Set in post-revolutionary Russia, A Gentleman in Moscow tells the story of Count Alexander Rostov, who is sentenced to house arrest in a grand hotel across from the Kremlin. Confined to the walls of the Metropol Hotel for decades, the Count builds a rich inner life and forms enduring relationships with the staff and guests. Through charm, wit, and resilience, he adapts to a world that changes radically around him. Amor Towles’s novel is a beautifully written meditation on time, grace, and purpose. It combines historical detail with timeless themes, delivering a story of quiet dignity and human connection.
Amor Towles is an American novelist acclaimed for his elegant, character-driven historical fiction. A former investment professional, Towles shifted to writing full-time after the success of his debut novel, Rules of Civility. His best-known work, A Gentleman in Moscow, tells the story of a Russian aristocrat under house arrest, and has been widely praised for its lyrical prose and philosophical depth. Towles excels at crafting refined, immersive worlds and complex characters. His third novel, The Lincoln Highway, further showcased his versatility and narrative skill. Towles is celebrated for his literary style, historical insight, and ability to evoke timeless human themes.
by Amor Towles
Amor Towles' 'The Lincoln Highway' follows the captivating journey of Emmett Watson, a young man recently released from a juvenile work farm, as he embarks on a transformative road trip with his brother and two friends from Nebraska to New York City. Set in the 1950s, this novel weaves a tale of adventure, self-discovery, and the power of human connection. Through vivid storytelling and intricate character development, Towles explores themes of family, friendship, redemption, and the pursuit of the American dream. As the group encounters a mix of challenges and unexpected encounters along the iconic Lincoln Highway, readers are drawn into a richly layered narrative that delves into the complexities of love, loyalty, and the choices that shape our lives.
by Amor Towles
In 'Rules of Civility' by Amor Towles, readers are transported to the vibrant and glamorous New York City of the late 1930s. The novel follows the intelligent and ambitious Katey Kontent as she navigates the complexities of love, friendship, and social mobility. Through Katey's experiences, the book delves into themes of class, identity, and the pursuit of the American Dream. Towles' elegant prose captures the essence of the era, immersing readers in a world where appearances and manners hold great importance. As Katey encounters a cast of intriguing characters and faces pivotal decisions, the novel explores the consequences of ambition and the true meaning of success.
by Willa Cather
Told through the eyes of Jim Burden, My Ántonia recounts the life of Ántonia Shimerda, a spirited immigrant girl on the Nebraska frontier. Through vivid landscapes and deep characterizations, Cather celebrates pioneer life, hard work, and memory. The novel is a nostalgic tribute to the resilience of early settlers and the bond between people and place, filled with poetic prose and quiet power.
Marie-Laure lives in Paris near the Museum of Natural History, where her father works. When she is twelve, the Nazis occupy Paris and father and daughter flee to the walled citadel of Saint-Malo, where Marie-Laure’s reclusive great uncle lives in a tall house by the sea. With them they carry what might be the museum’s most valuable and dangerous jewel. In a mining town in Germany, Werner Pfennig, an orphan, grows up with his younger sister, enchanted by a crude radio they find that brings them news and stories from places they have never seen or imagined. Werner becomes an expert at building and fixing these crucial new instruments and is enlisted to use his talent to track down the resistance. Deftly interweaving the lives of Marie-Laure and Werner, Doerr illuminates the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another.
by George Eliot
George Eliot’s Middlemarch is a deeply layered novel exploring the lives of residents in a fictional English town during the early 19th century. It centers on Dorothea Brooke, an idealistic woman seeking intellectual and spiritual fulfillment, and Tertius Lydgate, a reform-minded doctor. The novel examines marriage, ambition, politics, and the limitations of social convention. Renowned for its psychological realism and philosophical depth, Middlemarch is often hailed as one of the greatest English novels, offering a rich portrait of provincial life and moral complexity.
by Brit Bennett
Twin sisters Desiree and Stella grow up in a small Southern Black community where light skin is prized. One eventually disappears to live as a white woman, severing ties with her past. Decades later, their daughters’ lives intersect, uncovering family secrets and confronting issues of race, identity, and generational legacy. The Vanishing Half is a powerful exploration of the choices that define us and the stories we inherit. With beautiful prose and emotional depth, Brit Bennett delivers a poignant, sweeping novel about passing, belonging, and the bonds of sisterhood.