I enjoyed this book very much, a debut novel by an author who works as an "investment professional." I liked the plot, the characters, and the New York City setting---but I loved the language. I wished I had had someone reading right along with me, so we could share the careful metaphors and well-constructed sentences.
That doesn't mean, though, that the plot in 1938 doesn't clip right along. Katey is a native New Yorker, a secretary and the daughter of immigrants. She and her roommate Eve, from the Midwest, meet handsome banker Tinker Grey at a jazz club on New Year's Eve. Tinker's name and clothing tell the girls all they need to know about his social class, relative to theirs.
But, the three become good friends, and a bit of a love triangle develops, till a tragedy changes all their lives, and Katey is left on her own. She's a likable and resourceful girl, and takes advantage of her experiences to climb both in society and in her employment.
The plot had surprises all along the way, and has a good ending, although not the one I expected. And, I liked the depiction of Manhattan, in the years following the Depression and just before WWII.
Rules of Civility is listed on some "best of the year" lists I have seen, and I would personally include it as one of the best books I read this year.
I loved this book! In fact it is one of the most enjoyable books I’ve recently read. Everything about it was delightful. The narrator, Katey, was charming. She was bold, bright and insightful when she dealt with the various interesting characters in the book. The author provides life lessons throughout the book as well. Towles eloquently writes of lessons we learn from those we encounter, the dangers of misconceptions we hold about people, and the power our decisions have in shaping our lives. There are many passages that are thought provoking and require rereading just to capture the beauty of the words and the message they carry.
Posted by: Marianne Marcek | February 15, 2012 at 07:07 AM