We met at Colette's home with Jane hosting. She offered wonderful cheese, sausage with chutney, small white onions, olives and french cornichons and a lovely chocolate mousse. Present were Beth, Carla, Colette, Jane, Jolene, Linda, Michèle and Shirley. We discussed Rules of Civility by Amor Towles presented by Michèle.
We welcomed back our "snow birds" Linda and Michèle who enjoyed the Florida sun for the last three months.
Michèle was very pleased that all enjoyed the book and found it to be a page turner! The plot rolled along very well and we had a good feeling of the atmosphere of New York in the 1930's, the classes, how people dressed, restaurants, club such as the Russian jazz club. With short descriptions such as katey's polka dot dress, the flapper coat that ended up Eve's closet, Towles manages to give us a picture of the styles from the era. With just a couple of scenes of Katey meeting up with friends from her neighbourhood we get an impression of class difference.
Many thought the story had the flavour and atmosphere of books such as The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerlad, Breakfast at Tiffany's the novella by Truman Capote. There was also reference to many books in the story. Katey reads a lot of Agatha Christie that pleased one of our members in particular and Tinker had a copy of Walden by David Thoreau at his cottage.
Several members felt that the characters were not particularly sympathetic. Certainly Eve's character created tension in the story. Many of us thought that Katey took advantage of opportunities she had to improve her social status. She aspired to belong to the "all American" Manhattan life. Tinker Grey however, lived by the 110 Rules of Civility written by George Washington. It is the reason that he took care of Eve after the car accident. It is interesting that the men such as Tinker Grey, Wallace, and the man Katey eventually marries, Val, are the only characters that give an impression of sincerity.
Everyone agreed that the story is about life choices we make that can easily change the course of our lives. On his website, Mr. Towles in a reading guide asks the following question:
Please don't answer this last question until the wine glasses are empty and the waiters are waiting impatiently to clear your table: In the Epilogue, Katey observes that "Right choices are the means by which life crystallizes loss" What is the right choice that you have made and what did you leave behind as a result?It is certainly worthwhile to consider the question and if any of you care to share, you may wish to add a comment.
