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Amor Towles's A Gentleman in Moscow - For Fans
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Take the challenge yourself and share it with friends and family for a time of fun!
You may have read the book, but not have liked it.
You may have liked the book, but not be a fan.
You may call yourself a fan, but few truly are. Are you a fan?
Trivia-on-Books is an independently curated trivia quiz on the book for readers, students, and fans alike. Whether you're looking for new materials to the book or would like to take the challenge yourself and share it with your friends and family for a time of fun, Trivia-on-Books provides a unique approach to A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles that is both insightful and educational!
Features You'll Find
• 30 Multiple choice questions on the book, plots, characters and author
• Insightful commentary to answer every question
• Complementary quiz material for yourself or your reading group
• Results provided with scores to determine "status"
Promising quality and value, come play your trivia of a favorite book!!
Take the challenge yourself and share it with friends and family for a time of fun!
You may have read the book, but not have liked it.
You may have liked the book, but not be a fan.
You may call yourself a fan, but few truly are. Are you a fan?
Trivia-on-Books is an independently curated trivia quiz on the book for readers, students, and fans alike. Whether you're looking for new materials to the book or would like to take the challenge yourself and share it with your friends and family for a time of fun, Trivia-on-Books provides a unique approach to A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles that is both insightful and educational!
Features You'll Find
• 30 Multiple choice questions on the book, plots, characters and author
• Insightful commentary to answer every question
• Complementary quiz material for yourself or your reading group
• Results provided with scores to determine "status"
Promising quality and value, come play your trivia of a favorite book!!
71 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 28, 2017
45 people are currently reading
746 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
July 27, 2017
Intriguing from start to finish, A Gentleman in Moscow tells with good-humored flippancy about the changes in Russia from 1922 to the mid-1950's, a story that might be heavy with historical and political happenings, but, because of the style and delightful language tropes, is not. Towles creates a world within a world, such that imprisonment within the Metropol Hotel seems less like Solzhenitsyn or Dostoyevsky and more like John Irving. The characters will stay with you for a lifetime, and you will close the pages at the end a better person.
August 4, 2017
I started it on Wednesday and finished it on Thursday in spite of its length (462 pages). Many are the times I rue having retired, but the past two days won't be included in those times. Being retired allowed me the opportunity to devour the book. I became totally immersed in the story. The characters are fully developed and believable, and the setting is, well, I will let you decide on the descriptors. It is an intriguing, engrossing, well written, historically correct novel.
July 16, 2017
Though the book has a slow start, Amor Towles hooked me immediately with his beautiful and exquisite prose. Count Alexander Ilych Rostov is sentenced to live out his days in the Metropol Hotel after the Russian Revolution. Here he meets colorful characters (Anna Urbanova, Emille, Andrey, Sophia, the Bishop), has a nine-year-old best friend, and eventually becomes head waiter. Very rarely bitter or self-pitying, he is humorous and eventually takes in a young girl as his own. This book has catapulted into my top favorites of all time.
Favorite quotes:
"As a younger man, I used to feel the same way about my sister. Every year that passed, it seemd a little more of her had slipped away; and I began to fear that one day I would come to forget her altogether. But the truth is, no matter how much time passes, those we have loved never slip away from us entirely."
"This was the very woman who, as a child herself, had crossed the Piazza without hesitation in order to become his best friend; who had shown him the hidden corners of the hotel and bestowed upon him, quite literally, the key to its mysteries. When such a friend has sought one out to ask fr aid - particularly one for whom asking favors in a time of need does not come naturally - then there is only one acceptable response."
"Since the beginning of storytelling, he explained, Death has called on the unwitting. In one tale or another, it arrives quietly ini town and takes a room at an inn, or lurks in an alleyway, or lingers in the marketplace, surreptitiously. Then just when the hero has a moment of respite from his daily affairs, Death pays him a visit.
This is all well and good, allowed the Count. But what is rarely related is the fact that Life is every bit as devious as Death. It too can wear a hooded coat. It too can slip into town, lurk in an alley, or wait in the marketplace."
"Afer all, what can a first impression tell us about someone we've only met for a minute in the lobby of a hotel? For that matter, what can a first impression tell us about anyone? Why, no more than a chord can tell us about Beethoven, or a brushstroke about Botticelli. By their very nature, human beings are so capricious, so complex, so delightfully contradictory that they deserve noy only our considerations, but our reconsideration - and our unwavering determination to withold our opinion until we have engaged with them in every possible setting at every possible hour."
Favorite quotes:
"As a younger man, I used to feel the same way about my sister. Every year that passed, it seemd a little more of her had slipped away; and I began to fear that one day I would come to forget her altogether. But the truth is, no matter how much time passes, those we have loved never slip away from us entirely."
"This was the very woman who, as a child herself, had crossed the Piazza without hesitation in order to become his best friend; who had shown him the hidden corners of the hotel and bestowed upon him, quite literally, the key to its mysteries. When such a friend has sought one out to ask fr aid - particularly one for whom asking favors in a time of need does not come naturally - then there is only one acceptable response."
"Since the beginning of storytelling, he explained, Death has called on the unwitting. In one tale or another, it arrives quietly ini town and takes a room at an inn, or lurks in an alleyway, or lingers in the marketplace, surreptitiously. Then just when the hero has a moment of respite from his daily affairs, Death pays him a visit.
This is all well and good, allowed the Count. But what is rarely related is the fact that Life is every bit as devious as Death. It too can wear a hooded coat. It too can slip into town, lurk in an alley, or wait in the marketplace."
"Afer all, what can a first impression tell us about someone we've only met for a minute in the lobby of a hotel? For that matter, what can a first impression tell us about anyone? Why, no more than a chord can tell us about Beethoven, or a brushstroke about Botticelli. By their very nature, human beings are so capricious, so complex, so delightfully contradictory that they deserve noy only our considerations, but our reconsideration - and our unwavering determination to withold our opinion until we have engaged with them in every possible setting at every possible hour."
September 16, 2017
I sampled this book on Kindle and found the book at first hard to "get into" and slow. I read some reviews and realized that some books that are very good don't use the "grab you" philosophy of the times.
This is one of the Gems that slowly build and that my patience paid off with great character development, great insights, great surprises and a romance and drama of a Russian novel.
If you enjoy a subtle book that pays off with dividends, this is the book for you.
This is one of the Gems that slowly build and that my patience paid off with great character development, great insights, great surprises and a romance and drama of a Russian novel.
If you enjoy a subtle book that pays off with dividends, this is the book for you.
March 12, 2020
The Count is such a memorable protagonist - full of curiosity, empathy and joy. Set almost entirely within the walls of the Metropol Hotel in Moscow, the world the author created is rich and full of wonderful characters, food and shenanigans, with the harsh realities of Russian life post-revolution occasionally brought in by non-resident visitors (and via explanatory footnotes). Amor Towles knows how to choose exactly the right words in exactly the right order to make this book a joy to read.
September 18, 2017
Thought I was standing there witnessing this story unfold before me.
February 11, 2020
This is an absolutely wonderful, warm, witty, well written story describing one man’s life before, during and after the revolution in Russia. The book opens in 1922 with Count Alexander Rostov, who currently resides at the Metropol Hotel, facing a “Committee of the People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs”, being asked to provide reasons for a poem he wrote prior to the revolution. His agility in keeping his answers both lighthearted and noncommittal to any specific cause has the reader immediately on his side.
Unfortunately, the committee members fail to see him in that same light and return a verdict stating “...our inclination would be to have you taken from this chamber and put against the wall. But there are those within the senior ranks of the Party who count you among the heroes of the prerevolutionary cause. Thus, it is the opinion of this committee that you should be returned to that hotel of which you are so fond. But make no mistake: should you ever set foot outside of the Metropol again, you will be shot.”
The story that follows, and what a story it is, allows us to watch the urbane, ingeniously clever Count, find meaning and purpose in a life confined in one building. We share in his little triumphs over the obstructions the government uses against him. We revel in the deep friendships he makes with both staff and visitors. We marvel in the innovative methods he employs to keep himself aware of current situations and optimism about the future.
The author, Amor Towles, is a wonderful writer. He’s lyrical, poetic, detailed, and intelligent. Here is the Count succinctly describing the dangers of first impressions and the virtue of withholding quick judgements on those we first meet. “By their very nature, human beings are so capricious, so complex, so delightfully contradictory, that they deserve not only our consideration, but our reconsideration—and our unwavering determination to withhold our opinion until we have engaged with them in every possible setting at every possible hour.” Just one of many marvelous passages contained in the story. I highly recommend this extremely satisfying book that should be read by all.
Unfortunately, the committee members fail to see him in that same light and return a verdict stating “...our inclination would be to have you taken from this chamber and put against the wall. But there are those within the senior ranks of the Party who count you among the heroes of the prerevolutionary cause. Thus, it is the opinion of this committee that you should be returned to that hotel of which you are so fond. But make no mistake: should you ever set foot outside of the Metropol again, you will be shot.”
The story that follows, and what a story it is, allows us to watch the urbane, ingeniously clever Count, find meaning and purpose in a life confined in one building. We share in his little triumphs over the obstructions the government uses against him. We revel in the deep friendships he makes with both staff and visitors. We marvel in the innovative methods he employs to keep himself aware of current situations and optimism about the future.
The author, Amor Towles, is a wonderful writer. He’s lyrical, poetic, detailed, and intelligent. Here is the Count succinctly describing the dangers of first impressions and the virtue of withholding quick judgements on those we first meet. “By their very nature, human beings are so capricious, so complex, so delightfully contradictory, that they deserve not only our consideration, but our reconsideration—and our unwavering determination to withhold our opinion until we have engaged with them in every possible setting at every possible hour.” Just one of many marvelous passages contained in the story. I highly recommend this extremely satisfying book that should be read by all.
August 26, 2017
I truly enjoyed this book. Having read Rules of Civility, I was not eager to read this. I did not particularly care for the former; however, Gentleman in Moscow was a pleasant surprise. The author's prose was so lyrical and he made simple everyday situations sound so poetic. The story plot was simple, and written by anyone else, the book could have been boring and mundane, but Amor Towles brought the characters to life in such a way that I didn't want to see the story end. The intrigue in this book was that because of his imprisonment the Count was a stationary character while the world revolved around him.
June 11, 2017
Absolutely love this book, the writing style and the precision with which the characters are drawn are impeccable. At times heartbreaking, at times horrific, at times uplifting. This is Russia and its inhabitants at the beginning of a new society and the end of the old aristocracy. The historical notes sound True . The relationships the main character forms in spite of extremely reduced circumstances are extraordinary. The book has surprises at every turn. A. Very good read that treats the subject.matter with realism with a nice touch of romantic hopefulness.
June 12, 2017
Wonderful book, wonderfully rendered on Audible.com by Nicholas Guy Smith. Story of Count Alexander Rostov, condemned to house arrest in the luxurious Metropol hotel by the Bolsheviks, how he makes do, makes friends, raises a daughter, and allows us to see the absurdities and capriciousness of the regime through decades. Towles paints his characters in crisp three dimensions, so that you feel you really know them (and love many of them), warts and all. Highly recommended.
January 23, 2019
A beautifully written gentle book with great character development and a subtle yet poignant sense of humor. Although the majority of the story takes place within the walls of the Metropol Hotel, the reader never feels confined by those walls, and indeed a whole new world is discovered. Amor Towles takes us through the Russian revolutionary period via the eyes of a house imprisoned noble gentleman and we go along for the surprisingly fun ride.
March 10, 2017
Great book about a Russian aristocrat under house arrest in a luxurious hotel in 1922. It takes the first 50 pages to get you hooked but once you do you can't put it down. You learn so much about the human spirit and our capacity to do and feel things that we don't feel is within our means. It really moved me and it is a wonderful book for a reading group!
July 12, 2017
This book had a solid story line with historical facts about Moscow, however a slow read. The one line that I went back to read several times and felt was so poignant was"They spoke of the once and the was, of the wishful and the wonder." Isn't this a beautiful line and full of sentiment?
May 24, 2020
Fantastic. Towles creates a world and characters that you can live alongside. I thought the ending was perfect as well, which often times, even in the best books, the endings feel abrupt or unsatisfying, whereas this dovetailed perfectly with all of the characters.
June 14, 2017
One of my top five all time books.
December 20, 2018
Friends recommended this book just before I went on a trip to Russia in the spring. I loved it from beginning to end. I kept thinking what a great television series it would make. Even though the luxurious Metropol Hotel must have been a fabulous place, being assigned residence there during the upheaval of Soviet Russia is another story. With the aplomb of an aristocrat the Count takes it all in stride from the moment he has to give up his traditional suite and move to the attic through to his meeting with 9-yr old Nina who knows every nook and cranny of the hotel and his subsequent adventures. The Count's story is told with wit, and the characters are unforgettable.
November 22, 2019
Ah, Mr. Towles, what a gift you have given every reader who picked up this book. I bought it on Audio and met each listen with the expectation of more delight. Absolutely one of my favorite books. The narrator is a marvel, moving smoothly in and out of each character without a pause. I delighted in the way he captured each character, their distinctive voices, and accents. This is a reader I’ll never tire of hearing.Alternately dignified and mischievous, Count Rostov is almost as inventive as the little friend who shows him the innards of the hotel which she had explored minutely. This is a marvelous, sparkling, totally delightful book.
September 1, 2017
very entertaining read.
interesting information historically as the story progressed; feeling totally ignorant of Russian history, this book painted a picture of different societies as time went on from the revolution.
Loved the storyline of the two young girls; disappointed that we didn't have a good ending for Nina, but perhaps that is just a reflection of life in the times (i.e. disappearing).
Also disappointed that the Count and Sophia resumeably would never meet again. Again, reality of the time and of being an exile.
interesting information historically as the story progressed; feeling totally ignorant of Russian history, this book painted a picture of different societies as time went on from the revolution.
Loved the storyline of the two young girls; disappointed that we didn't have a good ending for Nina, but perhaps that is just a reflection of life in the times (i.e. disappearing).
Also disappointed that the Count and Sophia resumeably would never meet again. Again, reality of the time and of being an exile.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2022
I loved this book--could barely put it down in order to go out for previous commitments! I wanted to just stay at home and continue reading it! The premise seemed absurd at the beginning, but very soon the beautiful prose and fascinating characters had me fully believing every word. The story was centered in a world I knew nothing about and it had just enough political/historical information to evoke the time and place, but never distract from the basic story .
SPOILER ALERT!! I am a pushover for a happy ending--this one was unexpected but thoroughly satisfying.
SPOILER ALERT!! I am a pushover for a happy ending--this one was unexpected but thoroughly satisfying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2018
I absolutely loved this book. It will be one of my new faves. Filled with humor, human compassion, intrigue, along with a historical component, I couldn’t wait to get back into it and I didn’t want it to end. The Audible version was fabulously narrated and this is one I will certainly listen to again.
March 23, 2018
A Gentleman in Moscow was disappointingly draggy, left so many great ideas unexplored, and was too polite for anyone to enjoy reading. It comes close to being a ripping yarn but it simply isn’t. I kept at it because I didn’t have anything better to read. Save your precious time and skip this tepid cup of tea.
May 12, 2017
This book is about an aristocrat sentenced to house arrest in the Metropolitan Hotel is Moscow. The descriptions are written in lyrical prose. The story gets more intense about a third into the book.
The perspective of the changes in Russia over time is fascinating.
The perspective of the changes in Russia over time is fascinating.
February 5, 2022
A real gem with descriptions that sparkle, people you enjoy meeting, and a setting that is a crucible for character. Exile, from the time of the expulsion from the Garden of Eden, has involved leaving, but during the Bolshevik revolution, 30-year old Count Alexander Rostow is exiled in place. That place is a is in the attic of the Metropole hotel, across the street from the Kremlin.
In a time of scarcity, of "cornmeal, cauliflower and cabbage," when "refined ingredients in Moscow became as scarce as butterflies at sea," the Count and his friends create a sumptuous bouillbaise for a secret celebration. That banquet is the perfect metaphor for how the Count manages to master his reduced circumstances: with ingenuity, subterfuge, and with help from his friends. It makes for delightful reading.
In a time of scarcity, of "cornmeal, cauliflower and cabbage," when "refined ingredients in Moscow became as scarce as butterflies at sea," the Count and his friends create a sumptuous bouillbaise for a secret celebration. That banquet is the perfect metaphor for how the Count manages to master his reduced circumstances: with ingenuity, subterfuge, and with help from his friends. It makes for delightful reading.
June 25, 2017
This is beautifully written, the story is compelling and unique. It gives insight into the age in Russia, the change of the aristocracy, the dangers of the military government and the journey of humanity in the characters.
September 6, 2017
Wonderful look back at a time in history when the world knew very little about what was happening in Russia. Our protagonist was a true gentlemen throughout his life, enriching the lives of all who happened upon him in his hotel prison. Very well written.
September 19, 2017
Delightful! A Russian nobleman finds himself condemned to house arrest in a fine hotel, but the relationships he develops and the ways he adapts are simply lovely. This book left me glowing - I can't recommend it enough!
June 16, 2019
What a boring book. A group of us decided to read this otherwise I would have stopped halfway. Not a single person in the group of seven liked the book. It moves at a snails pace because the author seems out of ideas. Anyone that reads it will feel they are a prisoner in the Hotel Metropol too.
June 22, 2019
A beautifully written book and story. Highly recommend.
The elegance of the words had me repeat pages to take in the beauty and richness of the words. The protagonist was a person who made you feel safe and cared for.
Will definitely reread many times over.
The elegance of the words had me repeat pages to take in the beauty and richness of the words. The protagonist was a person who made you feel safe and cared for.
Will definitely reread many times over.
June 16, 2020
This may be my favorite book of all time! The characters are beautifully drawn, the settings described in vivid details, and the history of the Bolshevik Revolution was brought to life in an enlightening way. I just loved this book and was sorry when I reached the end.
September 29, 2021
A wonderful book tracing a life of restriction at the birth of the Bolshevic Revolution and yet a path to the development of a very special life. Perhaps even love...
Beautifully poignant and written in a 19th century style where manners and words counted for something.
Beautifully poignant and written in a 19th century style where manners and words counted for something.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews