Reading Check-In || Amor Towles, Agatha Christie, Harper Lee

[@clarepotter7584]

I love Amor Towles's novels. I like his tone and the literary references. I've got to wait until May before the short stories are published here! I'm so jealous.

[@RoadReads]

I don’t think you’ll be disappointed then with Table for Two. It all felt very Amor Towles-y. 😁

[@nonisnest9718]

Excited to go to Alabama with you!

[@RoadReads]

Wonderful!! Excited to take you!

[@glendaw5221]

Your enthusiasm is so contagious. I loved A Gentleman in Moscow although it was a little too long and Rules of Civility (A Book Olive convinced me too) but I have not read The Lincoln Highway because of the trope (I just don’t care for books that are sad-somebody correct me if I’m wrong). I’m on the wait list for Table for Two and hope I love it.

[@clarepotter7584]

I feel battered by books like 'The Kite Runner' and 'A Fine Balance' with 'The Lincoln Highway' - trying not to plot spoiler - I still enjoyed it as much as Towles's other two books. There is an aspect of the ending which isn't happy but it's worth bearing in mind, there are different narrators, therefore not just one character arc for a protagonist. I didn't find it depressing.

[@glendaw5221]

@@clarepotter7584 good thoughts and I love Towles’ writing so much. The Lincoln Highway is still on my TBR.

[@clarepotter7584]

@@glendaw5221 Enjoy! There's such a Shakespeare theme going on, I thought about certain character arcs being like (it's an older Shakespearian theory) of the tragedian's fatal flaw.

[@RoadReads]

My friend doesn't like sad books and she really enjoyed The Lincoln Highway. So perhaps its sadness will be palatable. If you enjoyed Moscow and Rules, then I think you'll enjoy Table for Two. The novella with Eve in it is half the book, and I thought that if I had enjoyed Rules more when I read it in 2021, I probably just would have loved spending more time with Eve. Happy weekend, Glenda!! :)

[@joniheisenberg]

I am so surprised you are not a fan of Amor Towles. I adored “Rules of Civility” and think it will become “ The Great Gatsby” of its time. I just finished Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s “Until August.” I went into the book with some trepidation as there has been a lot of controversy due to his sons decision to publish the novella against his wishes. I am still processing my thoughts. It has lingered with me and there is something very powerful to me about the undercurrent of the story. Just picked up Salman Rushdie’s “Knife.” I listened to his NPR interview with Terry Gross,host of Fresh Air. It was very impactful. I have been thinking about one of the statements he made attributed to French writer Henry de Montherlant: “Happiness writes in white ink on a white page.”

[@clarepotter7584]

I love 'Rules of Civility' very Gatsby vibes. I like the way he can write historical fiction. Many authors try and impose a modern view of the world onto the time period, he doesn't.

[@RoadReads]

Ooooooh, that is a great quote by de Montherlant! (And now I need to look into the "Until August" controversy.) So...Rules the Great Gatsby of our time?? - Hmmmm. :) I do agree with you though that it seems like Towles SHOULD be my kind of author. Good to know you adored it! Just further confirmation that it's me and not him.

[@Movingthebookmark]

Wow, I totally get what you mean about Amor Towles! I tried Gentleman in Moscow and the writing was very good, no complaints! And yet..it went unfinished. It's strange how that happens sometimes! Your Alabama trip sounds incredible, I'm excited for you! All my vacations are centered around history or literature. I realized you've influenced two trips of mine, Biltmore and I'm going to Concord in October.

[@RoadReads]

Concord in October will be GREAT for you! You sound like a kindred spirit!! :)

[@betsymaher9489]

I've wanted to go to Fan du Lac, Wisconsin because that's where Seventeenth Summer by Maureen Daly is set, even though I think most of the places mentioned in the book are gone now. I did have a very interesting encounter when I was in college though. I went to a performance of Isaac Stern and was sitting next to a woman who was a teacher at the school Maureen Daly went to and had a very nice chat with her.

[@betsymaher9489]

misspelled Fon du Lac 😁

[@LauraRodriguez-Peace]

Yay! 🌺 “To Kill a Mockingbird” is still definitely my favorite book, after all these years. I will live vicariously through your Alabama adventure! Looking forward to whatever you share. Thanks, Susan. 🙂

[@RoadReads]

Wonderful! I’ll be taking you along for sure! 🚐🐶

[@karenwetherald6086]

Too bad there wasn't a camera to capture me bouncing in my seat and clapping my hands in excitement for your road trip !!! I can't wait to see & hear all about it. I've tried reading A Gentleman In Moscow a couple of times and couldn't get in to it... I'd like to give Rules of Civility a try.

[@RoadReads]

Yes! Thank you! ... road trip down south coming up!! I wish I went when she Harper Lee was still alive and I would have had a chance to see her...maybe at the McDonalds or David's Catfish or the laundromat. :) For me, Rules of Civility felt very different than A Gentleman in Moscow. And so many people love it! (And apparently I did too back in 2011. :) )

[@mariajesustovardedios4064]

Enjoy your trip!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 I totally identify with your opinion about Amor Towles' books. 👍🤗

[@RoadReads]

Thank you, Maria! :) Towles should absolutely be an author I enjoy -- and apparently did enjoy back in 2011 -- but now, geez, it's as if I'm not patient enough for his storytelling. :( HAPPY weekend!!

[@Novaturient_Liv]

I am excited to learn more about Monroeville! Maybe it will inspire me to read TKAM again. :D Have safe travels!

[@RoadReads]

Wonderful!! I can’t wait to report back! 🌷🚐🐶

[@betsymaher9489]

I didn't really enjoy A Gentleman in Moscow much either even though it was highly recommended. I watched the Showtime series of A Gentleman in Moscow and it was O.K. I found when I was watching it that I hadn't remembered much of the book.

[@RoadReads]

I almost can’t believe I didn’t enjoy reading the book. 😂 I tried the show but only ended up watching one episode. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@amandarademaker7269]

Ooooo, excited for your trip!

[@RoadReads]

Thank you, Amanda!! 🩷🌷 going to be fun!

[@cathyg.9996]

I’m all over the place with Amor Towles lol. I didn’t like Rules of Civility, tried twice to read Gentleman in Moscow but couldn’t get into it. I loved The Lincoln Highway, it was a 5 star read for me and my favorite read of 2021. Haven’t read Table For Two but I own it. I’m so excited that you are going to Monroeville and can’t wait to see your videos. TKAM is my favorite book. I’m a big fan of Truman Capote and have the Gerald Clark biography on my TBR shelf. ❤

[@RoadReads]

Wow -- so The Lincoln Highway was your fav read for 2021?! Hmmmm...sounds like I should give it a try considering you didn't like Rules and Moscow!! Thanks for the input!! And WONDERFUL to hear that TKAM is your favorite book!! I'll definitely be reporting back to you from Monroeville soon!

[@cathyg.9996]

@@RoadReads I hope you try The Lincoln Highway. I haven’t heard of anyone who didn’t like it. I’m so excited for you to take a trip to Monroeville and can’t wait to see and hear all about it! ❤️

[@RoadReads]

@cathyg.9996 I’ll give the Lincoln Highway a try! 😁🤗 and I’m so excited for Monroeville too!! 🌸🩷

[@Angela-it2tb]

Thanks for the heads up about Endless Night its on my tbr for this year and now after hearing your thoughts I will be better prepared for it 😊

[@RoadReads]

Super! 🤗

[@MLLatUtube]

I look forward to your adventure!

[@RoadReads]

🚐🐶🥳

[@HannahsBooks]

I keep hoping I’ll enjoy Towles’s books more at some point, but I haven’t yet. I love the Harper Lee story-and l’m looking forward to hearing about your trip!

[@RoadReads]

It’s nice to know I’m not alone when it comes to Towles. - Thank you, Hannah! Reporting from Monroeville soon. 😃

[@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD]

Oh that's so funny!! I just finished Table for Two last night! We are buddy reading and didn't even know it. 😂 I think i gave Rules a 3.5. I thought it was fine. I LOVED GiM tho. And YESSSS, Eve in Hollywood was 😴😴. I enjoyed several of the ss though.

[@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD]

I've read Endless Night too on audio. I'm like you! Whoaaa😅!

[@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD]

Very cool in your trip and literary rabbit hole. My husband is from AL but we pull for the "other" team.... when you're from AL you have to declare your team. 😅 🐘🐘

[@RoadReads]

Towles had a nice hook with each of the short stories, didn’t he. But golly … Eve in Hollywood. 🥱

[@RoadReads]

She got us good on that one, didn’t she. 😂

[@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD]

​@@RoadReadsI kept thinking surely there would be some something with Eve to make it all worthwhile, but I ended up thinking it was just unbelievable by the end.

[@fangs1972]

I’ve read “Go Set a Watchman,” but didn’t finish “TKA Mockingbird” in high school 😮 I really liked “Watchman” - some sublime writing in that - and would’ve given it 5 stars if it hadn’t been for the gasbag uncle.

[@RoadReads]

Interesting!! (as your comments always are.) ;) Happy weekend!!!

[@julieg_quebec-julesselivre8641]

I’ve never been to Alabama! 🎉 Can wait to go on a trip with you Susan! 😉 I downloaded Rules of Civilities years ago and never got to it! I think I’ll pass. When and author is half loved and half detested, I usually don’t want to use my reading time for that author! 😅

[@RoadReads]

I can’t wait for you to come to ‘bama with me!! 🚐🐶🥳 As for Rules of Civility, since I didn’t care for it, doesn’t that usually mean you’ll like it?? 😁😉😂

[@julieg_quebec-julesselivre8641]

@@RoadReads 🤣😂🤣😂 maybe!

[@Dinadoesyoga]

I've only got through about the first 72 pages of A Gentleman in Moscow and just wasn't into it, which really surprised me because people that love classics really love and recommend it. The writing was nice, but it felt contrived somehow. Like it was trying very hard to be something.

[@RoadReads]

Towles does enjoy his $5 words. 😁🥱🙃

[@stephaniefromtexas]

🥰

[@RoadReads]

🥰🌷

[@darleneboudwin9580]

I loved A Gentleman in Moscow, but I didn’t connect with Rules of Civility as much. I am sorry you just can’t vibe with his writing. It happens, though.

[@RoadReads]

I blame me; not him. 😉