A Gentleman in Moscow written by Amor Towles is a story that may be highly relatable in today’s scenario of COVID-19 lockdown. Just like so many of us all over the world, Count Alexander Rostov was confined to a single location. The difference is that the location was The Metropol Hotel in Moscow. However, there was another catch. He was confined i.e. put on house arrest for the remainder of his life (he was ~33 at the time). Not just that, there was also the threat of death if he stepped out of the hotel ever again. Set in 1922, the story of Count Rostov moves along as he lives the rest of his days in the Hotel. While in the background, the story of a nation also moves along. It never takes centre stage but rather intersects with the Count's life in a very natural manner.
It took me some time to get a grip on the writing style because it is not something you can power through. The narrative moves back & forth, and sometimes even sideways as the Count recalls his past. To be fair, the book is not meant to be breezed through. Rather, A gentleman in Moscow is meant to be cherished like a glass of wine on a lazy afternoon. Unhurried and sans any other care in the world. So once I got the hang of it, I loved every bit.
The writing brings everything alive without being overly descriptive. At the same time, the writing is effortlessly witty. I was pleasantly surprised to see this kind of writing from a novel about a Russian Aristocrat living in post-revolution Russia. I had a smile of my face on numerous occasions, and there were more than a few moments where I laughed out loud. However, despite the witty nature of writing, it is never frivolous. There is considerable depth, especially in the portrayal of relationships. In his early years, Rostov’s relationship with Nina is playful and friendly. However, as the years pass, Sofia comes along and forces Rostov to shower the fatherly warmth she needs. As a reader, it was heartwarming to experience this transition. The bond that Count Rostov shares with each member of the Metropol Hotel is also very heartening.
The biggest strength of the book is how well the central character is fleshed out. He is intriguing right from the start and you immediately want to know more about him. Slowly but surely, you start loving everything about him. I imagined his walk, his demeanour, his sense of style and sophistication. I wanted to know his life, day in, day out. This is a huge achievement in storytelling because I felt all this for a character who was confined to one location for the entire length of the story.
There is so much to love in A Gentleman in Moscow that one solitary post can never be enough. It is charming, elegant, witty and delightful, exactly like Count Alexander Rostov. Even though it is not a self-help book, there is so much one can learn from it. You can learn to live life purposefully unrushed. So take breaks to connect with people and cherish a cup of tea or coffee without worrying about the to-dos. It would also do all of us a world of good if we could just accept a situation rather than wishing our circumstances were different. In addition to all these things, there is one more thing we can learn from Count Alexander Rostov well. He can teach us to pair our wines like no one else!
Support local bookstores. Buy it here. (use code: filmyfool to get an exclusive discount)