February 23, 2013

“Rules of Civility” by Amor Towles – No Money, No Problems


Katey Kontent and Evie Ross, despite being of quite different origins, are two very ambitious and free-spirited friends who make up with character and courage for what they lack in funds. However, on New Year’s Eve 1937, the pair has a chance encounter with Tinker Grey, one of the wealthiest people in the city. 

This encounter changes their lives forever, introducing them to a world that goes far beyond the simple pleasures of the poor. This is as far as I’ll go in revealing anything about the story, because I believe that this is one of those books that is better experienced when you know less about it.

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles offers what I see as a more unique perspective on the 1930s and 40s; whereas most books and works of art portray the people living during that time period as being religiously-guided and well-mannered folk, this book paints a whole different picture.

The way I see it, this book takes a look at the side of life we all know exist, but we keep pretending it doesn’t. The story is filled with extravagant parties, alcohol, jazz bands, mansions, relatively famous figures, impulsiveness and unpredictability. What’s more, the story’s narrator and main character, Katey Kontent, is simply unforgettable for a number of reasons. For starters, she’s one of the most likeable narrators I’ve come across recently: her free-spirited mind that feels like it can achieve anything is truly something that can rub off on you.

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles (Book cover)
All in all, Rules of Civility is somewhat of a cross between a deep character study as to how one manages to retain him or her identity when being thrust into a seemingly-bizarre way of living, and a comedy/adventure book. You never know what the characters are going to be up to next, and not a single line of text disappoints. 

As a matter of fact, I found most of the sentences to have been written quite carefully, with each word serving its own purpose. This is one of those books that I can’t really recommend to readers of a particular genre… this is the kind of book, in my opinion, that should at least be given a chance by anyone who can call him or herself a reader.


Amor Towles (Author)

Amor Towles


Personal site

Amor Towles is an American author who was born just outside of Boston. After graduating from Yale University he pursued an MA in English from Stanford University. Apart from being a principal at an investment company in Manhattan, he has also taken to writing, and his first two (and so far, only) books to be published, Eve in Hollywood and Rules of Civility, have garnered quite the crowd of admirers.



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