Play Book Tag discussion

Rules of Civility begins with a middle aged couple attending the 1966 opening of Walker Evans' "Many Are Called" show at The Museum of Modern Art. Among the photographs the narrator recognizes two shots, taken a year apart, of a man she used to know named Tinker Grey. Seeing these photographs sends her back to 1938 where she reminiscences about meeting Grey, who changed her world forever.

Katey Kontent and her very close and eccentric friend, Eve, are planning to spend New Year’s Eve of 1937-38 in a downtown nightclub. They end up meeting a very classy young man in an expensive beaver coat. Katey and Eve are boardinghouse roommates who use wit, intelligence and good looks to hobnob with members of New York society.

The book's narrator, Katey, is tough and unflappable. Eve, on the other hand, is complex and unpredictable. Tinker seems the most open but also the most mysterious. Through Tinker, Kate and Eve are introduced to social circles they never would have had access to otherwise. Readers are treated to a glittery world of expensive cars and fabulous house parties.

I loved this book. The writing is elegant and engaging. I loved seeing New York through Katey's eyes and could visualize each one of the characters as if they were in a 1940s movie. The story is bittersweet as readers live through Katey's friendships, loves, and heartbreaks. This was Towles first book and a reread for me. I enjoyed my second journey with these characters and I hated putting this story down at the end.

I liked your review -- and I love the book too! Each of the author's 3 books I've read is very different, but great writing in all of them.

Great review! I absolutely loved his 'A Gentleman in Moscow'. This is definitely on my TBR. Amor Towles books are so beautiful in prose and concept.

Loved this one. For me it is a New York based 'Lost Generation' story.

I liked this a lot too, it's kind of a love letter to NYC and the era.

I’m looking forward to reading this one

I agree with all the comments, and this one was very special for that era, and for Towles' style. I simply adored it too!