“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.”
New York Times bestselling author Amor Towles has done it again! A Gentleman in Moscow is a beautiful, smart novel with something for everyone. The gentleman himself, Count Alexander Rostov, is one of the best literary characters in recent memory. His optimism amid challenging circumstances and benevolence towards all make him a noble protagonist. The story’s secondary characters are equally dynamic and well-developed. The majority of the plot takes place inside the real Moscow Metropol hotel, and with Towles’ descriptive and lively writing, the backdrop seems larger than life. A Gentleman in Moscow keeps a leisurely pace for most of the novel, and includes classic literary references, an overview of twentieth century Russian history, witty dialogue, and a satisfying resolution. A Gentleman in Moscow is historical fiction at its finest!
This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Viking
Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: 7 religious exclamations, 3 mild obscenities.
Violence/Gore: A few implied occurrences of violence regarding domestic abuse; multiple secondhand reports of violence, including suicide, duels, land and sea battles, fistfights, assassinations, and shootings; a few brief scenes of violence during a movie scene, fistfight, physical altercation and shot at.
Sex/Nudity: A few incidents of kissing; a few sexual references and implied accounts of sexual activity; a brief scene of nudity with sexual innuendo; a brief scene of sexual activity without explicit details between adults.
Mature Subject Matter:
War and battle, famine, imprisonment, political upheaval, robbery, Communism, death of loved ones, abandonment, suicide, mention of duels, mention of heroin use, mention of the Tsar’s execution, drinking and smoking.
Alcohol / Drug Use:
Characters frequently drink and smoke. Several scenes take place in a bar. A full page discusses different types of alcoholic beverages.
