A Gentleman in Moscow - BOTM- May 2022

[Gorab, TheGunman]

dely wrote: "Don't you have the feeling that the author is against communism and uses the count and the life of aristocrats (that at those times was the White Army of the zar opposed to the Red Army of the Bolsheviks)?"

I think this has been the theme on the backdrop all along. The way he was always against the aristocrats. Those removal of labels from the bottles.

[Gorab, TheGunman]

I finished it today. The Count has been a pleasant company for quite some time now. His character will stay with me for a long time.
Mostly I loved how he managed to stay on top of the circumstances. Maybe a bit too much towards the end :P :P

Regarding the ending:
(view spoiler)[I did not like the part about his escaping the Metropole. It would have been better had he stayed on there. Why did he not try to escape earlier? With the hospital incidence? Maybe that time he did not want to jeopardise Sofia?
But I didn't understand what was it towards the end that he wanted to escape not just out of Metropole but out of Russia altogether? That was such a contrast to his otherwise "Gentleman" ways! The ending made me feel as if he was faking for all those years!
Maybe he yearned to live with Sofia and that's what triggered the final part? But then, it also appears it was all thought through carefully.... Like many people conspired to teach Sofia the art of music. Was it taught with an intent to get away to begin with? I do not know.
(hide spoiler)]

There is a lot to think over, like you told.

About those poems, and that manuscript on Salt and Bread! I loved the conversation with his friend's wife. "Does it matter?" was the perfect end of that conversation.

[Gorab, TheGunman]

Overall, I enjoyed reading this a lot. Maybe I did not get teh subtle hints or political agenda going in the background. But I loved the overall narration.... especially the parts of Count's life with Sofia!

[dely]

Gorab wrote: "I finished it today. The Count has been a pleasant company for quite some time now. His character will stay with me for a long time.
Mostly I loved how he managed to stay on top of the circumstanc..."

About your spoiler:

(view spoiler)[Do you think that the woman at the end is Sofia or Anna? I'm unsure about it, but I think it's Anna, his lover, and that Sofia stayed abroad. The only description we have is about an elderly woman with white hair. Sofia has only a white tuft, but she was not old. I have to adming that this last part was a little bit confusing and the author could have given more hints about the woman.
Also, I don't think it was his plan since the beginning, but the music concert abroad was the good moment to organize everything for the escape also because Sofia was abroad and no one could took revenge on her about the count's escape (he also would have never left her alone or in a dangerous situation, so I think it's because of this that he didn't escape while in the hospital). This way she could start a normal life abroad.
He didn't want to escape abroad, he was only stealing the foreign passport or clothes to let everyone think he would go abroad, but his idea was to go again to his beloved country home with all the apple trees. This way no one would have looked for him in Russia, sure that he was gone to Finland. (hide spoiler)]

[Arpit]

Read this book around one year back. DNFed at first, picked it up again. what I remember vivdly is count's rendezvous with sophia/ anna and their little adventures.

[Gorab, TheGunman]

Thanks for your response dely. I read the last couple of chapters again and I agree with you. I was mistaken on that one major aspect.

Regarding your question:
(view spoiler)[I also think it was Anna. He got reunited with his love, while his beloved daughter led a safe life outside of Russia. Yes, he and Anna were staying in his hometown with those apple orchards which once saved his life. Remember the honey tasting thing, when he was about to leap off from Metropole roof on 26th June?
Thanks for the clarification. After all this discussion, my doubts are cleared off. I now love the ending too! (hide spoiler)]

[Gorab, TheGunman]

Arpit wrote: "Read this book around one year back. DNFed at first, picked it up again. what I remember vivdly is count's rendezvous with sophia/ anna and their little adventures."

Yeah I get it. Its a hit or miss. I know of a few folks who generally don't DNF books giving up on this one due to the super slow plotline.

[dely]

Gorab wrote: "Thanks for your response dely. I read the last couple of chapters again and I agree with you. I was mistaken on that one major aspect.

Regarding your question:
I also think it was Anna. He got reu..."

I'm so glad I could help and that things are clearer for you!

[The Wanderer]

Looks like I missed the read along. This was a great read for me.