Table for Two

Towles must be regarded as one of the very best writers going around at present. His language use and story structure are outstanding, and his depiction of places and people vivid and arresting. It is just a sheer pleasure to read, and a master class for writers on how good prose can be.

The first half of this book contains longish short stories, the second half is a novella. What I love about Towles' writing is his ability to highlight the frailties of his characters with great warmth as well as humour, leaving the reader with a feel-good ending. Towles writing is often ironic and I was smiling often.

I haven't read an Amor Towles book I didn't love. This one is unusual... a collection of short stories and a novella that builds on the plot of one of Towles previous books, Rules of Civility. Although his characters are complex and flawed, they are also lovable, and in the case of our heroine, quite witty. Towles' includes a bit of "Hollywood history" in his story. Was it based on a true story? It's so interesting, you find yourself not caring whether it happened or not.

I don't often read short stories, but I'm such an admirer of Towles' novels (Rules of Civility, Gentleman in Moscow, Lincoln Highway) that I couldn't resist this collection. There's a wonderful old-world formality to these stories––such a nice change from the gritty crime fiction I often read. The characterizations are so rich and true that the people come alive in only a few short passages. Many of the stories end with an ironic twist or observation that's almost reminiscient of O'Henry.

Such an enjoyable fiction collection! This is a book to learn from and appreciate. Reading it will enrich your life, which is something one can only say about the best literature. Amor Towles is a masterful storyteller. The writing is clear and unassuming and each of the narratives is dramatic, well-paced, and solidly built. Towles doesn't rely on cheap effects and there is so much quiet wisdom in these stories. The best thing about them is the characters, however: sympathetic, plausible, complex people whom the author presents fairly and without judgement, and whom, by the end of each story, you… show more.