Rules of Civility by Amor Towles

A novel by initial-time author Amor Towles set in 1930s New York, “Guidelines of Civility” was published in 2011 and should be on everyone’s existing list of should-reads. An independent, rapid-witted and aspiring female lead character captivates readers and takes them on her journey by means of New York society. Her close friends incorporate a spunky sidekick originally hailing from the Midwest, an elusive banker with charming ways and the son of a prominent family with vast social connections.

Set in Manhattan in the late 1930s, Rules of Civility is a tribute to the talents of 1st-time author Amor Towles, a principal at an investment firm by day. Meet Katey Kontent, an independent, witty and determined primary character who immerses herself in New York society even though keeping stellar operate habits as a clerk in a law firm and then subsequent positions in the publishing sector. Katey believes she can spot a fraud from a mile away and knows how to climb the social strata with no compromising her integrity along the way.

Katey’s very best buddy and confidante, Eve Ross accompanies her to underground Russian lounges, well-recognized upscale hotspots and other exclusive Manhattan destinations. Using creative strategies to maximize their restricted budgets, the two manage to meet an enigmatic banker recognized as Tinker Grey on New Year’s Eve who charms them with his modest manners however obvious wealth.

A tragic occasion sends the three reeling and upsets the balance of their respective relationships, with Katey ultimately forging a new path from that point forward. Throughout the novel, speedy-witted dialogue punctuated by dashes rather than traditional quotation marks invites the reader to enter Katey’s planet and cheer her on as she navigates Manhattan’s social circles and attracts new close friends and suitors with her intelligence and no-nonsense style.

Tinker Grey maintains an integral function in Katey’s life over the course of the book and intrigues her with his typically contradictory behaviors and questionable motives. Katey also meets members of prominent New York families who attempt to win her affections with invitations to coveted events and weekends spent at a hunting lodge. Her determination and wit enable her to use new friends to her social advantage while providing them stable companionship and dependability. Her own escalating monetary stability is a result of tough function and networking this independence sets her apart from a lot of of her female counterparts who are merely searching for a husband and monetary rewards.

Rules of Civility successfully encapsulates the prewar atmosphere of New York City and invites the reader to tour the streets and neighborhoods of Manhattan, go to exclusive residential buildings and retreat to a world without cell phones, computers or reality tv. Gentlemanly manners, etiquette and many social mores forgotten and ignored in our modern day globe are embodied by the characters of Rules of Civility and leave the reader longing for the chance to travel back in time to meet Katey Kontent and enter her world, if only for a brief check out.