The book was rated by the wall street journal as one of the ten best works of fiction in 2011. So i was worried as i picked rules of civility as our instore book club. On the last night of 1937, twentyfiveyearold katey kontent is in a secondrate greenwich village jazz bar when tinker grey, a handsome banker, happens to sit down at the neighboring table. I am only two months late, but i just wanted to say how much i enjoyed reading the rules of civility discussion you hosted. Rules of civility, by amor towles posted in contemporary literature, fiction by mmelland rules of civility is a beautifully written novel set in postdepression new york city. Reviews, discussion questions and links for rules of civility. Are dicky vanderwhile, wallace wolcott, bitsy, peaches, hank, and anne grandyn as essential to kateys story as tinker and. Jul 26, 2011 rules of civility npr coverage of rules of civility by amor towles. Rules of civility by amor towles reading guidebook club. We are around the same age as the main character, katey.
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. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Besides eve, katey spends most of the book talking to men. Rules of civility is a book to draw discussion on so many levels, the lyrical writing, the defined characters, the complete conjuring up of 1930s new york and the moral dilemmas a. These little nuggets are katys own rules of civility and they made the book worth reading. Aug 31, 2011 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.
His second book, a gentleman in moscow came out in 2016. If you are interested, there is additional content regarding rules of civility at including brief essays on walker evans and jazz, a 1930s time capsule, etcetera. A few friends who had read both didnt like rules of civility as much. Jul 26, 2011 this sophisticated and entertaining first novel presents the story of a young woman whose life is on the brink of transformation. Commentary on the role of jazz in the book is included here. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Aug 14, 2011 in towless first novel, rules of civility, his clever heroine, who grew up in brooklyn as katya, restyles herself in 1930s manhattan as the more clubbable katey, aspiring to. Aug 02, 2011 refined manhattan shines with glamorous civility filled with snappy dialogue and sharp observations, amor towles elegant debut novel transports readers back to new york city circa 1938. Apr 01, 20 our book for this month is amor towles novel rules of civility. Five years ago, three friends and i set out to read some of the great booksor those works of literature. Nov 09, 2012 note that we rarely have this discussion in the other direction. The guardian book companion on the last night of 1937, twentyfiveyearold katey kontent is in.
I waited until four days ago to start the book, and while i finished it. Finally, in 2006, he made another effort, this time succeeding with what would become his 2011 debut novel, rules of civility. Debut novel for this author discussion questions 1. 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. Refined manhattan shines with glamorous civility filled with snappy dialogue and sharp observations, amor towles elegant debut novel transports readers back to new york city circa 1938.
In towless first novel, rules of civility, his clever heroine, who grew up in brooklyn as katya, restyles herself in 1930s manhattan as the more clubbable katey, aspiring to. Commentary on the role of walker evanss photography in the book is included here. Armed with little more than a formidable intellect, a bracing wit, and her own brand of cool nerve, katey embarks on a journey from a wall street secretarial pool through the upper echelons of new york society in search of a brighter future. This novel is less riveting, with a more circumspect plotline, but no less beautiful and poetic in its writing. Jul 25, 2011 youll get the first email of recommendations from our critics within a week. Study questions, project ideas and discussion topics based on important themes running throughout rules of civility by amor towles. Manhattan in the late 1930s is the setting for this saga of a bright, attractive and ambitious young woman whose relationships with her insecure roommate and the privileged adonis they meet in a jazz club are never the. What follows are some questions for discussion that might have surfaced in my reading group. 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. Jul 20, 2011 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 reputedly.
And in the end, i was one of the few folks in our book discussion that. Jul 15, 2011 i worried initially that the reissue of rona jaffes the best of everything had slightly stolen rules of civilitys thunder. This 52page guide for rules of civility by amor towles includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 26 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. Set in new york city in 1938, rules of civility tells the story of a watershed year in the life of an uncompromising twentyfiveyearold named katey kontent. Jul 09, 2018 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.
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. And one attendee said it best when, after having this subject come up several times in meetings, she noted the clear indication that rules of civility was written by a man is that katey kontent is not obsessed with her relationship with her late mother. 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, like the code of conduct written by a young george washington from which the novel takes its name, is a carefully observed and beautifully written portrait of a distinct moment in time. 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 re. Armed with little more than a formidable intellect, a bracing wit, and her own brand of cool nerve, katey embarks on a journey from a wall. Rules of civility is the tale of one woman, katey kontent, and four of the people who greatly influence her manhattan life in 1937 1938. Armed with little more than a formidable intellect, a bracing wit, and her own brand of cool nerve, katey embarks on a journey from a wall street secretarial pool through the upper echelons of new york society in search of a brighter. Aug 25, 2011 still, towles gets the emotional heft of things right. According to towles, the book was inspired by a business trip two years earlier as he mused.
If you have other questions or would like to be on my distribution list for rare news. Love, new york and all that jazz rachel cooke dont be put off by his name or his banking past, for amor towless first novel, rules of civility, is a heady cocktail of ambition and romance. Our book for this month is amor towles novel rules of civility. Amazon best books of the month, august 2011 set during the hazy, enchanting, and martinifilled world of new york city circa 1938, rules of civility follows three friendskatey, eve, and tinkerfrom their chance meeting at a jazz club on new years eve through a year of enlightening and occasionally tragic adventures. In the fall of 2012, the novel was optioned to be made into a feature film. True civility is stiff and prim traits nowhere in evidence in a splashy, dishy novel like rules of civility. You may also submit your thoughts or questions there. Rules of civility, the first novel by amor towles, chronicles a transitional year in the life of a young woman in manhattan. 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. In 20, towles retired so he devote himself to fulltime writing. Suggested book and reading club discussion questions for rules of civility. Discussion questions for rules of civility by amor. Rules of civility takes its name from the famous guide to decorum that george.
Five years ago, three friends and i set out to read some of the great books or. Here are some basic questions to get a book club discussion going i mean, lets. 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 being decades behind. June 27, 2012 amor towles debuts with a crisp, 1930s manhattan love story.
Rules of civility by amor towles goodreads share book. Rules of civility by amor towles book club discussion questions. 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. Below are some answers to commonly asked questions about rules of civility. The book was designed with 26 chapters, because there are 52 weeks in the year and i allotted myself two weeks to draft, revise and bank each chapter. Love, new york and all that jazz books the guardian. Rules of civility by amor towles discussion questions. The civility of his book s title is very often a puton. Rules of civility by amor towles book club discussion. Katey kontent narrates her own journey through the year 1938, from. At the outset, rules of civility appears to be about the interrelationship. On the last night of 1937, twentyfiveyearold katey kontent is in a secondrate.
I worried initially that the reissue of rona jaffes the best of everything had slightly stolen rules of civility s thunder. Are dicky vanderwhile, wallace wolcott, bitsy, peaches, hank and anne grandyn as essential to kateys story as tinker and eve. Great supplemental information for school essays and projects. Find discussion questions and reading group guide for rules of civility by amor towles.
After a few weeks of preparation, i started rules of civility on january 1, 2006 and wrapped it up 365 days later. Climbing the manhattan social ladder in rules of civility. At the outset, rules of civility appears to be about the interrelationship between katey, tinker, and eve. Are dicky vanderwhile, wallace wolcott, bitsy, peaches, hank and. Another book authored by amor towles a gentleman in moscow. To view books in process, and to suggest new books, go to books in process. Discussion questions for rules of civility are listed.