Rules of Civility

A Novel

By: Amor Towles

Narrated by: Rebecca Lowman

Length: 12 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

From the number one New York Times best-selling author of The Lincoln Highway and A Gentleman in Moscow, a “sharply stylish” (Boston Globe) book about a young woman in post-Depression era New York who suddenly finds herself thrust into high society - now with over one million readers worldwide.

On the last night of 1937, 25-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.

Hear why Rules of Civility is Our Book of the Summer.

©2011 Amor Towles (P)2011 Penguin

Great book.

I’m not an intellectual or a book snob. But I do listen to a lot of audiobooks and I’m surprised by how many books on bestseller lists have cringe worthy writing, characters and predictable plots. Amor Towles is a cut above the rest. I saw some critiquing that this book was about nothing. True, it’s not a predictable murder mystery (love those). It’s essentially about this chick from NYC circa 1939 who finds herself at the edges of New York old money circles, the relationships she builds and loses there, and the peace she makes in that journey. It’s like the Great Gatsby dates some Russian girl from Brooklyn. The thing is, the writing never becomes tiresome. Towles is magical with his prose and is especially good at elaborating on the details of the setting and eccentricities of his characters. If that’s your jam you’ll like this, I think.

Delightful

Love Amor Towles. Well written and very well read. Kept me interested The narrator was on point

Very enjoyable

A cozy read that paints a fantasy of a time and place. Though a few liberties are taken with social history it is every author’s prerogative and I found the world he creates a very pleasant and relaxing place to spend time. I was engaged and enjoyed myself.

Good enough to listen to

I’ve listened to “Gentleman in Moscow” twice. And will likely do a third. It’s just brilliant. So then I listened to this one. It’s good. The reader is good, but she is a reader. She reads it to you, like a friend or parent would, and thats nice, it’s not really a performance like some on audible are. G I Moscow is impeccable in this regard. Civility is fine, good enough to listen to.

Not the best book I’ve read this year

While the story was good, I found the book jumped around and I had trouble following the story at times. I wished I had a hard copy so I could go back to remind myself shoot the story lines when they reappeared.

Another entertaining read by Amor Towles

I enjoyed this even more than Towles previous two books. With interesting and well developed characters, he spins an entertaining yarn that never drags.

Great story, very well read

Gifted author who keeps us going through every twist. Clever premise, cleverly executed read by a lovely narrator.

Bravo!

After reading A Gentleman in Moscow and The Lincoln Highway, I thought they can’t be beat! I was wrong. This one, The Rules of Civility, tops them both. I loved the story and I especially loved the reading of it by her voice so subtly alive and full of character. Excellent book.

Rambles On and On

There were portions of the book that I enjoyed but it basically just seemed to ramble on and on about details that were of no interest.

Doesn’t measure up to A Gentleman in Moscow

Happy to have listened, as I want to read/listen to everything Towles has written. It may have been the time in which it took place, but it wasn’t as captivating as I would have hoped. Good, but not a favorite. Although I now wonder if anything can withstand the comparison to A Gentleman in Moscow, one of my all time favorite books!