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Book Review of Rules of Civility

Rules of Civility
Rules of Civility
Author: Amor Towles
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Book Type: Paperback
usseryron avatar reviewed on + 10 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 8


Incredible novel. It captures very well what I imagine to be the social strata of 30s NYC--as effectively as Fitzgerald. Other reviews say that the theme of the book is personal choices and how those choices often have far-reaching implications in our lives. As one born into the lower middle class who later migrated to NYC, for me it is all about access and its price.
The two main female characters, boarding house roommates who dream of breaking into the upper class, get an opportunity to dip their toes in the water of the very rich and privileged. But they find that true access or full immersion sometimes can cost aspirants their souls.

Caution: a side effect of this novel is that you will crave a martini while reading it.