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?

1 like · like
7 years ago
9 answers

To answer questions about Rules of Civility, please sign up.

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 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.

flag

Jean I had the same reaction and so I jumped at the chance to read The Rules of Civility. I didn't dislike The Rules of Civility, but the book is so different from A Gentleman in Moscow that I couldn't help but feel disappointed. I'd wait. Give yourself six months or so to get over it. :-)

flag

Nicole I loved A Gentleman in Moscow and was disappointed with Rules of Civility. RoC is just aimless. Had I picked it up before reading AGiM, I would not have finished it.

flag

Gretchen Mcdowell i've read both and found them quite different but loved both. i'd space the 2 reads apart.

flag

Carol M I preferred Rules of Civility. So many sharp observations about human nature.

flag

Susan Lundy AGIM was my first read of Towles but I recommend Rules of Civility even more. In fact, because he carries characters from ROC into AGIM and Lincoln Highway (not to even mention the direct spin-off Eve in Hollywood). Plus...Thoreau.

flag

Katilipops I did the same as you - I read Moscow first and then Rules - wondered what you ended up doing and thought? :)

flag

Chris It's like listening to early Beatles music. It's genius, it's better than pretty much everything else, but it isn't them at their full potential.

flag