Questions About Rules of Civility

by Amor Towles (Goodreads Author)

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Answered Questions (43)

This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)

Judy Lindow (view spoiler) It was the son of the man who gave the party she went to as
Wallace's friend. The father suggested he take the sports car - but he chos…more(view spoiler) It was the son of the man who gave the party she went to as
Wallace's friend. The father suggested he take the sports car - but he chose the conservative car. We see some matchmaking and in the last pages when she looks at the pictures, she revisits the memory of her and Val hugging him at their wedding. Val's looks are a cross between an aviator and a judge. We have evidence that she's attracted to both the free spirit (Dicky, Tinker, Hank) and the judges (Wallace, Mason, Anne) IMO, the 2 she loves most have both aspects: Eve and Tinker. I think it's important that Val makes a quick entry and exit. I know I've crossed paths many times with some people. Plus, with the lack of interest at that time - it's apparent that the timing would not have been right. Sometimes we have to live through different things before we're ready. In the case of these two we see and learn that they are both career oriented and not prepared to make their commitments until they did some more living on their own.(less)

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This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)

Carolyn This didn't spoil anything. You know she married someone else after the first 2 pages.…moreThis didn't spoil anything. You know she married someone else after the first 2 pages.(less)

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Amor Towles says there is one character who appears in both Rules of Civility and A Gentleman in Moscow. What is the character's name?

Nahla Aboushadi It is Dickey I believe who ends up working in the State Dept.

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I am fascinated by Towles's writing style in this and even more so in A Gentleman in Moscow. I find that when I read him, I am more attuned to my surroundings. I love his descriptions and how they can paint a detailed picture without being verbose; how he can capture a moment, and idea or a feeling so precisely, yet so originally. What other authors write with his keen sense of observation and economy?

Lisa Anthony Marra immediately comes to mind. Here are a few tidbits from his A Constellation of Vital Phenomena.

“For months they'd run their fingers aroun…moreAnthony Marra immediately comes to mind. Here are a few tidbits from his A Constellation of Vital Phenomena.

“For months they'd run their fingers around the hem of their affection without once acknowledging the fabric.”

“Natasha tried to wedge herself into the conversation, but as usual the triangle would not widen into a square.

“This incomprehensible war would take from him even the humanity to find it incomprehensible.”
― Anthony Marra, A Constellation of Vital Phenomena

Marra, like Towles, can get me with just a short sentence. Though Marra's books prove to be more gut wrenching, they are beautiful and full of redemption just like Towles. (less)

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I just finished A Gentleman in Moscow and loved it so much that I want to read more from the author- so I was wondering how Rules of Civility compares. Has anyone read them both? Will I be disappointed? Should I wait a while until I am "over" the Count from TGFM?

Diane Parfitt I loved A Gentleman in Moscow and was ready to read another book by Towles. A few friends who had read both didn't like Rules of Civility as much. So …moreI loved A Gentleman in Moscow and was ready to read another book by Towles. A few friends who had read both didn't like Rules of Civility as much. So I waited a bit. When I first started it I did not like it as much. Then as I got into the story and the characters I really liked it. It is very different and should not be compared. They each stand on their own. When I finished Rules of Civility I was blown away by the story and the characters. It really has stuck with me as much as Gentleman, but totally in a different way.(less)

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