Rules of civility by amor towles great pick for 2020. Like the early renaissance in tuscany with massacio, della francesca, botticelli and donatello, or jazz in the late 50s in new york with davis and coltrane and monk and gillespie. Debut novel for this author discussion questions 1. If like most people, it seems youve read a gentleman in moscow and want to read something else by the same author, please set your expectations quite low before reading rules of civility, or youll probably be disappointed. Our book for this month is amor towles novel rules of civility. Also set in the 1930s, it highlights the lingering opulence of the.
The rules of civility seeks to carry this selfrespect into daily living. Jul 09, 2018 rules of civility was a fun and absorbing book. We are around the same age as the main character, katey. Buy rules of civility by amor towles online at alibris. In a jazz bar on the last night of 1937, watching a quartet because she couldnt afford to see the whole ensemble, there were certain things katey kontent knew. Book recommendations for people who like rules of civility by amor. Rules of civility a book recommendation from barbara delinsky.
Rules of civility is the story of katey kontent in new york city. Amor towles is the author of the bestselling historical novels rules of civility and this years a gentleman. I realised then that this book will be unforgotten by me. From the new york timesbestselling author of a gentleman in moscow, a sharply stylish boston globe book for mom on mothers day about a young woman in postdepression era new york who suddenly finds herself thrust into high societynow with o.
Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Aug 25, 2011 true civility is stiff and prim traits nowhere in evidence in a splashy, dishy novel like rules of civility. Since this book was the october pick of my book group, i stuck with it. The novel, jaffes book is about the life of office girls in a 1950s publishing house. Climbing the manhattan social ladder in rules of civility. The stunning debut by the millioncopy bestselling author of a gentleman in moscow by towles, amor isbn. From the new york timesbestselling author of a gentleman in moscow, a sharply stylish boston globe book for mom on mothers day about a young woman in postdepression era new york who suddenly finds herself thrust into high societynow with over one million readers worldwide on the last night of 1937, twentyfiveyearold katey kontent is in a secondrate. The book was rated by the wall street journal as one of the ten best works of fiction in 2011.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Shes swept into the satinandcashmere embrace of the smart set blithe young people with names like dicky and bitsy and bucky and wallace. Jul 26, 2011 born and raised in the boston area, amor towles graduated from yale college and received an ma in english from stanford university. His first novel, rules of civility, published in 2011, was a new york times bestseller and was named by the wall street journal as one of the best books of 2011. The new york times bestselling novel that enchants on first reading and only improves on the second the philadelphia inquirer a gentleman in moscow the highly anticipated new novel from amor towles is now available from viking. Shortly before taking the job at gotham, katey lands a gig at an oldfashioned literary publisher, where not only did they have manners, they thought them worth preserving.
He is an author whose best book is a gentleman in moscow. In amor towless witty and slyly brutal debut novel, rules of civility, the protagonist is one katey kontent. Set largely in 1930sera new york city, amor towless rules of civility tells the story of katey kontent, a young woman dissatisfied with the options presented to her by the stratefied society around her. Are dicky vanderwhile, wallace wolcott, bitsy, peaches, hank and anne grandyn as essential to kateys story as tinker and eve. Reading guide five years ago, three friends and i set out to read some of the great books or those works of literature which would merit rereading several times over the course of our lives. The writing is gorgeous, the time period exciting and vibrant, the character development and voice amazing especially for a man writing a womans voice. Born and raised in the boston area, amor towles graduated from yale college and received an ma in english from stanford university. Like the books narrator, she pushed a rival in furs to drink before ultimately accepting my grandfathers proposal. Thats how quickly new york city comes about, like a weathervane.
Rules of civility by amor towles book club discussion. Katey kontent narrates her own journey through the year 1938, from the future perspective of 1966, after she runs upon photographs of a man named tinker grey. His second novel, a gentleman in moscow, published in 2016, was also a. Praise for rules of civility an irresistible and astonishingly assured debut about working classwomen and worldweary wasps in 1930s new yorkin the crisp, noirish prose of the era, towles portrays complex relationships in a city that is at once melting pot and elitist enclave and a thoroughly modern heroine who fearlessly claims her place in it. New york is a fullydeveloped character in this book. The three main characters are fascinating and the reader knows full well that the choices made are wrong but somewhat understood. Discussion questions for rules of civility by amor. Book recommendations for people who like rules of civility by amor towles. If you are a seller for this product, would you like to suggest updates through seller support. Discussion questions for rules of civility by amor towles our book for this month is amor towles novel rules of civility. George washingtons rules of civility knowledge house. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading rules of civility. How to be civil in an uncivil world the new york times.
Forni 19512018 was an awardwinning professor of italian literature at johns hopkins university. With civility like this, you might ask, who needs rudeness. In the fall of 2012, the novel was optioned to be made into a feature film. At the outset, rules of civility appears to be about the interrelationship between katey, tinker and eve.
Much of the original spelling and punctuation has been retained except where deemed necessary to modernize for easier reading and understanding. Rules of civility by amor towles, read by rebecca lowman. His second novel, a gentleman in moscow, published in 2016, was also a new york times bestseller and was named as one of the best books of 2016 by the chicago tribune. Apr 06, 2020 the writing is gorgeous, the time period exciting and vibrant, the character development and voice amazing especially for a man writing a womans voice. Oct 12, 2017 what they said about rules of civility. Partway through rules of civility, the novels autodidact protagonist goes to work for a book publisher that is conservatively described by its celebrated fiction editor as being decades behind.
In 2000 he founded the civility initiative at johns hopkins and taught courses on the theory and history of manners. George washington s rules of civility and decent behavior in company and conversation duration. The author clearly adores it and certainly did his homework when it came to capturing what i imagine new york was like in the 30s. By the end of the year shed learned how to launch a paper airplane high over park avenue, how to live like a redhead, and how to insist upon the very best. Im very interested in periods where there is a density of creative invention.
Atonement by ian mcewan bookshelfmonstrosity bookshelfmonstrosity. It is extremely well written and strongly evocative, bringing vividly to life all the details of the big apple in the 30s the people, the culture, the parties, the music. But if you remember towles predecessors from stodgy classroom lectures, and expect the same dull elongated sentences from this book, youll be wrong. Katey kontent, daughter of russian immigrants, and evie ross, from the sleepy midwest, are an ambitious, wisecracking pair who, despite lack of money and connections, aim to set. If you like rules of civility you might like similar books beautiful ruins, the paris wife, circling the sun, the chaperone, the boston girl. Jan 11, 2017 with civility like this, you might ask, who needs rudeness. What to do when people are rude 2008 and the thinking life. Commentary on the role of jazz in the book is included here. Jan 05, 2012 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. At the outset, rules of civility appears to be about the interrelationship between katey, tinker, and eve.
Rules of civility by amor towles overdrive rakuten. Oct 21, 2017 rules of civility fares quite well in the comparison, and while it comes nowhere to achieving the classic status of the great gatsby, it is far from being a cheesy ripoff. To the contrary, rule of civility updates the manners genre in lively ways. Set in new york city in 1938, rules of civility tells the story of a watershed year in the life of an uncompromising twentyfiveyearold named katey kontent. Armed with little more than a formidable intellect, a bracing wit, and her own brand of cool nerve, katey embarks on a journey from a wall street secretarial pool through the upper echelons of new york society in search of a brighter future. Also set in the 1930s, it highlights the lingering opulence of the age and how that can disappear amid tragedy. Refined manhattan shines with glamorous civility filled with snappy dialogue and sharp observations, amor towles elegant debut novel transports readers back to. This wonderful chicago tribune and sharply stylish boston globe debut novel presents the story of a.
Jan 22, 20 if you like james and wharton, you will especially enjoy rules of civility. But the virtue of williamss view comes into focus, bejan contends, when contrasted with those of thomas hobbes and john locke, two. This type of book is part of the genre known as the courtesy book which were popular in the middle ages and renaissance as ways for new men to enter polite society. Partway through rules of civility, the novels autodidact protagonist goes to work for a book publisher that is conservatively described by its celebrated fiction editor as. Rules of civility is a beautifully written novel set in postdepression new york city. An interesting premise for a book to take george washingtons 115 rules of civility and to create a story and characters around the adherence and lack of adherence to these social conventions. In amor towless debut novel, rules of civility viking, postdepression manhattanthe glittering metropolis of cocktails, jazz clubs, and glamorous apartment towers guarded by knowing doormenis also the city of profound reinvention. With its sparkling depiction of new yorks social strata, its intricate imagery and themes, and its immensely appealing characters, rules of civility won the hearts of readers and critics alike. June 27, 2012 amor towles debuts with a crisp, 1930s manhattan love story, while george pelecanos and sapphire return with. Rules of civility by amor towles, 9781444708875, available at book. Through a variety of topics, the rules of civility will provide comprehensive guides that will provide a man with the behaviors he needs to be always be remembered as a gentleman.
Tinker is enigmatic, adorable and lives his life according to george washingtons rules of civility. Towles books where it was mentioned with high marks. Commentary on the role of walker evanss photography in the book is included here. Are dicky vanderwhile, wallace wolcott, bitsy, peaches, hank, and anne grandyn as essential to kateys story as tinker and eve. Goodreads members who liked rules of civility also liked. Its 1938 as the story opens, and katey has just about had it with the narrow options facing a young woman in depressionera manhattan. Aug 02, 2011 refined manhattan shines with glamorous civility filled with snappy dialogue and sharp observations, amor towles elegant debut novel transports readers back to new york city circa 1938. The rules of civility and decent behavior in company and conversation note. You may submit your thoughts or questions to me at my contact page on this site. Here are some basic questions to get a book club discussion going i mean, lets try not to gossip the whole time. This is a coming of age tale for people in their twenties.
Tell us about george washington and his rules of civility a. In amor towless debut novel, rules of civility viking, postdepression manhattan the glittering metropolis of cocktails, jazz clubs, and glamorous apartment towers guarded by knowing doormen is also the city of profound reinvention. Tried to like it, but after 3 hours of listening, i determined i couldnt handle another 9 hours. Below are some answers to commonly asked questions about rules of civility. But rules of civility is enough of a wellwritten, wellpaced story to make up for that. Everything about this novel, set in 1930s new york, is achingly stylish from the authors name to the slinky jacket design. Every action done in company, ought to be with some sign of respect, to those that are present. If you like james and wharton, you will especially enjoy rules of civility. If you have other questions or would like to be on my distribution list for rare news of my writing and receive an occasional short story, please register on my. Find books like rules of civility from the worlds largest community of readers. Rules of civility fares quite well in the comparison, and while it comes nowhere to achieving the classic status of the great gatsby, it is far from being a cheesy ripoff.
1537 442 395 629 1027 343 435 1259 21 159 1203 933 394 1358 227 1293 1361 1038 438 1468 612 751 291 1490 1164 353 1394 1405 464 767 1468 1211 1310