I have read this book 4 times. Yes, all 462 pages and 138 140 words of it. And no, I was not forced to for academic purposes. In fact, this is one of my most read books and this can be seen from the dents and the peeling of the cover on my own copy (much to my own dismay).
What might prompt me to read a book this many times, you may ask? Well, it isn’t the fact that Bill Gates recommended it, or its rather high 4.34/5 average rating on Goodreads (though, those factors encouraged me to pick it up in the first place). Instead, it’s the fact that this book is vastly different from the other historical fiction books I’ve read, and the extraordinary sense of familiarity with its characters that keeps me coming back for more.
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles tells the story of a Russian aristocrat (more specifically, a count), Alexander Rostov, who gets placed under house arrest in the Metropol Hotel. Spanning 30 years starting from the formative years of the Soviet Union, this book provides a unique perspective on Communist Russia, making it a must read for anyone who is interested in learning more about that era. Even if you aren’t, the book is chock full with delightful anecdotes and entertaining characters that will keep readers entertained and on the edge of their seats till the very end.
While reading this book, it became increasingly clear how relevant the Count’s story was to my life, especially since I read it during the first year of the pandemic. Being sequestered in my own home made me empathise with the Count to make the best of our situations, though being confined to an apartment and a luxury hotel is not exactly the same. I sought inspiration from the Count as he constantly took advantage of his situation, never once lamenting that he would never be able to see the outside world again. In this sense, it can be categorised as a self-help book, though to me it is much more interesting and much less preachy than one.
The one thing that struck me as incredibly unique about this story is the use of anecdotes. With each point the Count wants to bring across to his audience, he chooses a fitting short story, either from his own personal experiences, or stories of his childhood. I had never encountered a book before this that wove short stories seamlessly into one overarching storyline as well as this one did. The Count’s anecdotes are surprisingly relevant and relatable to the 21st century reader.
For example, he recounts the tale of the Manchester Moths. Before the Industrial Revolution, the White-peppered moths were able to camouflage well into the trees. Some moths were black and they were picked off quickly by birds due to their inability to camouflage. However, soot from factories soon darkened the colour of the trees. The black moths were now able to camouflage better and soon dominated the moth population.
Now, what is the relevance of this seemingly random story you may ask? As the Count explains, the moral of the story is that one must be adaptable and use one’s existing skills to adapt to an ever changing environment. Staying adaptable enables one to ensure they continue to thrive when the odds are not in one’s favour. As those who take (or have taken) Biology may realise, this story is in fact an example of natural selection. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised to see the moths show up in my textbook last year.
Moths aside, the perspective also struck me as unique. With the Count being imprisoned in a hotel, he is not able to witness the political turmoil which characterised that era in history. Instead, the effects are felt in the minor inconveniences or changes in the hotel, providing a level of relatability to the story. During the pandemic, it was difficult to observe changes to the environment first-hand as everyone was confined to the four walls of their homes. Only minor effects were felt, like shortages of baking ingredients. These were considered small tremors as compared to the larger earthquake that were the supply chain disruptions that occurred. Readers are hence able to connect, to some degree, with the characters through their own experiences.
With the pandemic coming to an end (I hope), the premise of this book may not seem that relevant to our lives anymore. But I assure you, once you take the plunge and pick up this book, you will see that there are many lessons to be learned. Having an optimistic outlook being the most important one. A Gentleman in Moscow is a must-read in my opinion, especially if you are looking for a little entertainment and joy in your life.
Written by: Charlize Ling Xuan Ting (22S77)
Edited by: Arissa Ho Shu-En (22S78), Lee Ren Kai Artemus (22A15)
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