elsanore's review against another edition
4.0
Reading Rules of Civility felt like watching a black and white movie. It was easy to imagine the dialigue in that old fashioned Mid-Atlantic accent. The body of the novel takes place from January to December 1938 and examines how this one year in Katherine's life presents a multitude of turning points which could influence the rest of her life. What a novel! I look forward to reading more of Towles's work.
ambryan13's review against another edition
5.0
Phenomenal. Calming. Inspiring even in acknowledging the futility of perceived inspiration.
oahzg's review against another edition
5.0
Amor Towles makes me think I’ve never written a beautiful sentence my whole life. That’s how good he is.
How can a story be so nuanced yet so satisfying? Have no clear antagonist but offer suspense and conflict? Every character is interesting in their own ways. I have never found another author who manages to achieve this sort of subtlety.
How can a story be so nuanced yet so satisfying? Have no clear antagonist but offer suspense and conflict? Every character is interesting in their own ways. I have never found another author who manages to achieve this sort of subtlety.
cestnicka's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I had seen a lot of people reviewing this book on tictok saying it was a must read so I checked it out! Unfortunately I did not feel the same and didn't love the book.
There were some really good parts to this book. The book is written beautifully and poetic, and also comedic at times. He does a really good job of describing landscapes and places and making you feel like your in the heart of NYC in the 1930s. I liked that I felt transported to that era.
In the beginning I was really intrigued and then somewhere in the middle I got bored. I felt like the story just wasn't going anywhere and I didn't understand what any of this information had to do with the plot. And that made it feel like there was no plot and this book didn't seem to be going anywhere. And in the end it didn't... it did pick up in the end and I like that there was an epilogue .. but it was just a pretty boring story and ending. It was not a page turner for me and I felt myself trying to skip forward.
I unfortunately wouldn't ready any other books by this author. I really thought I would like it, since It has alot of good reviews, but maybe this just Isn't my style of book.
There were some really good parts to this book. The book is written beautifully and poetic, and also comedic at times. He does a really good job of describing landscapes and places and making you feel like your in the heart of NYC in the 1930s. I liked that I felt transported to that era.
In the beginning I was really intrigued and then somewhere in the middle I got bored. I felt like the story just wasn't going anywhere and I didn't understand what any of this information had to do with the plot. And that made it feel like there was no plot and this book didn't seem to be going anywhere. And in the end it didn't... it did pick up in the end and I like that there was an epilogue .. but it was just a pretty boring story and ending. It was not a page turner for me and I felt myself trying to skip forward.
I unfortunately wouldn't ready any other books by this author. I really thought I would like it, since It has alot of good reviews, but maybe this just Isn't my style of book.
bethreadsandnaps's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful prose and characters. Katey and her best friend Eve go out on a night on the town in 1938 and meet a man named Tinker Grey who will be pivotal in their lives.
Very interesting read and one of those that compels the reader to be just as nostalgic as the main character. So many good quotes about life and love.
The dialogue didn't seem very 1930s. It seemed like it could be from today.
Very interesting read and one of those that compels the reader to be just as nostalgic as the main character. So many good quotes about life and love.
The dialogue didn't seem very 1930s. It seemed like it could be from today.
literallykristen's review against another edition
2.0
wow this one took me forever to get into and I would have quit if it weren't for book club. It reminded me a lot of The Great Gatsby except not as good. I kept waiting for a plot to emerge and there really wasn't much of one which really bored the heck out of me since the main character seemed off to me. I am not even sure what it was, I just felt like a woman would not act the way she did sometimes and I just didn't feel like I knew her and when she is the narrator that felt really weird.
anjreading's review against another edition
3.0
This is an entertaining but ultimately problematic novel. I'm not sure why a man would choose to write from a woman's point of view in his debut novel, because as good of a writer as Towles is, 25-year-old Katey Kontent does not ring true as a character. I was able to simultaneously enjoy the book while cringing/eye-rolling at various points throughout. Towles's depiction of late 1930s New York was certainly very sparkly and fun, but there were too many anachronistic observations from characters that threw me out of the narrative. Still, believable or not, Towles has a gift for writing unforgettable characters.
tschmitty's review against another edition
3.0
This book is well written, a valentine to the NYC of the 30's, but the characters bored me after a bit, so it left me feeling so so.
bellatora's review against another edition
3.0
I spent most of this book wondering…what the hell was the point? This book is so damn directionless. It’s the slice-of-life of a not particularly pleasant New York girl.
Is it a love story? Because if so, it’s possibly the world’s lamest love story. So, Katey falls for Tinker (I guess? I’m going on an assumption here, she didn’t really seem like she was particularly in love with him). It looks like it's going somewhere and then...Kate, Tinker and Katey's breezy best friend Evey are in a car accident. Out of guilt (Tinker was driving and Evey was hurt) and a misplaced rebuff by Katey, Tinker takes up with Evey. But Evey isn’t really into him, either! And Katey seemed a little blasé about the fact that he had taken up with Eve. I mean, she got upset, but I didn’t get any sense of tragic love lost. She didn’t try to win him back at all. It was weird.
Besides being very aimless, this book was too glib. Everyone was breezy, witty, and oh-so-sophisticated. Nothing but bon mots could fall from their lips. It was a little much. Usually in situations like this, the narrator/protagonist is at least a little more solid and grounded. But, no, Katey is maybe even more breezy and nonchalant than everyone else. Did I mention how unlikeable Katey is? I don’t care that she reads a lot and spends a lot of her nights at home and is pulling herself up by her bootstraps. She is not particularly nice and is incredibly self-absorbed. She also just seems so bored and above it all. She doesn’t seem to care about anything. Even her best friend Evey comes in and out of her life like a charmed acquaintance. She uses people and doesn’t care.
The best (ONLY) good thing about this book was Wallace Wolcott. I imagine him looking like Benedict Cumberbatch. He had a wry humor, was overly formal/stiff at times, but knew all the staff by name, was a crackerjack shot, had a conscience and a desire to be something more than a life on a silver platter from cradle to grave, and was clever and kind. He was in the book for far too short a time.
Also, what was up with the random (three?) chapters from Tinker’s POV? They were kind of unnecessary. They didn’t tell us anything especially we needed to know, they were in practically the same “voice” as Katey’s passages and they were awkwardly and randomly inserted. Did not like. I think this is really a two-star book, but it’s propped up because it does give a certain feel for the era and the young, rich (or wannabe rich) & bored of New York. Plus, it has Wally Wolcott, who can earn a star all by himself. Here’s to you, Wally! You were far too good for this book.
Is it a love story? Because if so, it’s possibly the world’s lamest love story. So, Katey falls for Tinker (I guess? I’m going on an assumption here, she didn’t really seem like she was particularly in love with him). It looks like it's going somewhere and then...Kate, Tinker and Katey's breezy best friend Evey are in a car accident. Out of guilt (Tinker was driving and Evey was hurt) and a misplaced rebuff by Katey, Tinker takes up with Evey. But Evey isn’t really into him, either! And Katey seemed a little blasé about the fact that he had taken up with Eve. I mean, she got upset, but I didn’t get any sense of tragic love lost. She didn’t try to win him back at all. It was weird.
Besides being very aimless, this book was too glib. Everyone was breezy, witty, and oh-so-sophisticated. Nothing but bon mots could fall from their lips. It was a little much. Usually in situations like this, the narrator/protagonist is at least a little more solid and grounded. But, no, Katey is maybe even more breezy and nonchalant than everyone else. Did I mention how unlikeable Katey is? I don’t care that she reads a lot and spends a lot of her nights at home and is pulling herself up by her bootstraps. She is not particularly nice and is incredibly self-absorbed. She also just seems so bored and above it all. She doesn’t seem to care about anything. Even her best friend Evey comes in and out of her life like a charmed acquaintance. She uses people and doesn’t care.
The best (ONLY) good thing about this book was Wallace Wolcott. I imagine him looking like Benedict Cumberbatch. He had a wry humor, was overly formal/stiff at times, but knew all the staff by name, was a crackerjack shot, had a conscience and a desire to be something more than a life on a silver platter from cradle to grave, and was clever and kind. He was in the book for far too short a time.
Also, what was up with the random (three?) chapters from Tinker’s POV? They were kind of unnecessary. They didn’t tell us anything especially we needed to know, they were in practically the same “voice” as Katey’s passages and they were awkwardly and randomly inserted. Did not like. I think this is really a two-star book, but it’s propped up because it does give a certain feel for the era and the young, rich (or wannabe rich) & bored of New York. Plus, it has Wally Wolcott, who can earn a star all by himself. Here’s to you, Wally! You were far too good for this book.
rcaivano's review against another edition
Tinker meets Katey and Eve and the three of them begin a strange year-long relationship which brings many other characters into the equation. There were so many minor characters, I had trouble keeping track of them. Katey was a good person. She wanted to always be a good friend and do the right thing. Even when she is betrayed, she has class. I wish they'd make this into a movie because it would be beautiful to watch. The glamour of the 30s, following around all these rich, NY socialites would make for beautiful cinematography.