Rules of civility takes its name from the famous guide to decorum that george. Climbing the manhattan social ladder in rules of civility. Here are our discussion questions for rules of civility. Its 1938 as the story opens, and katey has just about had it with the narrow options facing a young woman in depressionera manhattan. Another book authored by amor towles a gentleman in moscow.
It tells the story of kate, a wise and wellread working girl, who suddenly finds herself maneuvering through the sparkling upper echelons of high society. His second novel, a gentleman in moscow, published in 2016, was also a. A love letter to a great american city at the end of the depression, readers will quickly fall under its spell of crisp writing, sparkling atmosphere and breathtaking revelations, as towles evokes the ghosts of. In amor towless witty and slyly brutal debut novel, rules of civility, the protagonist is one katey kontent. At the outset, rules of civility appears to be about the interrelationship between katey, tinker, and eve. Rules of civility takes its name from the famous guide to decorum that george washington copied down as a young man, which tinker keeps with him. Hear why rules of civility is our book of the summer. June 27, 2012 amor towles debuts with a crisp, 1930s manhattan love story, while george pelecanos and sapphire return with. Elegant and captivating, rules of civility turns a jamesian eye on how spur of the moment decisions define life for decades to come. Book club may 2019 rules of civility by amor towles. Forni ode to better angels of our nature this one was recommended persistently by my mom until i eventually caved. I may or may not have skipped out on another meeting to come to this book club. Below are some answers to commonly asked questions about rules of civility.
Are dicky vanderwhile, wallace wolcott, bitsy, peaches, hank, and anne grandyn as essential to kateys story as tinker and eve. Besides eve, katey spends most of the book talking to men. Are dicky vanderwhile, wallace wolcott, bitsy, peaches, hank, and anne grandyn as essential to kateys story as tinker and. If you are interested, there is additional content regarding rules of civility at. Heck, its clearly inspired a bit by the great gatsby, and how could you measure up to that. Katey kontent narrates her own journey through the year 1938, from the future perspective of 1966, after she runs upon photographs of a man named tinker grey. This novel is less riveting, with a more circumspect plotline, but no less beautiful and poetic in its writing. Rules of civility by amor towles book club discussion. Rules of civility goodreads meet your next favorite book. This chance encounter and its startling consequences propel katey on a yearlong journey into the upper echelons of new york. The novel examines how, by changing your attitudes, behaviors, and manners, you can reinvent yourself, and how katey, tinker, and eve all did this in 1938. Rules of civility is the authors first book, and although it is superbly written, his third book, a gentleman in moscow 2016, is the one worthy of 5 stars. Sometimes, im overly excited to talk to my book club about a book i liked and that was the case with rules of civility. If you cant make a meeting in person or you just cant wait until the meeting to start the discussion, no problem.
On the last night of 1937, 25yearold katey kontent is in a secondrate greenwich village jazz bar when tinker grey, a handsome banker, happens to sit down at the neighboring table. The tv book club discuss amor towles novel, the rules of civility with guest russell kane. If you have other questions or would like to be on my distribution list for rare news of my writing and receive an occasional short story, please register on my. From the new york timesbestselling author of a gentleman in moscow, a sharply stylish boston globe book for mom on mothers day about a young woman in postdepression era new york who suddenly finds herself thrust into high societynow with over one million readers worldwide on the last night of 1937, twentyfive. Commentary on the role of walker evanss photography in the book is included here. On the last night of 1937, poor 25yearold katherine katey kontent, and her friend eve ross, meet rich theodore tinker grey, a handsome banker, at the hotspot jazz club.
Five years ago, three friends and i set out to read some of the great books or those works of literature which would merit. As a group we have not yet met to discuss the rules of civility. His second novel, a gentleman in moscow, published in 2016, was also a new york. Rules of civility by amor towles caused a stir last year on account of the sizeable advance paid by the british publisher for this first novel. Commentary on the role of jazz in the book is included here. I was so glad to hear that a lot of the other readers really enjoyed it as well. Her writing has appeared in the awl, the av club, the chicago reader, and. His first novel, rules of civility, published in 2011, was a new york times bestseller and was named by the wall street journal as one of the best books of 2011.
We are around the same age as the main character, katey. It is almost a cliche to write about novels set in new york. Diane parfitt i loved a gentleman in moscow and was ready to read another book by towles. Discussion questions questions developed by the author. These little nuggets are katys own rules of civility and they made the book worth reading. In a sophisticated black and white photo, a lovely woman lies on a chaise lounge in a garden while the elegant man seated nearby leans eagerly toward her, both dressed in 1930s evening attire.
And if your reading group is meeting for dinner in new york somewhere between. Are dicky vanderwhile, wallace wolcott, bitsy, peaches, hank and anne grandyn as essential to kateys story as tinker and eve. I really enjoyed this book because it was a character novel that was set back in 1937 in new york city. Rules of civility is a beautifully written novel set in postdepression new york city. Rules of civility by amor towles book club discussion questions. Rules of civility by amor towles great pick for 2020.
Here are some basic questions to get a book club discussion going i mean, lets try not to gossip the whole time. Rules of civility by amor towles reading guidebook club. I worried initially that the reissue of rona jaffes the best of everything had slightly stolen rules of civilitys thunder. Rules of civility 2011 is set over one year in america in 1938, during the great depression and after the 1937 recession. I found the book a bit difficult to get into at first, but really wanted to know more about the characters the more i read. With its sparkling depiction of new yorks social strata, its intricate imagery and themes, and its immensely appealing characters, rules of civility won the hearts of readers and critics alike. Partway through rules of civility, the novels autodidact protagonist goes to work for a book publisher that is conservatively described by its celebrated fiction editor as. This is a coming of age tale for people in their twenties, as it explores aspirations. Join us on goodreads where you can find more information about the online version of the book club. Refined manhattan shines with glamorous civility filled with snappy dialogue and sharp observations, amor towles elegant debut novel transports readers back to.
Although the cover of the book grabbed my attention since i saw it in a bookstore a few months ago, for some reason i didnt buy it and then i regretted my decision when i saw it mentioned on your blog. So i was worried as i picked rules of civility as our instore book club selection for november, worried that it would be too derivative of other novels and period films. Reference in the rules of civility and brought to life for the egg lover to enjoy. All 51 characters in rules of civility are listed by chapter along with each characters description. A few friends who had read both didnt like rules of civility as much. Find discussion questions and reading group guide for rules of civility by amor towles. Mmmm, urbane and deliciously enticingand a fitting description for. In amor towless debut novel, rules of civility viking, postdepression manhattanthe glittering metropolis of cocktails, jazz clubs, and glamorous apartment towers guarded by knowing doormenis also the city of profound reinvention. Rules of civility from the new york timesbestselling author of a gentleman in moscow, a sharply stylish boston globe book for mom on mothers day about a young woman in postdepression era new york who suddenly finds herself thrust into high societynow with over one million readers worldwideon the last night of 1937, twentyfiveyearold katey kontent is in a.
Discussion questions for rules of civility by amor. Closed kitchen eggs are an easy way to make the most delicious eggs. I am only two months late, but i just wanted to say how much i enjoyed reading the rules of civility discussion you hosted. The 110th rule turns out to be the most important in towles new york.
We will be reading and discussing rules of civility by amor towles. Our book for this month is amor towles novel rules of civility. But those little tidbits are not the bulk of this quite plotty pacey novel, which is a this book was strange for me, at points, it was a 5, at other points a 1. At the outset, rules of civility appears to be about the interrelationship between katey, tinker and eve. In towless first novel, rules of civility, his clever heroine, who grew up in brooklyn as katya, restyles herself in 1930s manhattan as. Here are some basic questions to get a book club discussion going i mean, lets. For more information, all resources are linked below. Rules of civility, the first novel by amor towles, chronicles a transitional year in the life of a young woman in manhattan. We also have an online book club and discussion page. Armed with little more than a formidable intellect, a bracing wit, and her own brand of cool nerve, katey embarks on a. Rules of civility amor towles, 2011 penguin group usa 352 pp. Choosing civility the 25 rules of considerate conduct by p. Reading guide five years ago, three friends and i set out to read some of the great books or those works of literature which would merit rereading several times over the course of our lives.
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