Bookish’s Reviews > A Gentleman in Moscow > Status Update

"I know there is something quixotic in dreaming of the Former but when all is said and done, if the Former is even a remote possibility, then how can one submit to the likelihood of the Latter? To do so would be contrary to the human spirit. So fundamental is our desire to catch a glimpse of another way of life, or to share a glimpse of our way of life with another, that even when the focus of the Latter have (cont)

Poor Miska ...

... bothersome idioms - even names! Where else in all of Europe could one shout a single word to hail any of one's countrymen be they male or female, young or old, friend or foe?" (p181)

"A wonder of semantic efficiency, comrade could be used as a greeting, or a word or parting. As a congratulations, or a caution. As a call to action, or a remonstrance. Or it could simply be the means of securing someone's attention in the crowded lobby of a grand hotel. And thanks to the word's versatility, the Russian people had finally been able to dispense with tired formalities, antiquated titles ...

In absolute enjoyment of the Count and his very precise way of navigating the world, not to mention the job the narrator is doing of conveying the Count's linguistically just so approach to life. The appreciation for language has me transfixed. I look forward to reading this every spare moment that I have. Unfortunately over the past two days there haven't been very many of those ...

A little thrust and parry with words ...

Excited to start!