Rules of Civility: A Novel by Amor Towles, 352 pages. Available now in hardcover from Viking.
Set in New York City in 1938 RULES OF CIVILITY tells the story of a watershed year in the life of Katya “Katey” Kontent, a young, sharp, urbane woman of extraordinary ability and humble origins. Armed with little more than a formidable intellect, a bracing wit, and a large dose of moxie, Katey embarks on a yearlong journey through the upper echelons of New York society in search of a future far brighter than she has been told she has the right to expect.
This novel is getting all kinds of summer buzz and I can assure you it is well deserved. Katey Kontent is a wonderfully written heroine - kind of like a 1930s version of That Girl - she is likeable and you want to follow where she leads. In lesser hands, Katey may be seen as a pitiful social climber, but her industriousness and clever wit are too charming to dismiss. And I always appreciate a girl with self awareness - she is no dumb Dora (see list of 30s slang ). All the while, the city hums under Katey's heels as she navigates life with grace and heaps of style.
Rules of Civility sparkles with crisply drawn characters - Katey is not the only lively one, there are plenty of instances where she is an observer, albeit a keen one. And I love how she encounters the same people in different circumstances, those circles really rang true. Author Amor Towles has a knack for capturing place and the society that inhabits it. I couldn't help but think of Gatsby meets Mad Men, but those comparisons while fleeting, are a bit of an injustice. For much more than manners and fashion, there is striving and ambition, tension and tumult in the days leading up to World War II - but without any brooding or melodrama - I adored it. Rules of Civility is the total package - an entertaining and masterful combination of all the elements in a good story. And your reward is this marvelous glimpse at a year in the life of a young lady on the brink. Of what, you ask? You'll have to read and find out.
I'd love to be able to loan out my copy, but I received from the publisher through Net Galley. So here's your chance to win one -
Have a looksie at the playlist arranged by author Amor Towles then leave me a comment and tell me if you have any particular songs in mind when you read certain books. I'll be choosing a winner (with the help of random.org) on Friday August 12th.
Check out http://amortowles.com (particularly the map) - I love extras!
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