Armed with little more than a formidable intellect, a bracing wit. 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. Amor towles started rules of civility on january 1, 2006, and wrapped it up 365 days later. Rules of civility by amor towles book club discussion questions. Are dicky vanderwhile, wallace wolcott, bitsy, peaches, hank, and anne grandyn as essential to kateys story as tinker and eve. Her writing has appeared in the awl, the av club, the chicago reader, and chicago magazine. Find discussion questions and reading group guide for rules of civility by amor towles. This sophisticated and entertaining first novel presents the story of a young woman whose life is on the brink of transformation. George washingtons many virtues have, for centuries, led masons to regard him as a true exemplar of the dignity and morality that our craft espouses. Are dicky vanderwhile, wallace wolcott, bitsy, peaches, hank, and anne grandyn as essential to kateys story as tinker and. Presumably they were copied out as part of an exercise in penmanship assigned by young washingtons schoolmaster. I am only two months late, but i just wanted to say how much i enjoyed reading the rules of civility discussion you hosted. Thriller writer baldacci a minute to midnight, 2019, etc. 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.
Study questions, project ideas and discussion topics based on important themes running throughout rules of civility by amor towles. On the last night of 1937, poor 25yearold katherine katey kontent, and her friend eve ross, meet rich theodore tinker grey, a handsome banker, at the hotspot jazz club. Rules of civility the ny times good reads the guardian book companion 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. Whereas every other american metropolisset novels publication is punctuated with hints of regionalism and yes, i mean chicago and san francisco and boston too, there is something about new york that becomes a standin for america. In amor towless witty and slyly brutal debut novel, rules of civility, the protagonist is one katey kontent. Jul 09, 2018 rules of civility 2011 is set over one year in america in 1938, during the great depression and after the 1937 recession. Book club may 2019 rules of civility by amor towles. 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. 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. We are around the same age as the main character, katey. I loved the feel of the period created in this book. Commentary on the role of jazz in the book is included here. Our book for this month is amor towles novel rules of civility.
In 1949, archer is paroled from carderock prison he was innocent and must report regularly to his parole officer, ernestine crabtree shes damn finelooking. Great supplemental information for school essays and projects. 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. The rules of civility george washingtons mount vernon. Rules of civility by amor towles goodreads share book. This being said, most folks will enjoy the rules of civility because it is good, effortless reading and has some fun characters in it. After a few weeks of preparation, i started rules of civility on january 1, 2006 and wrapped it up 365 days later. Rules of civility takes its name from the famous guide to decorum that. From the new york times bestselling author of a gentleman in moscow, a sharply stylish boston globe novel of a young woman in postdepressionera new york who suddenly finds herself thrust into high society. Forni ode to better angels of our nature this one was recommended persistently by my mom until i eventually caved. 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. They are based on a set of rules composed by french jesuits in 1595. Set a small fine for late books, to be put in a communal fund for snacks or similar expenses.
Rules of civility 2011 is set over one year in america in 1938, during the great depression and after the 1937 recession. This study guide consists of approximately 53 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of rules of civility. I found the book a bit difficult to get into at first, but really wanted to know more about the characters the more i read. 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.
Hear why rules of civility is our book of the summer. 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. Below are some answers to commonly asked questions about rules of civility. 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. Rules of civility from the new york timesbestselling author of a gentleman in moscow, a. 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.
Here are a few suggested rules to keep the club running smoothly. In 1949, archer is paroled from carderock prison he was innocent and must report regularly to his parole officer, ernestine crabtree shes damn fine. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. This novel is less riveting, with a more circumspect plotline, but no less beautiful and poetic in its writing. Discussion questions for rules of civility by amor. At the outset, rules of civility appears to be about the interrelationship between katey, tinker, and eve.
George washingtons rules of civility and decent behavior. Choosing civility the 25 rules of considerate conduct by p. Discussion questions for rules of civility by amor towles 1. Jul 15, 2011 i worried initially that the reissue of rona jaffes the best of everything had slightly stolen rules of civility s thunder.
I may or may not have skipped out on another meeting to come to this book club. Rules of civility, the first novel by amor towles, chronicles a transitional year in the life of a young woman in manhattan. George washingtons many virtues have, for centuries, led masons to regard him as a true exemplar of. The cocktail party november 27, 20 14 comments in etiquette, savoir vivre by jay sennett the ability to entertain is a powerful skill that once mastered, gives a gentleman many hours of joyous reflection and boundless amounts of goodwill from others. Is there anything unique about this book such as writing style, structure, or subject matter. Jul 26, 2011 npr coverage of rules of civility by amor towles. Rules of civility from the new york timesbestselling author of a gentleman in moscow, a sharply stylish boston globe novel of a young woman in postdepression era new york who suddenly finds herself thrust into high societynow with over one million readers worldwideon the last night of 1937, twentyfiveyearold katey kontent is in a secondrate greenwich village jazz bar when tinker. The book was designed with twentysix chapters, because there are fiftytwo weeks in the year and he. Are dicky vanderwhile, wallace wolcott, bitsy, peaches, hank and anne grandyn as essential to kateys story as tinker and eve.
His first novel, rules of civility, published in 2011, was a new york times bestseller and was named by the wall street journal as one of the best books of 2011. With its sparkling depiction of new yorks social strata, its intricate imagery and themes, and its immensely appealing characters, rules of civility won the hearts of readers and critics alike. 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. 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. Jan 05, 2012 i recommend reading this book first before going on to gentleman in moscow. Here are some basic questions to get a book club discussion going i mean, lets.
His first novel, rules of civility, published in 2011, was a new york times bestseller and was named by the wall street journal as. These little nuggets are katys own rules of civility and they made the book worth reading. As someone who has written quietly for twenty years, the notion that a group might gather to discuss a book of mine seems something so fantastic it must be a. Commentary on the role of walker evanss photography in the book is included here. Each book is due back after a certain amount of time such as two months.
Besides eve, katey spends most of the book talking to men. Towless fascinating narrator, katey nee katya kontent, works as a secretary at a whiteshoe law firm, where she deftly hides the fact that shes the daughter of immigrant laborers. Jul 25, 2011 thriller writer baldacci a minute to midnight, 2019, etc. Initially, i imagined tinker as an avid student of the period. Amor towles recreates the beautiful atmosphere of this era and fills the pages with people and events that take you back to this time of. When general franco and his fascists succeed in overthrowing the government, hundreds of thousands are forced to flee in a treacherous journey over the mountains to the french border. Rules of civility by amor towles discussion guide penguin. Named after george washingtons book of moral and social codes, this. 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. In the fall of 2012, the novel was optioned to be made into a feature film. Rules of civility by amor towles book club discussion.
Diane parfitt i loved a gentleman in moscow and was ready to read another book by towles. But once into the book, i happened to pull a collection of washingtons writings off my shelf, which led off with his rules of civilityand i knew right away that the rules should be the primary thing that tinker had studied. Popular literature, movies, and tv often delve into the topic of a character climbing. Manhattan in the 1930s with all its charm, sophistication and jazzage dynamics is the highlight of this book. Rules of civility by amor towles reading guidebook club. Katey and eve stretch their few dollars out each evening on the town. A few friends who had read both didnt like rules of civility as much. I recommend reading this book first before going on to gentleman in moscow. 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.
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. Did you like the book immediately or did it take you some time to become committed. Rules of civility by amor towles 7 nov sometimes, im overly excited to talk to my book club about a book i liked and that was the case with rules of civility. Climbing the manhattan social ladder in 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. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors.
Rules of civility amor towles, 2011 penguin group usa 352 pp. 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. Here are some basic questions to get a book club discussion going i mean, lets try not to gossip the whole time. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel that. Set at the end of the 1930s during the great depression, the narrative follows spunky roommates katey kontent and evelyn ross as they make their way up the social ladder in new york society. Published in 2011, rules of civility is american author amor towles acclaimed debut novel. As a group we have not yet met to discuss the rules of civility. It is almost a cliche to write about novels set in new york. Presumably they were copied out as part of an exercise in penmanship assigned.
Apr 01, 20 our book for this month is amor towles novel rules of civility. Why does the author include a prologue to his novel, featuring a photographic art exhibit. The book was rated by the wall street journal as one of the ten best works of fiction in 2011. If you are interested, there is additional content regarding rules of civility at. Somore i loved a gentleman in moscow and was ready to read another book by towles. His second novel, a gentleman in moscow, published in 2016, was also a new york times bestseller and. In amor towless debut novel, rules of civility viking, postdepression manhattanthe glittering metropolis of cocktails, jazz clubs, and glamorous apartment towers guarded by knowing doormenis also the city of profound reinvention.
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. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. In amor towless debut novel, rules of civility viking, postdepression manhattan the glittering metropolis of cocktails, jazz clubs, and glamorous apartment towers guarded by knowing doormen is also the city of profound reinvention. Born and raised in the boston area, amor towles graduated from yale college and received an ma in english from stanford university. And if your reading group is meeting for dinner in new york somewhere between.
Sometimes, im overly excited to talk to my book club about a book i liked and that was the case with rules of civility. At the outset, rules of civility appears to be about the interrelationship between katey, tinker and eve. Katey kontent narrates her own journey through the year 1938, from the future perspective of 1966, after she runs upon photographs of a man named tinker grey. Posts about rules of civility book club written by pamela dae. 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. Amor towles recreates the beautiful atmosphere of this era and fills the pages with people and events that take you back to this time of witty conversation, lavish parties and soaring ambitions. Its 1938 as the story opens, and katey has just about had it with the narrow options facing a young woman in depressionera manhattan.
607 299 799 1383 198 322 1022 767 91 1185 695 248 1418 1150 478 189 510 524 140 568 1035 1223 639 26 615 1250 506 592 845 837 600 444 549 786 907 1407 1136