There are some books that you can’t wait to finish, because the end promises the resolution of a great mystery. And then there are books that you wish you could savour for a little while longer. A Gentleman in Moscow is one of these. As I neared the end of the book, I found myself reading more slowly, more deliberately I’d say. I wanted to enjoy the company of the protagonist, Count Rostov for just a while longer.
As an Indian reader, the first few pages were challenging as I was trying to pronounce Russian names and trying to get a foothold in Russia during the revolution. The most wonderfully comforting fact soon became clear; Amor Towles had not complicated his narrative with too many shifting timelines or unnecessary characters.
Almost every character entered the story for a reason and made you comfortable with their presence in a short time. I found myself intrigued by the details of the Russian revolution and kept trying to find out more about that intense period. It was as if I was being led into a universe of parallels, where the book and its story kept me hooked in a way only a masterfully written fiction book can; while the details I found online kept me engaged on another plane altogether.
This book is the finest example of writing an unforgettable character. The nuances of Count Rostov, his grandiosity, his wisdom, his simple acceptance of fate and the hidden reserves of energy that surprise him as well the reader, are a literary treat.
This is not the sort of book one reads on a flight. It deserves a little more mindspace and some mindful intent. I would recommend it to everyone over the age of fifteen, for although, younger readers might understand the language, they won’t be able to truly relish the author’s finer meanings. It is the sort of book you can enjoy the most when you read it for the first time, so use that first time wisely.
A Gentleman in Moscow has been made into a series and is airing on Amazon Prime. I was a little hesitant at first to watch it, but it did not disappoint. Like every book that has been adapted for TV, I would suggest, read the book first. It is always better than the film or series.
“Long had he believed that a gentleman should turn to a mirror with a sense of distrust. For rather than being tools of self-discovery, mirrors tended to be tools of self-deceit.”