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A Gentleman in Moscow
A Gentleman in Moscow: A Novel | Amor Towles
The book moves briskly from one crisp scene to the next, and ultimately casts a spell as captivating as Rules of Civility, a book that inhales you into its seductively Gatsby-esque universe. Town & Country From the New York Times bestselling author of Rules of Civilitya transporting novel about a man who is ordered to spend the rest of his life inside a luxury hotel With his breakout debut novel, Rules of Civility, Amor Towles established himself as a master of absorbing, sophisticated fiction, bringing late 1930s Manhattan to life with splendid atmosphere and a flawless command of style. Readers and critics were enchanted; as NPR commented, Towles writes with grace and verve about the mores and manners of a society on the cusp of radical change. A Gentleman in Moscow immerses us in another elegantly drawn era with the story of Count Alexander Rostov. When, in 1922, he is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a Bolshevik tribunal, the count is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol, a grand hotel across the street from the Kremlin. Rostov, an indomitable man of erudition and wit, has never worked a day in his life, and must now live in an attic room while some of the most tumultuous decades in Russian history are unfolding outside the hotels doors. Unexpectedly, his reduced circumstances provide him a doorway into a much larger world of emotional discovery. Brimming with humor, a glittering cast of characters, and one beautifully rendered scene after another, this singular novel casts a spell as it relates the counts endeavor to gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be a man of purpose. From the Hardcover edition.
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Eggs
Gentleman in Moscow | Amor Towles
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1. Faves are mango and honey crisp apples

2. In the tagged book, Count Rostov dines often with young Nina💛

#two4tuesday @TheSpineView

Play? @JessClark78 @Kshakal @Kappadeemom

TheSpineView Honey Crisp is my favorite apple too! And Spicy's also!! Thanks for playing! 1mo
Eggs @TheSpineView YW❣️ 1mo
45 likes2 comments
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emilycoc
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Pickpick

Vacation time is the best time to get reading done, and this was a great read. Pictured here is not the book, but is instead what I ate as I finished it up. #coffeewithmilk #pasteldenata #booknineof2024

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emilycoc
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Beach day reads. #vacationreading

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emilycoc
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Dropped the ball on reading recently, but picked it up again on vacation to Portugal. #whatiread

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mjtwo
A Gentleman in Moscow | Amor Towles
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Pickpick

25 Aug-1 Sep 24 (audiobook)
Almost a series of short stories rather than a novel, Towles recounts the house arrest of Count Alexander Rostov in the Hotel Metropol in Moscow for the crime of being an unrepentant aristocrat and the many characters he encounters during his decades of confinement. The many tales are beautifully and sometimes humorously told. My favourite perhaps being the removal of all labels on the wine bottles in the cellar. Lovely

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TheSpineView
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#AboutABook @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs
#SetInHotel

There really is no other choice for this prompt.

Cuilin So good 3mo
TheSpineView @Cuilin 👍📖🤩 3mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I‘m sure we will see this one many times! Loved it 🖤❤️ 3mo
See All 10 Comments
Cuilin @TheSpineView @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Have you seen the movie yet? 3mo
TheSpineView @Cuilin No not yet. 3mo
Eggs My choice too🩷🫶🏻👌🏼 3mo
TheSpineView @Eggs Great minds!😘 3mo
PurpleyPumpkin Excellent choice! Can‘t believe I forgot about this one. 🤪 3mo
65 likes1 stack add10 comments
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IndoorDame
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#AboutABook #SetInHotel @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

I‘m sure we‘ll be seeing a lot of the Count today, but this is one of my favorite books OAT and besides Eloise (who I‘m sure will also be well represented) I really couldn‘t choose anyone else for Hotel

Eggs Agree absolutely 💯 on the Count! I‘ve read it twice and watched the series twice 3mo
50 likes1 comment
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Blueberry
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Karisimo An all-time fav!!! 3mo
Eggs I‘d read anything he writes 3mo
40 likes2 comments
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Eggs
Gentleman in Moscow | Amor Towles
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“In 1922, Count Alexander Rostov is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a Bolshevik tribunal, and is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol, a grand hotel across the street from the Kremlin.” My favorite Towles book

#SetInAHotel

#AboutABook

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

MonicaLoves2Read I have this book. I have been meaning to read it. 3mo
Eggs @Monica5 It‘s so worthy of your time 👏🏻👏🏻 3mo
KadaGul I look ? forward ⏩to reading ? this book ? at the start of winter ❄️ when I have some downtime. My friend recommended it, and she also enjoyed ?"The Lincoln Highway ?️ by Amor Towles.#AmorTowles 3mo
54 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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emilycoc
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Next up, a gift from my mom. #booknineof2024

kspenmoll I predict you will thoroughly enjoy this book! 4mo
TheSpineView Loved it! I just know you will enjoy! 4mo
BarbaraBB Agreeing with the others. Your mom has great taste 😀 4mo
16 likes3 comments
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LadyCait84
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Pickpick

I savored this story of a life well lived, told in a series of delicious morsels over the course of 30+ years.

In the making of friends, and family, and in the mastering of one‘s circumstances, The Count is a delight and an inspiration. For some limitations are no match for an open heart.

Gabbymags123 Sounds amazing 4mo
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OrangeMooseReads
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Pickpick

I wanted more!
Well written, engaging story, interesting characters. The characters had depth, at least most of them did. The story was interesting, an aristocrat in post revolutionary Russia put under house arrest in an opulent hotel. He is moved to a tiny attic room and spends 30+ yrs living in the hotel.
4.8 ⭐️ only because I wanted more. Highly recommend for historical fiction or human interest.

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OrangeMooseReads
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Started this last night. I‘ve had it on my shelf for the longest time. In fact I think o received it in one of the first swaps I ever did here at Litsy, lol. 😂

Sace I loved this book! 6mo
kspenmoll Wonderful wonderful read! Enjoy! 6mo
Crazeedi One of my all time faves! 6mo
Kimberlone One of my favorite books! 6mo
42 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Eggs
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When it first came out, I listened to the audio. Last 2 weeks I watched season 1 series. The last few days I treated myself to rereading the book. So wonderful, intelligent, historically accurate, and richest characterizations. I wonder if there‘ll be a season 2…

#ReadAway2024

@Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES

DieAReader 🥳Awesome!! 6mo
jen_the_scribe Oh I didn‘t know there was a TV series! I loved the audiobook, gonna have to check it out. 6mo
Eggs @DieAReader 🤩🥰🥳 6mo
See All 9 Comments
Eggs @jen_the_scribe Ewan McGregor plays the Count and he‘s so good. 6mo
jen_the_scribe @Eggs Oh I love him! 6mo
Eggs @jen_the_scribe 🙌🏻🧡🙌🏻 6mo
Rome753 How does the series compare to the book? 6mo
Eggs @Rome753 Closely aligned 6mo
Rome753 @Eggs Nice 6mo
71 likes9 comments
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Blueberry
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Eggs Perfect 🤩 7mo
45 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Addison_Reads
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Pickpick

People have told me to read this book since it first came out. I put it off because historical fiction has to be a genre I'm in the mood for in order to appreciate it.

This book deserves all the praise it has received. The writing is simply exquisite, and I was drawn into this world and the characters and felt like part of the hotel.

Really beautiful story that I should have read sooner.

Librarybelle I started this years ago and had to stop because of work/life. I need to get back to it…I really enjoyed what I had read! 7mo
MaGoose I've been wanting to read this book since it came out. But other books have always enticed me away. I need to get this one read soon. 7mo
50 likes1 stack add2 comments
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TheSpineView
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Happy Tuesday everyone! Hope you have a beautiful day! Here are today's #Two4Tuesday questions.

1️⃣ Turn Right
2️⃣ Tagged

All are welcome to play; however, tagging a few Littens to get us started. @bethm @dabbe @Eggs @The_Penniless_Author @CBee @IndoorDame @Yuki_Onna @TheBookHippie @Kshakal @peaKnit

dabbe Will do; thanks for the tag! 😘 7mo
48 likes2 comments
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abmaltly
A Gentleman in Moscow | Amor Towles
Pickpick

Such a wonderful book. A triumph of humanity and of living life to the fullest despite adverse circumstances.

MrsMalaprop Hope it made a good first BC book. 8mo
abmaltly @MrsMalaprop it was great 😊 8mo
11 likes2 comments
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Elizabeth2
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Pickpick

A beautifully written story about Count Alexander Rostov and his quiet, but full, life under house arrest at a hotel in Moscow. It‘s about making the most from your circumstances, finding purpose, found family. This novel is quiet, but full of lovable characters. The slow pace was hard for me. My rating is not a reflection of the book, but of where this book came to me in my reading life. I highly recommend it, and am glad I read it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 ❤️📚

Crazeedi One of my all time favorite books, I even remember where I was when I read it. Sooooo good 9mo
32 likes1 comment
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LeahBergen
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I better get cracking on this pick for my IRL book club. We meet next week!

thegirlwiththelibrarybag This one has been popular at my library for years, hope you enjoy it! 10mo
MamaGina I‘m currently reading The Lincoln Highway after loving both this one and Rules of Civility. Such an amazing writer! 10mo
Tamra Nothing like a looming deadline! 10mo
See All 12 Comments
Hooked_on_books That‘s a snazzy edition! 10mo
jlhammar Loved this book. Beautiful edition! 10mo
Aimeesue Ditto what @jlhammar said! ❤️ 10mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Love this edition 💛🖤💛 10mo
BarbaraBB What a Leah-proof edition 😍😍 10mo
LeahBergen @thegirlwiththelibrarybag I‘m always late to the party for anything written in the 21st century. 😆 10mo
LeahBergen @MamaGina This is my first by this author and I‘m really enjoying it! 10mo
LeahBergen @Tamra I do my best work that way. 😆 10mo
LeahBergen @Hooked_on_books @jlhammar @Aimeesue @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @BarbaraBB I think it might be the Australian edition? 🤷🏻‍♀️ 10mo
70 likes12 comments
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Elizabeth2
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My #doublespin for the month of January. ❤️📚#clearmyshelves2024

Crazeedi One of my most favorite books ever 10mo
36 likes1 comment
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Yenya1954
Pickpick

I found this book slow going. I did enjoy it quite a bit. Towles developed the characters and their personalities quite well. The story covered the better part of a lifetime. I believe it was well worth the commitment I made to read it.

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TheSpineView
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#SundayFunday @BookmarkTavern

I think I have read A Gentleman In Moscow at least four times. I am always drawn back to it. The depth of the character is fabulous loved how Towles showed us the best of humanity in this book.

Suet624 One of these days I'm going to get to this book. 12mo
Aims42 I second this pick! I love doing a yearly re-read of the Count‘s adventures ♥️ 12mo
BookmarkTavern That sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing! 12mo
Blueberry I've read 3 of his books. All wonderful. 12mo
54 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Coleen
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I‘m not quite halfway with this one but really struggling. Does it pick up? Does something happen in the plot that will pull me in? I feel like everyone has loved this book, but I‘m definitely not in that place. I find my mind constantly wandering and have trouble keeping track of the names. Maybe it‘s the audiobook? 🤷🏼‍♀️

DGRachel It‘s a quiet novel. I don‘t remember much in the way of action. I loved it, but I also read it in print and it was the kind of soothing book I needed at the time. 12mo
Tamra I‘ve had this sitting on my shelf for so long, but it has yet to call me to take it down. 12mo
23 likes2 comments
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Leftcoastzen
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Pickpick

The count is judged an unrepentant aristocrat by a Soviet tribunal & placed under house arrest in the Hotel Metropol. He was living there, but must move to a much more humble room.He almost gives in to despair, but manages to find a rich emotional life & worthwhile connections with the hotel‘s wonderful staff ,those he knows & those he meets as they pass through. Detailed,with humor & heart , a story to savor.On my TBR for a long time.

thea-block This is one of my favorite books of all time. So beautifully written and a really warm view of humanity in the end. 14mo
70 likes1 comment
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TheSpineView
A Gentleman in Moscow | Amor Towles
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#IdiomInsight @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

I love how the Count stayed positive despite his circumstances. Even when his life was not what he expected he adapted.

Eggs Such a great book ❤️ 1y
Karisimo One of my all time top 5! 1y
See All 6 Comments
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Great choice 🖤❤️ 1y
68 likes3 stack adds6 comments
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Leftcoastzen
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I‘m in such a reading funk.Between being busy, stressed , living through extreme heat warnings , I can‘t seem to concentrate. Going to try this one , loved by many Littens , abandoned by many Littens !🫤🤷‍♀️

ShyBookOwl Good luck!! 1y
Ruthiella Hope things calm down for you soon. ❤️ 1y
Tamra I have this TBR too. Hang in there! 1y
57 likes3 comments
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Eggs
Gentleman in Moscow | Amor Towles
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1-No

2- the tagged!

#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView

fredamans Thanks for the tag!

I'll have to check out the book,
1y
Eggs @fredamans ❤️🙏🏻 1y
TheSpineView Great choice! Love the Count! 1y
Eggs @fredamans I think you‘ll like it! 1y
46 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Bluebird
A Gentleman in Moscow | Amor Towles
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Bailedbailed

I think I am in the minority here, but I just could not get into this book.
I attempted several different times, thinking it was just bad timing.
After reaching 40%, I decided it‘s time to give up. #hailthebail
I enjoyed some parts, but others were dull, dull, dull.
First book by this author for me. I‘m afraid to try any others 🙈

swishandflick I was the same, you're not alone! I remember being bored to tears, I felt like I was reading a different book than everyone else. 1y
TheLudicReader You are not alone. I really didn‘t like this book. We read it for book club and everyone else loved it. 1y
Bluebird @swishandflick @TheLudicReader so happy to know it isn‘t just me! 1y
16 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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CindyMyLifeIsLit
A Gentleman in Moscow | Amor Towles
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“For that matter, what can a first impression tell us about anyone? Why, no more than a chord can tell us about Beethoven, or a brushstroke about Botticelli. By their very nature, human beings are so capricious, so complex, so delightfully contradictory, that they deserve not only our consideration, but our reconsideration—and our unwavering determination to withhold our opinion until we have engaged with them . . . “ (120).

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TheSpineView
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Eggs Absolutely!! 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Loved this one!! 2y
Leftcoastzen I feel like I‘m the only person that hasn‘t read this !😄 2y
69 likes1 stack add5 comments
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LeftyDv
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Pickpick

I kept thinking about classic American film as I read this book. By the time the Count watches films from the golden age of Hollywood himself, I had already painted this as a black and white talkie in my own head. Towles‘ Images are woven together to tell a wonderful little story. This novel won‘t change your life, but it will help you enjoy some of its nuances and details.

SamAnne Really great and spot on review. 2y
21 likes1 comment
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Jilly6183
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Bailedbailed

Apparently I‘m in the minority, but I just couldn‘t get into this. I was bored out of my mind and finally bailed at around page 200. I may try to come back to it after a break, but it just really isn‘t doing it for me right now.

Bookwormjillk This took me a few tries 2y
Jilly6183 @Bookwormjillk good to know! People seem to love it and the writing is good, but so far there is no hook that makes me need to know what‘s going to happen next and that just means I‘m looking at my phone during reading time instead 2y
Bookwormjillk @Jilly6183 for me the ending was the hook 2y
See All 6 Comments
LeftyDv This was me too… but I didn‘t bail and about page 220 I was so happy I persisted. Things just started to click. 2y
Jilly6183 @LeftyDv good to know! I switched to another book but maybe I'll try to come to this one after 2y
42 likes6 comments
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Ellen_C
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Pickpick

This novel, beautifully written with fascinating characters, is both a short history of the Soviet Union and an homage to the film Casablanca. https://cannonballread.com/2023/05/a-gentleman-in-moscow-a-novel-elcicco/

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Eggs
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Pickpick

I believe this would make a great #DiscussionBook!

#MayMontage

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

SamAnne Loved this one. So beautifully written. 2y
Sapphire One of my all time favorites 2y
rwmg Yes, my book club found it started off lots of discussion 2y
See All 10 Comments
IndoorDame One of my all time favorites!!! 2y
Eggs @SamAnne Agree 💯 2y
Eggs @Sapphire One of a kind! 2y
Eggs @rwmg I can imagine! 2y
Eggs @IndoorDame For me too! 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks We read this a while back for #Sundaybuddyread and it was great! 2y
Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I‘m sure it was a lively discussion 👏🏻 2y
72 likes2 stack adds10 comments
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kricheal
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Starting this next

TheBookgeekFrau I didn't think I would but I loved this book💞 2y
Pip2 I have this on my bookshelf waiting for me to crack it open, perhaps I will later this week. 2y
DivineDiana I have a huge crush on the Count! 2y
78 likes3 comments
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Michellesibs
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Pickpick

It's 1922 in Moscow and our main character has been put under house arrest at the Metropol Hotel and from here we do not leave the premises.

This is such an interesting concept as we will see Russia and the many changes from the view of a hotel window, from the conversations in the restaurants, the important people when passing in the corridors.

I can not deny that this is a beautifully written book, the language is exceptional

Four stars.

RenePenn I really enjoyed this one. 2y
50 likes1 stack add1 comment
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IndoorDame
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One of my all time favorite books! My copy has him standing in front of the window, but I saw this cover and thought it and thought it better captured the spirit of this being #SetInThe1920s #MarchMagic @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

DivineDiana One of mine as well! ❤️ 2y
TheSpineView Love that cover!❤️📘 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Love this edition! Where did you find it? 🖤💛 2y
IndoorDame @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks sadly it‘s not mine. I have the standard American hardcover edition. But I was looking at photos of it online and other covers popped up and I fell in love with this one 💛🖤💛 2y
Eggs Exquisite cover 🖤🧡🖤 2y
71 likes1 stack add5 comments
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TheSpineView
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Eggs Great book 🖤🤍🖤 2y
72 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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RowReads1
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Showing off my cheap reading glasses. I need a prescription pair.

tpixie Love them! ♥️ 2y
MemoirsForMe Cool glasses! 2y
Blueberry Why are reading glasses always cooler looking than regular glasses? LOL 2y
batsy @Blueberry Yes, why? 😆 This pair is v cool! 2y
67 likes4 comments
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LeaKell
Pickpick

I will be reading more of Amor Towles in the near future. I enjoyed escaping away to the enduring and clever life of Count Alexander

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AllDebooks
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Pickpick

#AuldLangSpine @monalyisha @jenniferw88

I'm not sure what I was expecting reading this lonely book that has been sat on my bookshelf for far too long. It certainly wasn't to be so moved, entertained or enthralled by Count Roskov and his Gatsby-like lifestyle as he's confined to house arrest at the Metropol, for being a Former Person. The story moves elegantly through the different stages of his life with great aplomb.
⬇️⬇️

AllDebooks This story contains so much detail from Moscow's elite society pre Revolution, class, equality, liberty, politics, war, hotel escapades and assignations. All written with the driest of wit and vitality. Loved this and highly recommend it. 2y
Karisimo An all time favorite for me! 2y
Bren912 I fell in love with this Gentleman!!! Great read! 2y
See All 9 Comments
AllDebooks @Karisimo @Bren912 I really did enjoy it so much. All the time I was reading, it played in my head like one of those Cary Grant/Katherine Hepburn screwball comedies. Loved it and I'm quite sad it's over. I shall miss the Count! 2y
jenniferw88 Glad you loved it! I'm hoping to get to another of yours but have got to finish Alan's diaries first, as they're all on my Kindle and don't want to be flicking between 2 on there. 2y
AllDebooks @jenniferw88 Are you enjoying it? I got it for Christmas and read a little every other day. I'll definitely be reading more from your tbr, not just in January either. We have very similar taste and I trust your judgement. 😊 Next up 2y
jenniferw88 @AllDebooks Yes, he's making me laugh, just got to the start of the Harry Potter films and Love Actually! 2y
Sapphire Madly Deeply is on the list for my husbands non fiction group at the public library. I am planning to read it and go with him for that one. Looking forward to it. 2y
AllDebooks @Sapphire 😊 Enjoy! 2y
44 likes9 comments
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Bklover
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February picks for #roll100. Not disappointed in any of them!

IndoorDame Ooh, A Gentleman in Moscow is one of my favorites! ❤️ and I may also be reading Godmersham Park next month if my copy arrives before then (edited) 2y
Bklover @IndoorDame I have a really pretty copy of Godmersham Park that I bought on ThriftBooks. Looking forward to it! 2y
IndoorDame @Bklover I‘m really looking forward to it too! 2y
63 likes3 comments
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AllDebooks
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#Bookreport @Cinfhen

I have already had some incredible reads since the start of the year & we're only going into week 2!
All of my completed books were 3.75 - 4 ⭐️ ratings.

About to start Middlemarch for #Pemberlittens. I'm halfway through Demon Copperhead & The book of eels, enjoying both immensely.

Up next tagged for #ALSpine & The Night Watchman for #AuthorAMonth
@monalyisha @jenniferw88 @Soubhiville

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jenniferw88
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I almost forgot to do this!

#12booksof2022 @Andrew65 September

#litsylovereads

Andrew65 One of my favourites. 2y
55 likes1 comment
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AllDebooks
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#AuldLangSpine

Kicking off the New Year with Amor Towles. All of these chosen books have been on my tbr list since publishing. @monalyisha You did a great job matching me with @jenniferw88
This is going to be fun!!

IndoorDame This is on my list of favorite books of all time! I hope you enjoy!!! 2y
AllDebooks @IndoorDame well that's a recommendation. I'll let you know 😊 2y
Karisimo @IndoorDame on my all time fav list too!!! 2y
See All 6 Comments
monalyisha Can‘t wait to see your reviews — especially for The Ardent Swarm and A Tale for the Time Being! 2y
jlhammar Amazing list! I loved all of these (with the exception of The Ardent Swarm which I haven‘t read). 2y
37 likes6 comments
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Robotswithpersonality
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Pickpick

The BEST (literary?) historical novel I've ever read. Absolutely enchanting writing. I can't remember the last time I laughed in pure delight so many times at the passages contained in one book. So perfectly balanced with the darker side of historical Russia authentically sprinkled throughout the various decades we get a glimpse of. I was reminded of Still Life; its mix of pathos and charm, the focus on indomitable spirits.
⚠️Briefsuicidalideation

Cuilin Wonderful book. Loved it. 2y
21 likes1 comment
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Robotswithpersonality
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The virtues of reconsideration. 👌🏻