Amor Towles | Fiction 2016
I really want to like this book, but I keep falling asleep or getting distracted, or picking up my iPad to see if anyone emailed me in the last ten minutes. I am 100 pages in, which represents a significant commitment, and I think I must close the book and return it to the library.
I keep thinking that I "should" like it, and if only I were a more mature reader who could revel in the rather heavy-handed writing style, I would be a better person. There IS humor and some fascinating visual descriptions, but the theme .... a Count who is under house arrest in a hotel in Moscow in 1922 ... is boring. The inner flap tells me he will meet some interesting people, but he hasn’t yet.
An interesting review was written by Bill Gates. He said you do not have to be a Russophile to like this book. I think maybe you do.
I am surprised, because my dental hygienist Julie and I consistently agree about books we like and don’t like. I hope she remains gentle with my mouth when she discovers I abandoned this recommendation from her.
Andrea, like you, I absolutely hated this book and could not understand all the hoopla surrounding how wonderful it is. But… I continued reading and somewhere after the 100th page I became captivated and ended up really enjoying the book, especially with it’s surprise ending.
How cool that at least this positing generated some dialogue!
I am very surprised that you don’t like this book. Maybe if you LISTENED to it you would like it better. I can send you an audio (I think). I listened to it twice, as it is one of my favorite books of all time. Let me know if you’re interested in an audio version.
Andrea,
I totally agree with you! I could not finish it. And I always keep my mouth shut when friends are raving about it!
But not anymore!
Huh! Interesting!
This is the second time I’ve written this comment, but I don’t think it went. I can’t find other comments about this blog. Nonetheless, here goes!
I am really surprised you don’t love this book. I gave it 5 stars and LISTENED to it twice. It’s lovely as an audio book. Maybe I can send you a copy of mine and you can try a different medium. There are some good twists and turns and a very satisfying ending. Enough said!
I don’t know how anyone finds time to listen to an audio book. When do you do so?? Anyway, I would try it again if you think so …