Rules of Civility: A Novel

Reviewing “Rules of Civility” is a pleasure. The novel resembles classic American literature, reminiscent of Hemingway's style. The storytelling is engaging, with exquisite language. The plot unfolds at a delightful pace, and the writing's depth and elegance are captivating. Unlike many modern American novels, this one doesn't seem tailored for film or TV adaptations. Reading it is refreshing, like a breath of fresh air. It was an absolute delight, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I really enjoyed reading this book. No I don't think Amor Towles is the next F. Scott, but I really enjoyed the language and metaphors that some people are blasting in the reviews. Unfortunately, the pacing fell off somewhere around the middle of the book and it just wandered around for a while and then decided to stop. The very ending made sense, but Tinker's desires and goals could have been woven better into the rest of the novel so that the ending would seem to the reader the only way it could or should have ended. Instead it just sort of quietly stopped after meandering around for a while. I felt the introduction of Tinker's brother and the role that character played was completely extraneous, and should have been edited out or fixed to be more effective. The author seemed to try to use the brother to justify Tinker's choices and I didn't buy it. I actually felt that way about a lot of the secondary characters. Their roles were elevated beyond their usefulness. A tighter focus on Tinker, Eve, Katie and Anne (oh, and what about Val? His cameos weren't even long enough to generate interest, and they should have been!) while getting rid of all the girlfriends and the Texan with the maitre d', and and and would have greatly improved this book. Some of the literary allusions fell flat, and the author didn't quite seem to be able to keep a little Mike Hammer or something from his voice, although it detracted only slightly. This review sounds uber-critical for someone who says she loved reading this book, but that is because I was really paying attention, which is the biggest complement I can pay to an author. Now for a few of the things I really liked: I loved the voice of the main character. Her imperfect self was imminently knowable and believable to me, although the intro and the ending had me kind of wondering if I still cared. I loved the description of the Russian club--this author really gets the truth of these Russians and described their emotional way of relating to things beautifully. I felt like I had been there. And my favorite part was the descriptive prose and imagery. On one of the first pages, this caught my eye: "In the 1950's, America had picked up the globe by the heels and shaken the change from its pockets. Europe had become a poor cousin--all crests and no table settings. And the indistinguishable countries of Africa, Asia, and South America had just begun skittering across our schoolroom walls like salamanders in the sun. True, the Communists were out there, somewhere, but with Joe McCarthy in the grave and no one on the Moon, for the time being the Russians just skulked across the pages of spy novels." What a beautifully succinct way to set the time and arrogantly optimistic American mindset for the book! So in spite of its shortcomings, this book is worth the time it takes to read it and I do recommend it although with the caveat that you will probably enjoy the first half and then cruise through the second without the full satisfaction that might have been...

There have been many paeans to New York City through the years. Amor Towles, in “Rules of Civility,” has written one that may best sum up the vibrant existence of those fortunate enough to prowl the steel canyons. A chance encounter by the protagonist, saddled with the unfortunate name of Katey Kontent, and charmer Tinker Grey on New Year’s Eve in 1937 leads to a lifetime of on-again, off-again relationships with acquaintances that take the reader on a voluptuous tour of the world’s most dramatic city and its denizens. There’s not much in the way of an intricate plot. There are no mysteries, echoes of mafia pistols, dramatic sobs of dismay, or deep philosophical meanderings. It’s a world of enjoying parties, good food, scoping windows through binoculars, and earnest conversations on cold, stone stoops. Relationships come and go like the East River tide, nothing too dramatic or spectacular, but seeming to always steer personal beliefs and actions to new headings. That’s about all there is to the plot. So where’s the attraction? Without a doubt it’s to be found in Towles’ glorious writing. This is a man who can speak in a woman’s voice without it being annoying. Careers are carefully outlined with either prosperity or poverty being the closing act. Fine restaurants, neighborhood haunts, glamorous hotels, waterfront environs, cold, wintry streets, verdant Central Park, and apartments, both dazzling and dowdy, are all explored by the characters in the novel, all searching for the comforting embrace of something to cling to. The author is marvelously adept at bring the atmosphere and environment of a huge city to his work. His quiet inclusion of various words of inspiration and knowledge from past luminaries, pinnacled by George Washington’s 110 Rules of Civility (thoughtfully listed at the back of the book), resonate with the reader as appropriate ways to behave. Some of his characters follow the precepts, others do not. In today’s world, some might sound fussy and a little silly but the reader has to be affected by their inclusion. Actually formulated by French Jesuits in 1595, the rules were copied by Washington at age 16 in his notebook of penmanship. But in the late 1930s and early 1940s of Towles’ book, the rules of courtesy and manners were very much in vogue, as they should be today. I urge readers to have a look at the book if, for nothing else, one’s personal behavior needs a lube job. There is also the chance that the beautiful look at NYC will inspire some further research and possibly a visit to the city that never sleeps. I loved the book and its lyrical backdrop and references. Indeed, my personal behavior has been well greased. Schuyler T Wallace Author of TIN LIZARD TALES

I loved this book so much I reread it 4 months later. I think he’s an author of such charm and warmth. His skilful use of metaphors greatly enriches the writing, and they are incredibly witty and natural, never feel forced or jarring. A fabulous cast of characters where even the bit parts are fully fleshed out, believable people with human flaws. I particularly loved Eve, Anne and Wallace. He also draws perfectly the picture of late 30’s New York. The story of a year that, although pivotal for Katey as an individual, could have been a year in anyone’s life and yet was made so engaging and interesting through his writing techniques. A solid 5/5 from me, not because it’s perfect but because I don’t think I could have got greater enjoyment from it. One of my favourite extracts, Katey’s response to receiving a summons from Anne – ‘I tore the letter into a thousand pieces and hurled them at the spot on the wall where a fireplace should have been. Then I carefully considered what I should wear.’ Perfect!

This is an excellent book - very well written and very difficult to put down. The prose is very compelling too, and the writing is very witty as well.

There's not much I can say that other reviewers haven't already said. This book is gorgeous. The protagonist is wonderful, the writing style is the best I have encountered in a long time. This book meanders along and I enjoyed every minute of the journey. It is difficult to explain exactly why it is so good, the best I can come up with is to compare it to a classical music composition, it builds and shines and sweeps over you and you don't want it end and you can't stop thinking about it when it does.

A gorgeous novel, infused with the essence of stardust. It brings to mind wise-cracking Katharine Hepburn films, Scott Fitzgerald novels and an audacious Art Deco world where everything stretches skywards. It was refreshing to read such an intelligently-written novel, which conjures up the pulse of life in a particular time and particular place. “Rules of Civility” has intriguing characters, fancy restaurants and downbeat dives, the irrepressible mischief and precarious self-confidence of youth and the heartbeat of a city in its prime. Fix me a Martini!

The bohemians, immigrants and struggling artists who once leant so much flavor to New York city have long since left and been replaced by the wealthy, very wealthy and obscenely rich. Much to the satisfaction of his readers, Amor Towles has transported us to a New York of the late 1930s and a world that once was. Katey Kontent rents a room in a house where she shares space with Evelyn Ross. The two frequent jazz bars where they meet Tinker Grey. With his help, vistas are open to them and a life they would never have though possible. Unfortunately, even a life fulfilled beyond expectations can still bring with it disappointments. “Rules of Civility” celebrates a lifestyle long gone and with it a feeling of nostalgia for adventures provided by a city inhabited by the nouveau riche, the blue blood American aristocrat, the fresh off the boat immigrant, the struggling artist, the talented musician, and the idealistic writer. As our characters mature, so must New York and the reader is left with a nostalgia for lost youth and simpler times. If only by following rules such those of civility, everything in life would turn out okay. "Rules of Civility" is a terrific book that provides a nostalgic journey back to simpler and more dangerous times that some would love to relive and others forget.