Review #8: Rules of Civility by Amor Towles

5/5 !!! – although I disagree with a 5-star rating system, it is how the book world works, so I will comply.

Source: Amortowles.com

I just reread this one for my book club. My heart ached for most of it. My favorite books are ones where I just feel feelings so deeply. I felt depressed, hopeful, and nostalgic all at the same time during this one. Amor Towles is just such an incredible writer. He sprinkles these one-liners throughout the book. They are just totally accurate truths about humanity that make you feel alive. I earmarked pages where I wanted to go back to see these quotes and there were so many. Rules of Civility is a coming of age story that takes place in 1938 New York City.

Vibe: The book is nostalgic as it is the main character’s reflection of how her life shifted over the course of a year. It is a love letter to New York and makes you fall in love with the city again – and makes you remember what makes New York, New York.

Three words to describe the book: nostalgia, fabulous, poignant

Plot: The novel is the year 1938 in a life of a young women. Katey Kontent brings us along New Years Eve 1937 through New Years Eve 1938. Her life evolves quickly, the way one’s only can in New York. We meet the new faces and places in her life as she grows up. I would say as she becomes the women she grows up to be, but I feel deeply that Katey is always true to herself. Yes, she learns important lessons along the way and matures, but in her own Katey way. The reader is taken to Lower East Side jazz clubs, Financial District offices, fabulous Long Island parties, and iconic NYC spots such as the 21 Club (RIP).

Characters: Katey is our protagonist and very likable female lead. The characters are all well painted, although not complicated – besides Tinker maybe.

Prose: While the story and characters are amazing, the star of the show is Towle’s writing. I think that no one can spin sentences the way that he can. He crafts one liners that are just so true and contemplative. I am constantly checking to to see if he has a new book coming out.

You’ll like this if you like… New York City, historical fiction, strong female characters, are in a book club – there is so much to discuss!