The Rules of Civility

~ I received a copy of this book from the publisher or author to facilitate this review.  I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own or my family. ~

Synopsis (from Amazon):  The New York Times bestselling novel that "enchants on first reading and only improves on the second" (The Philadelphia Inquirer)

This sophisticated and entertaining first novel presents the story of a young woman whose life is on the brink of transformation. On the last night of 1937, twenty-five-year-old Katey Kontent is in a second-rate Greenwich Village jazz bar when Tinker Grey, a handsome banker, happens to sit down at the neighboring table. This chance encounter and its startling consequences propel Katey on a year-long journey into the upper echelons of New York society—where she will have little to rely upon other than a bracing wit and her own brand of cool nerve. With its sparkling depiction of New York’s social strata, its intricate imagery and themes, and its immensely appealing characters, Rules of Civility won the hearts of readers and critics alike.

My Review: 

One (or more) Sentence Summary: My book club picked Rules of Civility a few months ago.  We all loved it and it sparked lots of conversation.  I really enjoyed the book and all the twists and turns of the book.  I could picture every moment of the book, the scenes, outfits, drinks, food, emotions, etc.  I was just sucked into the book.  I don't want to give away to much of the book and spoil it, but you won't be disappointed.  Every time I thought I knew the directions it was headed, it changed....never expected the outcomes.  

Favorite Character(s):  This is really hard to pin point it to just one character.  I liked them all.  The book wouldn't be complete without them all, Katey, Tinker, Eve, and Wallace.

Setting:  NYC in the late 1930's - take me back anytime!  I absolutely loved it; the music, clothing, glamour, lower-side vs. upper-side, etc.  Take me back to the 30's (or the 50's) anytime. 

Fast read/slow read:  Pretty fast.

Cover:  Loved it.  

What Others Are Saying:  “An irresistible and astonishingly assured debut about working class-women and world-weary WASPs in 1930s New York…in the crisp, noirish prose of the era, Towles portrays complex relationships in a city that is at once melting pot and elitist enclave – and a thoroughly modern heroine who fearlessly claims her place in it.” —O, the Oprah Magazine

 

“With this snappy period piece, Towles resurrects the cinematic black-and-white Manhattan of the golden age…[his] characters are youthful Americans in tricky times, trying to create authentic lives.” —The New York Times Book Review

 

“This very good first novel about striving and surviving in Depression-era Manhattan deserves attention…The great strength of Rules of Civility is in the sharp, sure-handed evocation of Manhattan in the late ‘30s.” —Wall Street Journal

 

“Put on some Billie Holiday, pour a dry martini and immerse yourself in the eventful life of Katey Kontent…[Towles] clearly knows the privileged world he’s writing about, as well as the vivid, sometimes reckless characters who inhabit it.” —People

Would I Read Other Books by the Author: Absolutely!

Meet the Author: Amor Towles was born and raised just outside Boston, Massachusetts. He graduated from Yale University and received an MA in English from Stanford University, where he was a Scowcroft Fellow. After working more than twenty years as an investment professional, Towles now writes full time. He is also the author of the novella Eve in Hollywood, available as an e-book. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and two children.

Purchase it:  You can purchase Rules of Civility online at Amazon for $16.00 ($9.76 kindle version).