“If one did not master one’s circumstances, one was bound to be mastered by them.”
Was also thrilled that everyone enjoyed the read of A Gentleman in Moscow and it fared so well in the ratings.
It was praised for the deep, rich and effective characters and setting and for engaging storytelling. I hope that those still to finish enjoy it right to the end. The parallel to Hotel Budapest was well pointed out – something that I freely admit to having missed. The setting and the tale was totally alive for me and I quite enjoyed the twists, turns and was left with a most satisfied feeling on having been invited into the Count’s world. Nod for noting that the nature of the narrative was to increasing gaps in the time as the book went on.
Although there was a note that many of the excesses of the early Soviet regime seem to be downplayed, it seems in keeping with the sense of the novel that the isolation was treated as a world in itself – not ignorance, but through enforced isolation. What contacts there are poignant in sometime kafkaesque treatment. The sense of the innocence of the young, unencumbered by the biases of waging are superbly treated through the unique relationship between the Count and a 9 year old Sophia.
Thoroughly satisfying and richly rewarding. It was in fact my choice as best book I read in 2016 – thrilled that the club found it equally rich.
Votes for the record were:
Joe:8.5, Fergal:8, Mike: 8, Jim: 9, Brian C: 8, Brian M: 7 and Shawn: 9. Quite an impressive showing and well sponsored Jim.
Onward to the Ennis Book Club Festival