortly after the Bolsheviks seized power.

This is my second book from Towles —  becoming my favorite from him, and one of my favorite historical fiction works overall. I was blown away at the enchanting prose and imagery Towles uses. The historical backdrop is well developed and the footnotes from the narrator were not only informative but amusing. The majority of the story is told in third person from the Count’s POV, but in many instances an omniscient third person narrator speaks directly to the reader, which really made me feel like I was part of the story (not to mention their wry detachment comes across as witty and humorous at times). I found it so easy to fall in love with the Count, Nina, Sophia, and all of the employees of the Metropol.

Towles provides a compelling and immersive narrative that follows the Count’s life in the hotel — a life filled with joy, sorrow, and growth that maintains a tone to appreciate the little things. A Gentleman in every sense of the word, the story of Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov will remain with me for a long time. Definitely pick this book up, you won’t regret it. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️