Rules of civility book club

Are dicky vanderwhile, wallace wolcott, bitsy, peaches, hank and anne grandyn as essential to kateys story as tinker and eve. Are dicky vanderwhile, wallace wolcott, bitsy, peaches, hank, and anne grandyn as essential to kateys story as tinker and eve. Her writing has appeared in the awl, the av club, the chicago reader, and. Here are some basic questions to get a book club discussion going i mean, lets. I found the book a bit difficult to get into at first, but really wanted to know more about the characters the more i read. If you have other questions or would like to be on my distribution list for rare news of my writing and receive an occasional short story, please register on my. Discussion questions questions developed by the author. In a sophisticated black and white photo, a lovely woman lies on a chaise lounge in a garden while the elegant man seated nearby leans eagerly toward her, both dressed in 1930s evening attire. Rules of civility by amor towles book club discussion. As a group we have not yet met to discuss the rules of civility. For more information, all resources are linked below. Armed with little more than a formidable intellect, a bracing wit, and her own brand of cool nerve, katey embarks on a. I was so glad to hear that a lot of the other readers really enjoyed it as well.

If you cant make a meeting in person or you just cant wait until the meeting to start the discussion, no problem. At the outset, rules of civility appears to be about the interrelationship between katey, tinker, and eve. Are dicky vanderwhile, wallace wolcott, bitsy, peaches, hank, and anne grandyn as essential to kateys story as tinker and. His second novel, a gentleman in moscow, published in 2016, was also a. In amor towless debut novel, rules of civility viking, postdepression manhattanthe glittering metropolis of cocktails, jazz clubs, and glamorous apartment towers guarded by knowing doormenis also the city of profound reinvention. These little nuggets are katys own rules of civility and they made the book worth reading. Elegant and captivating, rules of civility turns a jamesian eye on how spur of the moment decisions define life for decades to come.

But those little tidbits are not the bulk of this quite plotty pacey novel, which is a this book was strange for me, at points, it was a 5, at other points a 1. Heck, its clearly inspired a bit by the great gatsby, and how could you measure up to that. Here are our discussion questions for rules of civility. Join us on goodreads where you can find more information about the online version of the book club. This is a coming of age tale for people in their twenties, as it explores aspirations. Rules of civility by amor towles book club discussion questions. We also have an online book club and discussion page. Rules of civility amor towles, 2011 penguin group usa 352 pp. We are around the same age as the main character, katey. Another book authored by amor towles a gentleman in moscow. Rules of civility by amor towles great pick for 2020. His first novel, rules of civility, published in 2011, was a new york times bestseller and was named by the wall street journal as one of the best books of 2011.

Rules of civility, the first novel by amor towles, chronicles a transitional year in the life of a young woman in manhattan. Commentary on the role of jazz in the book is included here. A love letter to a great american city at the end of the depression, readers will quickly fall under its spell of crisp writing, sparkling atmosphere and breathtaking revelations, as towles evokes the ghosts of. I may or may not have skipped out on another meeting to come to this book club. All 51 characters in rules of civility are listed by chapter along with each characters description. A few friends who had read both didnt like rules of civility as much. Rules of civility from the new york timesbestselling author of a gentleman in moscow, a sharply stylish boston globe book for mom on mothers day about a young woman in postdepression era new york who suddenly finds herself thrust into high societynow with over one million readers worldwideon the last night of 1937, twentyfiveyearold katey kontent is in a. Reading guide five years ago, three friends and i set out to read some of the great books or those works of literature which would merit rereading several times over the course of our lives. The novel examines how, by changing your attitudes, behaviors, and manners, you can reinvent yourself, and how katey, tinker, and eve all did this in 1938. Commentary on the role of walker evanss photography in the book is included here. With its sparkling depiction of new yorks social strata, its intricate imagery and themes, and its immensely appealing characters, rules of civility won the hearts of readers and critics alike. Rules of civility by amor towles caused a stir last year on account of the sizeable advance paid by the british publisher for this first novel. Rules of civility is the authors first book, and although it is superbly written, his third book, a gentleman in moscow 2016, is the one worthy of 5 stars.

Discussion questions for rules of civility by amor. At the outset, rules of civility appears to be about the interrelationship between katey, tinker and eve. Born and raised in the boston area, amor towles graduated from yale college and received an ma in english from stanford university. Besides eve, katey spends most of the book talking to men.

Refined manhattan shines with glamorous civility filled with snappy dialogue and sharp observations, amor towles elegant debut novel transports readers back to. The 110th rule turns out to be the most important in towles new york. His second novel, a gentleman in moscow, published in 2016, was also a new york. Climbing the manhattan social ladder in rules of civility. Rules of civility is a beautifully written novel set in postdepression new york city. I loved the feel of the period created in this book. And if your reading group is meeting for dinner in new york somewhere between. Although the cover of the book grabbed my attention since i saw it in a bookstore a few months ago, for some reason i didnt buy it and then i regretted my decision when i saw it mentioned on your blog. Forni ode to better angels of our nature this one was recommended persistently by my mom until i eventually caved. Reference in the rules of civility and brought to life for the egg lover to enjoy. Find discussion questions and reading group guide for rules of civility by amor towles. If you are interested, there is additional content regarding rules of civility at. The tv book club discuss amor towles novel, the rules of civility with guest russell kane. Sometimes, im overly excited to talk to my book club about a book i liked and that was the case with rules of civility.

We will be reading and discussing rules of civility by amor towles. Closed kitchen eggs are an easy way to make the most delicious eggs. In towless first novel, rules of civility, his clever heroine, who grew up in brooklyn as katya, restyles herself in 1930s manhattan as. Hear why rules of civility is our book of the summer. June 27, 2012 amor towles debuts with a crisp, 1930s manhattan love story, while george pelecanos and sapphire return with. On the last night of 1937, poor 25yearold katherine katey kontent, and her friend eve ross, meet rich theodore tinker grey, a handsome banker, at the hotspot jazz club.

So i was worried as i picked rules of civility as our instore book club selection for november, worried that it would be too derivative of other novels and period films. Our book for this month is amor towles novel rules of civility. Diane parfitt i loved a gentleman in moscow and was ready to read another book by towles. Rules of civility goodreads meet your next favorite book. In amor towless witty and slyly brutal debut novel, rules of civility, the protagonist is one katey kontent. Rules of civility takes its name from the famous guide to decorum that george washington copied down as a young man, which tinker keeps with him. Rules of civility takes its name from the famous guide to decorum that george. Here are some basic questions to get a book club discussion going i mean, lets try not to gossip the whole time.

This chance encounter and its startling consequences propel katey on a yearlong journey into the upper echelons of new york. Choosing civility the 25 rules of considerate conduct by p. I really enjoyed this book because it was a character novel that was set back in 1937 in new york city. This novel is less riveting, with a more circumspect plotline, but no less beautiful and poetic in its writing. Its 1938 as the story opens, and katey has just about had it with the narrow options facing a young woman in depressionera manhattan. Below are some answers to commonly asked questions about rules of civility. On the last night of 1937, 25yearold katey kontent is in a secondrate greenwich village jazz bar when tinker grey, a handsome banker, happens to sit down at the neighboring table. Five years ago, three friends and i set out to read some of the great books or those works of literature which would merit. It tells the story of kate, a wise and wellread working girl, who suddenly finds herself maneuvering through the sparkling upper echelons of high society. I worried initially that the reissue of rona jaffes the best of everything had slightly stolen rules of civilitys thunder. Mmmm, urbane and deliciously enticingand a fitting description for. Rules of civility 2011 is set over one year in america in 1938, during the great depression and after the 1937 recession. Book club may 2019 rules of civility by amor towles.