Honoring Beautiful Writing
The novel A Gentleman in Moscow is one of the most beautifully written books I’ve read in a while.
What I read: A Gentleman in Moscow: A Novel (paid link) by Amor Towles. Published September 6, 2016.
Every so often a book stuns with its beauty. It could be a work of fiction or nonfiction. It could tell any type of story or cover any sort of topic. But the luscious way it’s written makes you slow down and savor each meticulous word.
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles is one such book.
In keeping with the randomness articulated in my previous post, “How Lucky Are You?,” I stumbled on Towles’ book quite by accident. It was referenced in someone’s social media post. I did a bit of research and it appeared to have garnered good reviews. I downloaded the e-book shortly thereafter and began reading.
Usually, I consume a book within days. I might finish a short work in a single day. I could not rush this book. I found myself going back and re-reading passages over and over, not because I had lost my place or misunderstood what I had read, but rather because I found the writing so gorgeous and sometimes downright poetic that I was compelled to read it again. Slowly. Deliberately. Savoring each sentence.
In my previous post, I used a passage from the book to demonstrate that literature sometimes alludes to how the randomness of life can pivot our existence in entirely new ways as when the main character opines on the luck and chance that influences our life directions and situations.
Alexander Rostov was neither scientist nor sage; but at the age of sixty-four he was wise enough to know that life does not proceed by leaps and bounds. It unfolds. At any given moment, it is the manifestation of a thousand transitions. Our faculties wax and wane, our experiences accumulate, and our opinions evolve – if not glacially, then at least gradually. Such that the events of an average day are as likely to transform who we are as a pinch of pepper is to transform a stew.
Isn’t that lovely writing. I think so.
Another time when I was struck by the text I was reading, I posted this passage to my social media for everyone on my feed to enjoy.
From one to the next, they seemed to depict an America in which corruption and cruelty lounged on the couch; in which justice was a beggar and kindness a fool; in which loyalties were fashioned from paper; and self-interest was fashioned from steel. In other words, they provided an unflinching portrayal of Capitalism as it actually was.
Again, truly great writing.
I’m not going to otherwise review or gush over this book further. Check out the book and if it might align with your taste, give it a try. I loved it.
I’ve yet to see it, but they’ve created a television series based on the book. I plan to watch it to see how the book is adapted for the screen.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases from the book link. You can use this link to access all my writings and social media. My content is usually open and free to all to view, but for those who are able your paid subscription (click the Subscribe button) or patron support is always appreciated.