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shaleen64's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
The characters are fully realised and lovable for different reasons. A Gentleman in Moscow is a very fitting description of the main character.
The book has some beautiful prose and many quotable lines. The storyline of Nina’s daughter and the counts ‘fellow poet’ were simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking.
Whilst I’d recommend the book, the only reason I wouldn’t rate it higher is because I often found myself lost whilst reading due to the sheer amount of characters/details that didn’t seem integral to the story. For me, this meant it was a much slower read than normal, but thoroughly enjoyable nonetheless.
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Death of parent, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gun violence, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
villenview's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Confinement and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Gun violence, Mental illness, and Murder
Minor: Terminal illness and Death of parent
chalkletters's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Despite being set in a single building, A Gentleman in Moscow doesn’t feel claustrophobic at all. It’s not that Alexander is untroubled by his limited freedom and reduced circumstances, because his actions make it clear that he is deeply affected by them. It’s more that Amor Towles’ prose maintains enough of distance from Alexander’s emotions to give the whole novel a very dreamlike feel. The plot, such as it is in the early sections, is centred around exploring and making the most of the environment and characters as they’re presented.
Both the novel and Alexander feel a little purposeless until Sofia makes her entrance, which is thematically appropriate. In some ways its a shame that Alexander’s purpose should be parenthood, which is hardly a surprising or unusual answer to the question of what a character should do to find meaning. It might have been more interesting to explore the question of what a character trapped in a hotel could do to create a life of purpose without the convenient adoption of a child.
Amor Towles’ characters are engaging and memorable, even if they mostly don’t feel as though they’re particularly connected to their social and political environment. With a few exceptions, most of the guests and employees feel as though they could’ve been met in a luxury international hotel in any country, rather than being specifically Russian. While the Russian revolution is the inciting incident, politics is otherwise very much kept in the background.
Most of A Gentleman in Moscow was gently enjoyable, but the ending did provide a few moments of exciting action. Watching Alexander’s plan come together was a very satisfying way to round off what had otherwise been a fairly sedate pleasure.
Moderate: Confinement and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Death, Blood, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
spookily's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Death, Violence, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Gun violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
abbyarm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and War
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
this book showed what stories are abt, what life is abt. i particularly enjoyed the writing--it was as subtly poetic and witty as its main character--and the touching depiction of friendship and found family. my only gripes would be the fact that the middle felt like a blur given its lack of any major or dramatic plot points, and i wish there were scenes during the war yrs; not for any trauma porn, but it wouldve gone quite a long way in showing how different (or not) life in the metropol was in that period, for as much as the count was physically limited under house arrest, he was nevertheless cocooned w/in the comforts of one of moscow's best hotels. regardless, this was a great--if even rare--read that i cant wait to reread while seeking for some comfort in the yrs to come.
Graphic: Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content, Police brutality, and Alcohol
Minor: Kidnapping and Death of parent