~ 4 stars, perhaps 4.2 - a Gentleman in Moscow follows a man, Alexander Rostov, who is sentenced to house arrest in a luxury hotel. Set within some of the most tumultuous years in Russian history (post Russian revolution), the novel discusses both Rostov's peculiar routines/daily activities along with Russia's broader historical situation.
~ If I were to describe A Gentleman in Moscow in one word, I would choose "charming." It is, indubitably, a charming book. Is it action packed? Absolutely not. Is it gripping? Arguably no. Does it provide instant gratification? No, not really. Yet, I found myself adoring every character Towles portrayed, from classy Rostov to precocious Nina to passionate Mishka.
~ Alexander Rostov is one of the most extraordinary male characters I have had the pleasure of meeting. He is dignified, and he is patient, and he exudes a quiet, wonderful wisdom that just envelops each page of this book. Towles is a brilliant writer - somehow, some way, he managed to create a masterpiece of a book that never (or, perhaps, rarely) leaves the walls of a single hotel.
~ A Gentleman in Moscow provides some magnificent quotes. It's an intellectually stimulating book that has a lot to say about a wide variety of topics. A favorite quote of mine is, "By their very nature, human beings are so capricious, so complex, so delightfully contradictory, that they deserve not only our consideration, but our reconsideration..." You can clearly see Towles' diction here. More than that, I enjoy the idea of reconsideration, of what it means to truly see someone. As individuals, there are so many things that we cannot fix. But we can witness them, and we can reconsider them, and we can view them from all angles - perhaps not to change our opinions, but to fully inform them. A Gentleman in Moscow was, in its essence, a novel about viewing things-people-places from all angles.
~ So, why doesn't it receive 5 stars from me? Well, I rarely give out 5 star reviews, but I also have to be honest and say that this book was occasionally dull. Don't get me wrong, I loved the characters and found the overall story fantastic. At 500 pages, however, there were a couple parts that dragged on. I'm also not a philosopher, and I think some of the deep realizations went over my head. Haha. Regardless, I fully recommend this book to anyone who is willing to sit with it.