Amor Towles, RULES OF CIVILITY

Our discussion began with a word from Emily as to why she chose the book: as a complement to BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S, a New York novel with a central, single young woman. Some points in the lively discussion that followed — as always, your additions and comments would be greatly appreciated!

• Is this one of those books that are more fun for the author to write than they could possibly be for anyone to read?
• Why did the author choose a female protagonist and narrator?
• Texts within the novel (The Great Gatsby, Great Expectations): some felt that the novel was not so much inspired by or commenting upon these works as redipping them like used teabags, with a similarly diluted effect. Maren, however, enjoyed the experience of reading them in parallel, and brought up the interesting question of how important the “canonicity” of cited works should be — does it make a difference that the reader with a non-US education can’t be expected to have an automatic knowledge of these works, even if it’s just as a background reference? This spun off into the question of canonical vs. good …
• A cinematic novel? Caroline brought this point up, and many concurred, leading to a brief casting session if the movie were to be made today.
• A New York novel? Robin, our most impassioned Gotham-lover, felt it lacked the tang (“cockroach dung,” she murmured evocatively) of lived New York and seemed more like a product of earnest research. I’d like to ask you all: what’s a real New York fiction for you? How about a real New York movie? I’d like to nominate Dawn Powell’s novels and SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS, and implore you to chime in in the comments.

 

Phoebe