A Gentleman in Moscow - Amor Towles

This book was gifted to me for my birthday last month and I’d never heard of it previously - it’s a pretty hefty one at almost 500 pages and I’d recommend reading it in a quiet spot free from distractions so you can fully appreciate the eloquence and humour of this beautiful book. A Gentleman in Moscow follows our protagonist Count Alexander Rostov who at the beginning of the book is sentenced to a lifetime of house arrest in his residence, the Hotel Metropol, in Moscow. He ordinarily lives the life of luxury in a beautiful suite, but is forced to give up this spacious abode in exchange for a tiny attic room in which to endure his arrest.

This is one of the most delightful and hilarious books I’ve read in a long time - the protagonist is so loveable and eccentric and there are so many funny moments packed into this novel. Despite it not having masses of plot for most of the book, Towles somehow manages to make the most mundane aspects of the Count life, such as going for his weekly haircut at the hotel barber or breakfasting in his room over a newspaper, into a charming and entertaining event. Somehow you become completely absorbed in an entire novel which takes place entirely within one building! The Count learns to appreciate the simple pleasure and beauty of life whilst unable to travel and without any of the former luxuries of his magnificent suite.

Towles’ language is stylish, nuanced and decorative, and the entire book is utterly wonderful - a perfect way to escape as we have all recently been enduring a sort of house arrest ourselves! I’d highly recommend this to anyone who wants a lighthearted yet multi-layered, charming and funny novel for a rainy day!