Reviews with content warning for Suicidal thoughts - A Gentleman in Moscow

Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

33 reviews

asourceoffiction's review against another edition

funny hopeful informative lighthearted relaxing slow-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? Yes

5.0

A Gentleman in Moscow celebrates the simple joys in the mundane and routine, and quite simply the whole book delighted me.

I don't usually have the patience to love a book that moves at such a slow pace but in this instance, if anything, I wanted time to slow down so I could savour more of the Count's time. In that regard this really is a masterpiece; a comforting, companionable and beautiful read.

Amid the tumult of political upheaval in early 20th century Russia (and the history woven into the story really is fascinating), the bubble of the Metropol in which the Count is confined allows for a far different life to emerge. There is beauty, sadness, laughter and even a touch of farce at times (particularly a scene with a representative from the Vatican, a prostitute and three roaming geese).

But where this really shines is in its incredibly wrought characters. The guests and friends who pop in and out of the Count's life, and the weird and wonderful staff who remain constant through the years, are absolutely glorious and I adored them all.

There is a thread of dry, irreverent humour running throughout the book (reflective of the Count's delightful personality), which is one of my favourite styles of writing because I was so often sat reading with a stupid grin on my face. Rostov may be a pretentious polymath, but he's a wonderful one.

Content Warnings

tamara_joy's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny informative reflective sad slow-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

saara_ilona_muu's review against another edition

Go to review page

hopeful informative inspiring medium-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? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

fluffernutterfriday's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

5.0

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.

Content Warnings

alexashabit's review against another edition

Go to review page

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? No

1.5

Content Warnings

bootsmom3's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

4.0

Content Warnings

lipstickitotheman's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

4.0

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

Content Warnings