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Rules of Civility #1.5 incl'd
Table for Two
From the bestselling author of The Lincoln Highway, A Gentleman in Moscow, and Rules of Civility, a richly detailed and sharply drawn collection of stories set in New York and Los Angeles. The millions of readers of Amor Towles are in for a treat as he shares some of his shorter six stories set in New York City and a novella in Los Angeles. The New York stories, most of which are set around the turn of the millennium, take up everything from the death-defying acrobatics of the male ego, to the fateful consequences of brief encounters, and the delicate mechanics of compromise which operate at the heart of modern marriages. In Towles’s novel, Rules of Civility, the indomitable Evelyn Ross leaves New York City in September, 1938, with the intention of returning home to Indiana. But as her train pulls into Chicago, where her parents are waiting, she instead extends her ticket to Los Angeles. Told from seven points of view, “Eve in Hollywood� describes how Eve crafts a new future for herself—and others—in the midst of Hollywood’s golden age. Throughout the stories, two characters often find themselves sitting across a table for two where the direction of their futures may hinge upon what they say to each other next. Written with his signature wit, humor, and sophistication, Table for Two is another glittering addition to Towles’s canon of stylish and transporting historical fiction.
451 pages, Hardcover
First published April 2, 2024
14.6k people are currently reading
85.5k people want to read
About the author
Amor Towles
28books27kfollowersBorn and raised in the Boston area, Amor Towles graduated from Yale College and received an MA in English from Stanford University. Having worked as an investment professional in Manhattan for over twenty years, he now devotes himself fulltime to writing. His first novel, Rules of Civility, published in 2011, was a New York Times bestseller in both hardcover and paperback and was ranked by the Wall Street Journal as one of the best books of 2011. The book was optioned by Lionsgate to be made into a feature film and its French translation received the 2012 Prix Fitzgerald. His second novel, A Gentleman in Moscow, published in 2016, was also a New York Times bestseller and was ranked as one of the best books of 2016 by the Chicago Tribune, the Miami Herald, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the St. Louis Dispatch, and NPR. Both novels have been translated into over fifteen languages.
Mr. Towles, who lives in Manhattan with his wife and two children, is an ardent fan of early 20th century painting, 1950’s jazz, 1970’s cop shows, rock & roll on vinyl, obsolete accessories, manifestoes, breakfast pastries, pasta, liquor, snow-days, Tuscany, Provence, Disneyland, Hollywood, the cast of Casablanca, 007, Captain Kirk, Bob Dylan (early, mid, and late phases), the wee hours, card games, cafés, and the cookies made by both of his grandmothers.
Mr. Towles, who lives in Manhattan with his wife and two children, is an ardent fan of early 20th century painting, 1950’s jazz, 1970’s cop shows, rock & roll on vinyl, obsolete accessories, manifestoes, breakfast pastries, pasta, liquor, snow-days, Tuscany, Provence, Disneyland, Hollywood, the cast of Casablanca, 007, Captain Kirk, Bob Dylan (early, mid, and late phases), the wee hours, card games, cafés, and the cookies made by both of his grandmothers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,395 reviews
April 11, 2024
I just took a trip to Moscow and New York and Hollywood all in the matter of a few days without having left my house . I waited in lines for rations in Moscow, with a kind man. I enjoyed the ambience of Hollywood and shook at its dark side in the 1930’s seeing actresses so strictly controlled by the studio moguls, as they were prey to others trying to make a buck . I saw the beauty and the dark side of art world of New York and more . That for me is the greatest strength of Amor Towles writing. He’s a master of creating a particular time and place and transporting the reader there with his impeccable writing and storytelling. He’s also a master of creating characters that leave an indelible mark on my literary heart .
There are six short stories and a novella in this collection. Of the short stories, I had previously read “The Line� and found it just as moving as I did the first time. Connections that people make , even in times of hardship, kindness in 1920’s Moscow and the reader is right there next to Pushkin waiting in line for rations. I was delighted once again with Towles clever nod to his first novel . I had previously listened to “The DiDomenico Fragment� and reading it brought back to mind not just the dark side of the art world, but a touching story of a has been art dealer and his precocious and lovable great nephew. The other stories give us other kind men and scammers, too, a wife whose unconditional love for her husband awakens the sense of caring that another man has for his wife .
I loved the stories, but couldn’t wait to get to the novella, “Eve in Hollywood� to meet up again with Evelyn Ross, a character in , at a new phase in her life. While Eve is the main character bringing her light to this sometimes dark place, it’s not just about her. There’s an aging, over weight actor who is a self imposed prisoner in the Beverly Hills Hotel , a retired police detective who is a widower and not feeling ready to give up his work, and a wanna be stunt man who is not just physically limber, but brings saavy and heart . These are the people who Eve meets on her her journey, finding something more in their lives because of her. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the famous actress Olivia, yes, that famous Olivia of “Gone With the Wind� who finds a trusted friend in Eve and whose predicament provides a plot line that has them on a wild goose chase to resolve it.
Towles is a versatile writer and these stories, while stand alone and different, carry a common thread of people touching other people’s lives. And yes, people sitting at tables connecting with each other and yes, a number of tables are for two. The book is just one more reason why I’ll read whatever he writes , whatever it’s about.
There are six short stories and a novella in this collection. Of the short stories, I had previously read “The Line� and found it just as moving as I did the first time. Connections that people make , even in times of hardship, kindness in 1920’s Moscow and the reader is right there next to Pushkin waiting in line for rations. I was delighted once again with Towles clever nod to his first novel . I had previously listened to “The DiDomenico Fragment� and reading it brought back to mind not just the dark side of the art world, but a touching story of a has been art dealer and his precocious and lovable great nephew. The other stories give us other kind men and scammers, too, a wife whose unconditional love for her husband awakens the sense of caring that another man has for his wife .
I loved the stories, but couldn’t wait to get to the novella, “Eve in Hollywood� to meet up again with Evelyn Ross, a character in , at a new phase in her life. While Eve is the main character bringing her light to this sometimes dark place, it’s not just about her. There’s an aging, over weight actor who is a self imposed prisoner in the Beverly Hills Hotel , a retired police detective who is a widower and not feeling ready to give up his work, and a wanna be stunt man who is not just physically limber, but brings saavy and heart . These are the people who Eve meets on her her journey, finding something more in their lives because of her. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the famous actress Olivia, yes, that famous Olivia of “Gone With the Wind� who finds a trusted friend in Eve and whose predicament provides a plot line that has them on a wild goose chase to resolve it.
Towles is a versatile writer and these stories, while stand alone and different, carry a common thread of people touching other people’s lives. And yes, people sitting at tables connecting with each other and yes, a number of tables are for two. The book is just one more reason why I’ll read whatever he writes , whatever it’s about.
April 19, 2024
4.5⭐️
Table for Two: Fictions by Amor Towles is a fascinating collection of stories featuring distinct characters and varied themes in contemporary and historical settings, written in elegant prose. Of the seven stories in this collection, the first story is set in communist Russia and New York, the following four in New York and the final story is set in Los Angeles.
The Line (4.5) follows a Russian peasant named Pushkin whose wife, inspired by Bolshevik ideals, moves them from their village to Moscow and then to New York in an attempt to realize their full potential. The Ballad of Timothy Touchett (4.5) follows an aspiring writer whose search for inspiration leads him to take a job as an assistant to a rare bookseller, unaware of what would be expected of him in his new workplace. When a man befriends a fellow traveler while stranded in New York City due to inclement weather he has no idea what his evening with his jovial companion will entail in Hasta Luego. (4.5) After her mother suspects her stepfather of infidelity, a married young woman decides to follow him to find out what he is actually up to, triggering a sequence of events that subsequently reveals the cracks in each of their own relationships in I Will Survive (4) A successful investment banker exposes an elderly man for secretly recording performances at Carnegie Hall only to be haunted by the consequences of his actions in The Bootlegger. (5) The DiDomenico Fragment (5) follows a sixty-five-year-old retiree with his own agenda as he tries to manipulate a relative into selling a rare piece of art to a collector.
Eve In Hollywood (4) follows Evelyn Ross (from the author’s novel Rules of Civility) after she leaves Manhattan and lands in Los Angeles. Set during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the narrative is shared from multiple perspectives and introduces a cast of interesting characters (featuring both fictional and fictionalized versions of real-life characters) with a noir element that adds a touch of intrigue to the story. This is more a short novel than a short story and is an expanded version of a novella by the same name. While I enjoyed following Eve, I did think her story has the potential to be developed further into a full-length novel. Please note that it won’t be necessary to have read the preceding novel to enjoy this novella.
Each of these stories was well-crafted and the characters are well-thought-out. The author explores themes of choices and consequences, family and trust, ambition and guilt, friendship and appreciation for the arts, among others. Towles� characters are realistic, their flaws and reactions believable ( even in their most absurd moments). The author’s keen observation of human behavior is evident in his writing. Thought-provoking and entertaining with a perfect balance of wisdom, humor and emotion, this collection is a joy to read. For those who have enjoyed Towles’s work in the past, this collection stands as a testament to the author’s masterful storytelling and literary craftsmanship. If you haven’t read the author’s work before, this collection would be the perfect introduction to his work.
Many thanks to Penguin Group Viking for the digital review copy via Edelweiss+. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Connect with me! � � �
Table for Two: Fictions by Amor Towles is a fascinating collection of stories featuring distinct characters and varied themes in contemporary and historical settings, written in elegant prose. Of the seven stories in this collection, the first story is set in communist Russia and New York, the following four in New York and the final story is set in Los Angeles.
The Line (4.5) follows a Russian peasant named Pushkin whose wife, inspired by Bolshevik ideals, moves them from their village to Moscow and then to New York in an attempt to realize their full potential. The Ballad of Timothy Touchett (4.5) follows an aspiring writer whose search for inspiration leads him to take a job as an assistant to a rare bookseller, unaware of what would be expected of him in his new workplace. When a man befriends a fellow traveler while stranded in New York City due to inclement weather he has no idea what his evening with his jovial companion will entail in Hasta Luego. (4.5) After her mother suspects her stepfather of infidelity, a married young woman decides to follow him to find out what he is actually up to, triggering a sequence of events that subsequently reveals the cracks in each of their own relationships in I Will Survive (4) A successful investment banker exposes an elderly man for secretly recording performances at Carnegie Hall only to be haunted by the consequences of his actions in The Bootlegger. (5) The DiDomenico Fragment (5) follows a sixty-five-year-old retiree with his own agenda as he tries to manipulate a relative into selling a rare piece of art to a collector.
Eve In Hollywood (4) follows Evelyn Ross (from the author’s novel Rules of Civility) after she leaves Manhattan and lands in Los Angeles. Set during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the narrative is shared from multiple perspectives and introduces a cast of interesting characters (featuring both fictional and fictionalized versions of real-life characters) with a noir element that adds a touch of intrigue to the story. This is more a short novel than a short story and is an expanded version of a novella by the same name. While I enjoyed following Eve, I did think her story has the potential to be developed further into a full-length novel. Please note that it won’t be necessary to have read the preceding novel to enjoy this novella.
Each of these stories was well-crafted and the characters are well-thought-out. The author explores themes of choices and consequences, family and trust, ambition and guilt, friendship and appreciation for the arts, among others. Towles� characters are realistic, their flaws and reactions believable ( even in their most absurd moments). The author’s keen observation of human behavior is evident in his writing. Thought-provoking and entertaining with a perfect balance of wisdom, humor and emotion, this collection is a joy to read. For those who have enjoyed Towles’s work in the past, this collection stands as a testament to the author’s masterful storytelling and literary craftsmanship. If you haven’t read the author’s work before, this collection would be the perfect introduction to his work.
Many thanks to Penguin Group Viking for the digital review copy via Edelweiss+. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Connect with me! � � �
April 28, 2024
Closer to a 3.5.
Not bad, but as a diehard Rules of Civility fan, I was hoping for more of that world within this collection, rather than a handful of fun short stories that are completely unconnected to RoC and a novella that I bought and read an early draft of eight years ago.
to hear my thoughts on this book over on my Booktube channel, abookolive.
Not bad, but as a diehard Rules of Civility fan, I was hoping for more of that world within this collection, rather than a handful of fun short stories that are completely unconnected to RoC and a novella that I bought and read an early draft of eight years ago.
to hear my thoughts on this book over on my Booktube channel, abookolive.
April 7, 2024
As much as I love Amor Towles, Table for Two reminds me again of the problem I have with short stories. They’re too damn short! I no sooner get really invested in a character then the story is over.
In The Line, I was so invested in Pushkin and how he worked the new Communist system. And when he came to the US, I wanted to see what would happen to him. But it just kind of ended. Argh! The same thing happened with The Ballad of Timothy Touchett. The problem wasn’t that I didn’t like these stories. I did. So much, I didn’t want them to end and wanted more!
I wasn’t as upset to see the back end of Smitty in Hasta Luego or the mother in I Will Survive (but I loved the stepfather). The Bootlegger brought tears to my eyes. The DiDomenico Fragment had the benefit of feeling complete as is. But then, when I finally got to something approaching novel length (200 pages), it took a long time for me to get invested in the story. Eve has been brought back from The Rules of Civility. She’s now in LA and makes friends with Olivia DeHavilland. But while Eve was great fun, Olivia seemed like a cardboard cutout. The story brings in a lot of different characters and different parts of the story are told from their perspective. I found the first ½ of the story too slow but the last half was great, convoluted fun.
There’s a great deal of humor (I was chuckling a lot) throughout the stories. As always, Towles has written stories that are character rich and that capture the true essence of humanity - trust, greed, responsibility, pride. I’ll continue to read anything he writes!
I listened to this and Eduardo Ballerini is a fabulous narrator.
In The Line, I was so invested in Pushkin and how he worked the new Communist system. And when he came to the US, I wanted to see what would happen to him. But it just kind of ended. Argh! The same thing happened with The Ballad of Timothy Touchett. The problem wasn’t that I didn’t like these stories. I did. So much, I didn’t want them to end and wanted more!
I wasn’t as upset to see the back end of Smitty in Hasta Luego or the mother in I Will Survive (but I loved the stepfather). The Bootlegger brought tears to my eyes. The DiDomenico Fragment had the benefit of feeling complete as is. But then, when I finally got to something approaching novel length (200 pages), it took a long time for me to get invested in the story. Eve has been brought back from The Rules of Civility. She’s now in LA and makes friends with Olivia DeHavilland. But while Eve was great fun, Olivia seemed like a cardboard cutout. The story brings in a lot of different characters and different parts of the story are told from their perspective. I found the first ½ of the story too slow but the last half was great, convoluted fun.
There’s a great deal of humor (I was chuckling a lot) throughout the stories. As always, Towles has written stories that are character rich and that capture the true essence of humanity - trust, greed, responsibility, pride. I’ll continue to read anything he writes!
I listened to this and Eduardo Ballerini is a fabulous narrator.
May 4, 2024
Here ye, hear ye, hear ye! Amor Towles writes short stories that are perfection! Each story is compelling, has characters dropped in fully formed, has sublime prose, contains pitch perfect dialogue, is full of wit, elicits smiles and chuckles from this reader, and has an unexpected and absolutely perfect ending!
The Six Short Stories:
"The Line" is a seemingly simple parable of a couple who moves from the country to Moscow to New York City. It can be enjoyed at it's face value, an ambitious woman married to a simple, aimiable man who just happens to do the right thing at the right time. Or it can be viewed another way. The timeline is 1916 to 1929. Running parallel to Towels' story are the Russian Revolution (Pushkin and Irina move to the City), the Civil War and the famine of 1921 (the lack of food and medicines), the Kronshtadt Rebellion, Lenin's New Economic Policy (Pushkin and Petya's entrepreneurship), and the Great Breakup (Pushkin and Irina's leaving Russia and their personal breakup).
Told in Towles' unique style, he reminds us that we all have our roles to play, and they all have value. After all:
"The wisdom of the peasant is founded on one essential axiom: while wars may come and go, statesmen rise and fall, and popular attitudes wax and wane, when all is said and done a furrow remains a furrow."
"The Ballad of Timothy Touchett" is a delightful satire from beginning to end. A lot of the pleasure here comes from Towles' attention to detail. Poor Timothy aspires to be a great novelist, but "how could one expect to craft a novel of grace and significance" when nothing of any consequence has ever happened to one? Be careful, Timothy, of what you wish for.
"Hasta Luego" is a carefully crafted story told with wit and humor. Two men who meet standing in line about cancelled flights in LaGuardia Airport are exiled together to the Grand Hyatt Hotel when their rebooked flights don't take off until the following day. Jerry becomes enmeshed in Smitty's life. Towles reminds me of the importance of human connection and asks how much responsibility do we have for another human being?
"I Will Survive" is an artful impression of a marriage. What brings you joy? And what happens if your partner doesn't share your passion or you are reluctant to even share what that is?
A curse and a sublime classical music experience blend to make "The Bootlegger" an outstanding tale. Irony anyone?
"The DiDomenico Fragment" takes me inside the Skinner family, informs me about the Annunciation in European Renaissance art, generates laughs/snorts, provides a small dose of cynicism/snark, and leaves me perfectly satisfied.
The Novella:
Eve in Hollywood takes up half the real estate in the book. Part satire, part noir with a feminist twist, Towles' wit sparkles through his heroine Evelyn Ross. This novella picks up her story where Rules of Civility left off. There is also enough room here for some of Towles' philosophical musings on life and how to keep moving forward as well as thoughts on power and money.
Table for Two is a not to be missed collection whether you are a fan of Towles' novels, or not, for it is storytelling at its best.
Publication 2024
The Six Short Stories:
"The Line" is a seemingly simple parable of a couple who moves from the country to Moscow to New York City. It can be enjoyed at it's face value, an ambitious woman married to a simple, aimiable man who just happens to do the right thing at the right time. Or it can be viewed another way. The timeline is 1916 to 1929. Running parallel to Towels' story are the Russian Revolution (Pushkin and Irina move to the City), the Civil War and the famine of 1921 (the lack of food and medicines), the Kronshtadt Rebellion, Lenin's New Economic Policy (Pushkin and Petya's entrepreneurship), and the Great Breakup (Pushkin and Irina's leaving Russia and their personal breakup).
Told in Towles' unique style, he reminds us that we all have our roles to play, and they all have value. After all:
"The wisdom of the peasant is founded on one essential axiom: while wars may come and go, statesmen rise and fall, and popular attitudes wax and wane, when all is said and done a furrow remains a furrow."
"The Ballad of Timothy Touchett" is a delightful satire from beginning to end. A lot of the pleasure here comes from Towles' attention to detail. Poor Timothy aspires to be a great novelist, but "how could one expect to craft a novel of grace and significance" when nothing of any consequence has ever happened to one? Be careful, Timothy, of what you wish for.
"Hasta Luego" is a carefully crafted story told with wit and humor. Two men who meet standing in line about cancelled flights in LaGuardia Airport are exiled together to the Grand Hyatt Hotel when their rebooked flights don't take off until the following day. Jerry becomes enmeshed in Smitty's life. Towles reminds me of the importance of human connection and asks how much responsibility do we have for another human being?
"I Will Survive" is an artful impression of a marriage. What brings you joy? And what happens if your partner doesn't share your passion or you are reluctant to even share what that is?
A curse and a sublime classical music experience blend to make "The Bootlegger" an outstanding tale. Irony anyone?
"The DiDomenico Fragment" takes me inside the Skinner family, informs me about the Annunciation in European Renaissance art, generates laughs/snorts, provides a small dose of cynicism/snark, and leaves me perfectly satisfied.
The Novella:
Eve in Hollywood takes up half the real estate in the book. Part satire, part noir with a feminist twist, Towles' wit sparkles through his heroine Evelyn Ross. This novella picks up her story where Rules of Civility left off. There is also enough room here for some of Towles' philosophical musings on life and how to keep moving forward as well as thoughts on power and money.
Table for Two is a not to be missed collection whether you are a fan of Towles' novels, or not, for it is storytelling at its best.
Publication 2024
May 13, 2024
A little behind on my reviews -- my apologies. But I savored every tale in Amor Towles's new collection. Each one is smart, surprising, irreverent, and rich with lush and idiosyncratic detail. Also? These stories are fun. Really fun. Towles movies seamlessly between the present and the past, and between New York and L.A. I devoured the book: you will, too.
August 14, 2024
Favorite so far of 2024!
Amor Towles is such an intelligent, sophisticated, elegant writer. For me, he can do no wrong when it comes to creating concepts, characters, plots, and atmosphere. He meticulously researches (he has to!) the historical elements he includes in his writing and uses them to his (well, actually to the reader’s) advantage. He amazingly puts readers in the midst of each and every time and place with such brilliance and ease. His prose is smooth as a diamond and shines on page after page.
I have been so excited to get to read his latest book of short stories and one novella. I have wanted to know more about Eve from and in this novella entitled “Eve in Hollywood�, I am utterly dumbfounded with the story he created. It was flawless and exciting and Eve’s character was spunky, brilliant and fierce! I LOVED it! My favorite of the whole lot.
I appreciate his ability to transport his readers to Moscow, Manhattan and now Hollywood by way of witty dialogue and humorous encounters. His storytelling ability for these short stories is impeccable. Everything about these stories exudes style and craft. Towles is a wordmaster in every way! I don’t know of another modern writer (at the moment) who can aptly describe the essences of human eccentricities and shortcomings with such verve.
Have I gushed enough?!?!?!!? Well, I adore Amor Towles and will read anything he writes and strongly recommend that YOU (whether a Towles newbie or a veteran) go out and get a copy pronto! You won’t regret it!!!
Amor Towles is such an intelligent, sophisticated, elegant writer. For me, he can do no wrong when it comes to creating concepts, characters, plots, and atmosphere. He meticulously researches (he has to!) the historical elements he includes in his writing and uses them to his (well, actually to the reader’s) advantage. He amazingly puts readers in the midst of each and every time and place with such brilliance and ease. His prose is smooth as a diamond and shines on page after page.
I have been so excited to get to read his latest book of short stories and one novella. I have wanted to know more about Eve from and in this novella entitled “Eve in Hollywood�, I am utterly dumbfounded with the story he created. It was flawless and exciting and Eve’s character was spunky, brilliant and fierce! I LOVED it! My favorite of the whole lot.
I appreciate his ability to transport his readers to Moscow, Manhattan and now Hollywood by way of witty dialogue and humorous encounters. His storytelling ability for these short stories is impeccable. Everything about these stories exudes style and craft. Towles is a wordmaster in every way! I don’t know of another modern writer (at the moment) who can aptly describe the essences of human eccentricities and shortcomings with such verve.
Have I gushed enough?!?!?!!? Well, I adore Amor Towles and will read anything he writes and strongly recommend that YOU (whether a Towles newbie or a veteran) go out and get a copy pronto! You won’t regret it!!!
May 16, 2024
I'd be happy to rate each of the short stories in this collection 5 stars apiece, then another unqualified 5 stars for the short novel that completes the book. I believe that adds up to 35 stars, so be it! This book deserves it for sheer enjoyment.Regarding the short stories, I do sympathize with and understand those who say they don't read them because by the time they get into a story it's already over, or that they end too abruptly, but that's not the case with these. Each of them were mini-novels, and yes, I could have read an entire 300-400 pages for each one, such is the power of Towles storytelling talent. However, the endings were so perfect I was satisfied at not having more, sort of like delicious hor'deurvs before the entree of the last 250 pages.
"Eve in Hollywood" is a sequel of sorts to "Rules of Civilty", following Evelyn Ross to further adventures in the 1939 Golden Age of movies. We get to meet Olivia De Havilland as she gets the part of Melanie Wilkes in Gone with the Wind, a cameo of David Selznick, lawyers and agents and hangers-on, photographers and cops. Eve is a mover and shaker who prefers to stay under the radar, but I was cheering her on with each of her escapades. A smart, capable, sometimes devious woman who outsmarts men at every turn. As I commented earlier, sheer enjoyment.
I have read all 3 of Towles previous books and would happily devour sequels to all of them, including this one, which is already a sequel of sorts. He seems to be a master of protagonists that I fall in love with.
Happily added to my favorites list.
"Eve in Hollywood" is a sequel of sorts to "Rules of Civilty", following Evelyn Ross to further adventures in the 1939 Golden Age of movies. We get to meet Olivia De Havilland as she gets the part of Melanie Wilkes in Gone with the Wind, a cameo of David Selznick, lawyers and agents and hangers-on, photographers and cops. Eve is a mover and shaker who prefers to stay under the radar, but I was cheering her on with each of her escapades. A smart, capable, sometimes devious woman who outsmarts men at every turn. As I commented earlier, sheer enjoyment.
I have read all 3 of Towles previous books and would happily devour sequels to all of them, including this one, which is already a sequel of sorts. He seems to be a master of protagonists that I fall in love with.
Happily added to my favorites list.
May 16, 2024
Despite the many, wonderful reviews regarding Amor Towles's recent novels, Rules of Civility and A Gentleman in Moscow, I've never had a chance to read them so I grabbed the opportunity to read this latest publication, comprised of six short stories and a novella.
The six short stories are all centred around New York and are vignettes of human nature, overlaid with a subtle, wry observation. My favourite was The DiDomenico Fragment, which included the quote, ‘Spatchcocking, in which the bird is drawn and quartered like a heretic�, when discussing Thanksgiving dinner options. In all the stories there is a certain emphasis on the lengths some go to in maintaining a facade of perfection, believing it will lead to respect, power, and money. But human nature isn’t that formulaic.
The novella is set in Los Angeles and follows Evelyn Ross, who was a central character in The Rules of Civility. However, you don't need to be familiar with the book to enjoy this one. We may be on the West Coast of America, amongst the gauche, nouveau rich but in this city of make-believe, the power of perception is just as paramount. This story is a real page-turner and gives a lot in just a small number of pages.
'Table for Two' is a highly enjoyable book. There's sure to be something for everyone here. I know some believe that short stories can't deliver enough development and complexity to adequately satiate a reader's appetite. I beg to differ.
'call it Schadenfreude. Litsky called it human nature - which is just a fancy term for the God-given flaws we have no intention of giving back'.
The six short stories are all centred around New York and are vignettes of human nature, overlaid with a subtle, wry observation. My favourite was The DiDomenico Fragment, which included the quote, ‘Spatchcocking, in which the bird is drawn and quartered like a heretic�, when discussing Thanksgiving dinner options. In all the stories there is a certain emphasis on the lengths some go to in maintaining a facade of perfection, believing it will lead to respect, power, and money. But human nature isn’t that formulaic.
The novella is set in Los Angeles and follows Evelyn Ross, who was a central character in The Rules of Civility. However, you don't need to be familiar with the book to enjoy this one. We may be on the West Coast of America, amongst the gauche, nouveau rich but in this city of make-believe, the power of perception is just as paramount. This story is a real page-turner and gives a lot in just a small number of pages.
'Table for Two' is a highly enjoyable book. There's sure to be something for everyone here. I know some believe that short stories can't deliver enough development and complexity to adequately satiate a reader's appetite. I beg to differ.
'call it Schadenfreude. Litsky called it human nature - which is just a fancy term for the God-given flaws we have no intention of giving back'.
June 21, 2024
5 🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵
A true short story.
My musician husband is not a fan of classical music so I rarely impress him with some of my favorite tunes.
The morning I read The Bootlegger from this collection, a particular movement in Towles� writing swept me back to the way I was sighing through passages in .
Upon finishing I put on my headphones and listened to Bach’s words.
Towles� description of listening to the prelude of Bach’s Suites for Cello (in G Major) was so . . . well . . . I have no words.
I read it to my husband mentioning how the music had been lost for two and a half centuries (I thought he would appreciate that part) and asked if he would like to hear it.
Sure he said.
By the end he was crying (almost never does that happen).
Tommy’s wife, my husband, Bach’s notes, Towles� writing skill—and a morning of surprises.
I went on to share how AGIM is one of my favorite books ever and would he maybe want to watch the film series with me.
Sure he said.
At 53% in I’m rating this 5 stars. It doesn’t matter what comes next.
“But the greatest improbability, the near impossibility, was that somewhere in Germany back in the seventeenth something something Bach had taken his deep and personal appreciation of beauty and translated it so effectively into music that here in New York, hundreds of years later and thousands of miles away, thanks to the skill of this cellist, that appreciation of beauty could be felt by every one of us.
About a minute and a half into the piece, after a series of low and almost somber notes, there was a slight pause, a near cessation, as if Bach having made an initial point was taking a breath before attempting to tell us what he had really come to say. Then from that low point, the music began to climb.
But climb isn’t quite right. For it wasn’t a matter of reaching one hand over the other and pulling oneself up with the occasional anxious glance at the ground. Rather than climbing, it was . . . it was . . . it was the opposite of cascading—a fluid and effortless tumbling upward. An ascension.
Yes, the music was ascending and we were ascending with it. First slowly, almost patiently, but then with greater speed and urgency, imagining now for one instant, and now for another, that we have reached the plateau, only for the music to take us higher still, beyond the realm in which one looks down at the ground, beyond hope and aspiration into the realm of joy where all that is possible lies open before us.�
Some notes from J S Bach
A true short story.
My musician husband is not a fan of classical music so I rarely impress him with some of my favorite tunes.
The morning I read The Bootlegger from this collection, a particular movement in Towles� writing swept me back to the way I was sighing through passages in .
Upon finishing I put on my headphones and listened to Bach’s words.
Towles� description of listening to the prelude of Bach’s Suites for Cello (in G Major) was so . . . well . . . I have no words.
I read it to my husband mentioning how the music had been lost for two and a half centuries (I thought he would appreciate that part) and asked if he would like to hear it.
Sure he said.
By the end he was crying (almost never does that happen).
Tommy’s wife, my husband, Bach’s notes, Towles� writing skill—and a morning of surprises.
I went on to share how AGIM is one of my favorite books ever and would he maybe want to watch the film series with me.
Sure he said.
At 53% in I’m rating this 5 stars. It doesn’t matter what comes next.
“But the greatest improbability, the near impossibility, was that somewhere in Germany back in the seventeenth something something Bach had taken his deep and personal appreciation of beauty and translated it so effectively into music that here in New York, hundreds of years later and thousands of miles away, thanks to the skill of this cellist, that appreciation of beauty could be felt by every one of us.
About a minute and a half into the piece, after a series of low and almost somber notes, there was a slight pause, a near cessation, as if Bach having made an initial point was taking a breath before attempting to tell us what he had really come to say. Then from that low point, the music began to climb.
But climb isn’t quite right. For it wasn’t a matter of reaching one hand over the other and pulling oneself up with the occasional anxious glance at the ground. Rather than climbing, it was . . . it was . . . it was the opposite of cascading—a fluid and effortless tumbling upward. An ascension.
Yes, the music was ascending and we were ascending with it. First slowly, almost patiently, but then with greater speed and urgency, imagining now for one instant, and now for another, that we have reached the plateau, only for the music to take us higher still, beyond the realm in which one looks down at the ground, beyond hope and aspiration into the realm of joy where all that is possible lies open before us.�
Some notes from J S Bach
December 29, 2024
Amor Towles� latest book is a two-part collection of short stories somehow hastily put together, but pleasurable, nevertheless.
The first part, titled New York, comprises six stories that use the city as their setting at least once during their narrative. They are inspired, well-written, thoughtful work; deceptively light, yet rich in deeper undertones. Since they all but one take place in the 90s, think of Nora Ephron’s romantic comedies of the era (When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail) if you are as old as I am, to get the feeling.
The second part, titled Los Angeles, comprises the single story of “Eve in Hollywood,� Eve being a secondary character from Towles� first bestseller, Rules of Civility. The story was written more than a decade ago, but you wouldn’t know that from the blurb, only from the perusal of the copyright page. It has nothing in common with the first part, except for the author’s skill at holding the reader’s attention with a plot twist at every other page. Since we’re talking in cinematic terms, let’s describe it as another famous film of the 90s, L.A. Confidential. Like that film, it is a revival of a genre (the hard-boiled fiction of Chandler, Hammett and their likes), and an era (the 30s). Unlike the film, the story and characters, however successfully re-imagined, are mere excuses for what felt like a Hollywood celebrity homes tour. As much as it was entertaining, it was tricky on the part of the publisher to pair it with those other stories, the geographical titles a rather forced connection, in my opinion.
Halfway into the first story of the first part, Pushkin, the benevolent peasant whose life is upended by the winds of the Bolshevik revolution that eventually bring him to NY, amicably chats with his fellow Muscovites while waiting for hours on end at one on another of those infamous lines forever forming in front of soviet convenience stores. His favorite subject is none other than the…weather.
The weather! I hear you exclaim with a roll of the eyes. This is one of his favorite conversations!?
Yes, yes, I know. When God the Father is smiling on a nation, when average incomes are on the rise, food is plentiful, and soldiers are biding their time with card games in their barracks, nothing seems worthier of condescension than a discussion of the weather. At dinner parties and afternoon teas, those who routinely turn to the topic are deemed boring, even insufferable. The possibility of precipitation seems worthy as a topic only to those without the imagination or intelligence to speak of the latest literature, the cinema, and the international situation � or, in short, the times. But when a society is in turmoil, a discussion of the weather doesn’t seem quite so unwelcome�
In the fraught times we are living in, politically, economically and culturally, this book is the equivalent of a lulling conversation about the weather.
It is also a collection of fairy tales for grown-ups, and as such it requires a suspension of disbelief, an abandonment to the charm of their carefully constructed artificial worlds. Worlds where the characters retain their lightheartedness, elegance and integrity when they find themselves in the morally ambivalent situations that are the premise of their stories.
The author’s lack of dogmatism was a breath of fresh air in a current literary landscape that favors distinctive ideological lines more than it does subtlety; there is an old-fashioned sensibility in his approach to his characters� moral ambivalence: they are not immoral - they only struggle to get by in an eternally changing, uneven world.
Should all this strike you as too loaded, I hasten to add that the stories are, first and foremost, extremely readable. I enjoyed them in the nice company of one of the most perceptive and sensitive people on this site, my friend Charles. Our conversations went far beyond the weather, and I’m grateful for all he contributed to our own Read for Two.
The first part, titled New York, comprises six stories that use the city as their setting at least once during their narrative. They are inspired, well-written, thoughtful work; deceptively light, yet rich in deeper undertones. Since they all but one take place in the 90s, think of Nora Ephron’s romantic comedies of the era (When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail) if you are as old as I am, to get the feeling.
The second part, titled Los Angeles, comprises the single story of “Eve in Hollywood,� Eve being a secondary character from Towles� first bestseller, Rules of Civility. The story was written more than a decade ago, but you wouldn’t know that from the blurb, only from the perusal of the copyright page. It has nothing in common with the first part, except for the author’s skill at holding the reader’s attention with a plot twist at every other page. Since we’re talking in cinematic terms, let’s describe it as another famous film of the 90s, L.A. Confidential. Like that film, it is a revival of a genre (the hard-boiled fiction of Chandler, Hammett and their likes), and an era (the 30s). Unlike the film, the story and characters, however successfully re-imagined, are mere excuses for what felt like a Hollywood celebrity homes tour. As much as it was entertaining, it was tricky on the part of the publisher to pair it with those other stories, the geographical titles a rather forced connection, in my opinion.
Halfway into the first story of the first part, Pushkin, the benevolent peasant whose life is upended by the winds of the Bolshevik revolution that eventually bring him to NY, amicably chats with his fellow Muscovites while waiting for hours on end at one on another of those infamous lines forever forming in front of soviet convenience stores. His favorite subject is none other than the…weather.
The weather! I hear you exclaim with a roll of the eyes. This is one of his favorite conversations!?
Yes, yes, I know. When God the Father is smiling on a nation, when average incomes are on the rise, food is plentiful, and soldiers are biding their time with card games in their barracks, nothing seems worthier of condescension than a discussion of the weather. At dinner parties and afternoon teas, those who routinely turn to the topic are deemed boring, even insufferable. The possibility of precipitation seems worthy as a topic only to those without the imagination or intelligence to speak of the latest literature, the cinema, and the international situation � or, in short, the times. But when a society is in turmoil, a discussion of the weather doesn’t seem quite so unwelcome�
In the fraught times we are living in, politically, economically and culturally, this book is the equivalent of a lulling conversation about the weather.
It is also a collection of fairy tales for grown-ups, and as such it requires a suspension of disbelief, an abandonment to the charm of their carefully constructed artificial worlds. Worlds where the characters retain their lightheartedness, elegance and integrity when they find themselves in the morally ambivalent situations that are the premise of their stories.
The author’s lack of dogmatism was a breath of fresh air in a current literary landscape that favors distinctive ideological lines more than it does subtlety; there is an old-fashioned sensibility in his approach to his characters� moral ambivalence: they are not immoral - they only struggle to get by in an eternally changing, uneven world.
Should all this strike you as too loaded, I hasten to add that the stories are, first and foremost, extremely readable. I enjoyed them in the nice company of one of the most perceptive and sensitive people on this site, my friend Charles. Our conversations went far beyond the weather, and I’m grateful for all he contributed to our own Read for Two.
May 17, 2024
You just can’t go wrong with an an Amor Towles story - whether it’s 500 pages or 15. I loved each and everyone of these tales. I wasn’t sure I would be able to say that when I started reading the last one, which is more like a novella, because I couldn’t see where the story was taking me, but then everything started to fall deliciously in place. This story alone would make a great Netflix series. I’d read the whole book again in a heartbeat.
March 24, 2024
Table for Two is a cornucopia of delights, each story filled with wit and understanding of the human condition.
First, there are six short stories. There is Pushkin who makes the best of the worst situation both in Soviet Russia and New York City, and the wannabe writer who laments his uneventful life bereft of tragedy and hardship. The traveler who is bullied into assuming responsibility for an affable, alcoholic, stranger. The happily married divided by the husband’s innocent, but secret life. And my favorite, being a season ticket holder for the symphony, is the story of a man’s shameful, self-righteous actions against another symphony patron. I, too, get awfully miffed at concert goers who don’t show proper respect. But, I don’t agree with the character’s insight of “Say what you will about classical music, one thing it has going for it is that it lets your mind wander.�
Then, we are gifted a story about Eve Ross from Rules of Civility. Rules is a delightful novel set in late 1930s New York City. Kate, the main character, becomes friends with Eve. They fall in with a man who turns out to be quite different from appearances. Eve is briefly engaged to him but abruptly leaves the city, on her way home to the Midwest, but stays on the train all the way to LA. And this is where Towles picks up her story for this collection.
Eve, her blond beauty marred by a facial scar from a car accident, is cool and intelligent and fearless. She befriends a retired cop and a once famous movie star who gave up the limelight–and starvation–for the comfort of food. Eve saves “Dehavvy� Olivia de Haviland from a boring ‘date� set up by the studio. Eve takes Olivia under her wing. When Olivia finds herself blackmailed, Eve jumps in, and with the aid of her new friends, sets to make things right.
It’s a fun romp through old Hollywood, full of the sparkling dialogue of classic films and with a hearty dose of noir. Eve shines as a wonderful character we want to hear more of.
Thanks to the publisher for a free book.
First, there are six short stories. There is Pushkin who makes the best of the worst situation both in Soviet Russia and New York City, and the wannabe writer who laments his uneventful life bereft of tragedy and hardship. The traveler who is bullied into assuming responsibility for an affable, alcoholic, stranger. The happily married divided by the husband’s innocent, but secret life. And my favorite, being a season ticket holder for the symphony, is the story of a man’s shameful, self-righteous actions against another symphony patron. I, too, get awfully miffed at concert goers who don’t show proper respect. But, I don’t agree with the character’s insight of “Say what you will about classical music, one thing it has going for it is that it lets your mind wander.�
Then, we are gifted a story about Eve Ross from Rules of Civility. Rules is a delightful novel set in late 1930s New York City. Kate, the main character, becomes friends with Eve. They fall in with a man who turns out to be quite different from appearances. Eve is briefly engaged to him but abruptly leaves the city, on her way home to the Midwest, but stays on the train all the way to LA. And this is where Towles picks up her story for this collection.
Eve, her blond beauty marred by a facial scar from a car accident, is cool and intelligent and fearless. She befriends a retired cop and a once famous movie star who gave up the limelight–and starvation–for the comfort of food. Eve saves “Dehavvy� Olivia de Haviland from a boring ‘date� set up by the studio. Eve takes Olivia under her wing. When Olivia finds herself blackmailed, Eve jumps in, and with the aid of her new friends, sets to make things right.
It’s a fun romp through old Hollywood, full of the sparkling dialogue of classic films and with a hearty dose of noir. Eve shines as a wonderful character we want to hear more of.
Thanks to the publisher for a free book.
April 12, 2024
But nothing is ever as simple as it seems. At least not if you're overeducated, overpaid, and living in New York.
I believe this collection of short stories, anchored by a novella (a noirish crime caper that really is a bit too long to qualify as a novella) is the finest writing Amor Towles has ever done. I count myself a superfan, so this is very high praise. This is stunning. Funny, poignant, elegant, brilliantly observant, old-fashioned in the best way, and filled with the sort of prose that is the reason I read. This is the writing I am chasing after all the time, and here I caught it. Maybe the best part is that, without being saccharine, and while revealing many of the characters' choices that are less than noble, Towles leaves me liking humans more than I usually do. Everyone is so complex and somehow relatable, even the people barely on the page. I could not stop from empathizing all over the place. I loved everyone as they were, with all their realness, in part for, rather than in spite of their selfishness, defensiveness, snobbery, and greed. Beautiful.
January 13, 2025
This is a tale of two cities, New York and Los Angeles told in six stories and a novella. Towles devotes his first section to New York, where readers get a sense of the people, the places, and definitely the communities.
But it really is the novella that gives that great sense of old Hollywood when readers are taken back in time during the filming of “Gone with the Wind.� We get the feeling of studio moguls and actual movie star legends like Errol Flynn.
Still, for those who have read his past books, like “Rules of Civility� and might remember his character Evelyn Ross, who’d vanished on a Chicago-bound train, we now pick up her narrative as she’s traveling to California in “Eve in Hollywood.� This is the novella. And this obviously is Towles taking us to Los Angeles. Who does she meet on this train ride? Will we recognize some of the players? And what role will she play in trying to save a famous actress� reputation?
Pay attention to the cover art of this book. There is a subtle message that the author is delivering with the stories he is telling that Towles fans will undoubtedly appreciate.
For those who love short stories, this is a great in-between book, to read between their novels. Or, to just breeze through because you have been a fan of all Towles stories, like “A Gentleman in Moscow� or “The Lincoln Highway.� Either way, it is readers opportunity to spend some time from one coast to another.
But it really is the novella that gives that great sense of old Hollywood when readers are taken back in time during the filming of “Gone with the Wind.� We get the feeling of studio moguls and actual movie star legends like Errol Flynn.
Still, for those who have read his past books, like “Rules of Civility� and might remember his character Evelyn Ross, who’d vanished on a Chicago-bound train, we now pick up her narrative as she’s traveling to California in “Eve in Hollywood.� This is the novella. And this obviously is Towles taking us to Los Angeles. Who does she meet on this train ride? Will we recognize some of the players? And what role will she play in trying to save a famous actress� reputation?
Pay attention to the cover art of this book. There is a subtle message that the author is delivering with the stories he is telling that Towles fans will undoubtedly appreciate.
For those who love short stories, this is a great in-between book, to read between their novels. Or, to just breeze through because you have been a fan of all Towles stories, like “A Gentleman in Moscow� or “The Lincoln Highway.� Either way, it is readers opportunity to spend some time from one coast to another.
August 15, 2024
"Table for Two" is a wonderful literary treat of six short stories and a novella. Amor Towles' short stories are each about 35 pages long which gives him the opportunity to develop his main characters and send us somewhere interesting--Moscow's ration lines, a rare book store, a New York City bar, Central Park, Carnegie Hall, and the world of an art dealer and his delightful nephew.
The book then moves across the country to late 1930s Hollywood for a sequel to "Rules of Civility." Evelyn Ross was on a train to Chicago to go back to her hometown when she decided to extend her ticket to Los Angeles. She stayed at the Beverly Hills Hotel and met some fascinating characters, as well as some people working in the dark side of the movie business. Evelyn befriended Olivia de Havilland who played Melanie in "Gone With the Wind." The novella has an exciting crime element that kept me turning the pages.
On the author's website, Towles writes that the title for the book "must have sprung from a conviction in my subconscious that our lives can often change materially due to a single conversation at a table for two." Many books of short stories have some forgettable stories, but every story in this collection had something special about it that made it memorable. Bravo, Amor Towles!
The book then moves across the country to late 1930s Hollywood for a sequel to "Rules of Civility." Evelyn Ross was on a train to Chicago to go back to her hometown when she decided to extend her ticket to Los Angeles. She stayed at the Beverly Hills Hotel and met some fascinating characters, as well as some people working in the dark side of the movie business. Evelyn befriended Olivia de Havilland who played Melanie in "Gone With the Wind." The novella has an exciting crime element that kept me turning the pages.
On the author's website, Towles writes that the title for the book "must have sprung from a conviction in my subconscious that our lives can often change materially due to a single conversation at a table for two." Many books of short stories have some forgettable stories, but every story in this collection had something special about it that made it memorable. Bravo, Amor Towles!
April 17, 2024
Loved the short stories, but didn't think the novella should have been included in the collection.
May 4, 2024
”When I finished assembling the collection, it occurred to me that in most of the pieces, a critical moment involved a pair of family members or strangers facing each other across a kitchen table to confront some new reality in their lives. I wasn’t conscious of this while writing the stories, but it must have sprung from a conviction in my subconscious that our lives can often change materially due to a single conversation at a table for two.�———� AMOR TOWLES
And these are the words of the author about his new release, Table for Two. This collection includes six short stories most taking place in the New York City area most around the turn of the Millennium. These poignant short stories are followed by a novella featuring Evelyn Ross from one of my favorite novels, Rules of Civility. Vanishing on a Chicago-bound train, Evelyn Ross is heading for California. On the train, she meets Charlie, a retired LAPD police officer whose role in the novella reminiscent of the noir fiction of Dashiell Hammet. And we slowly begin to catch up with the life of Eve. It is in Hollywood, circa 1938, where she befriends Olivia de Havilland during the filming of David Selznick’s soon to be blockbuster, Gone With the Wind. And with that thread, we see the social climate and the politics of the premiere studios, particularly in the contracts for their talent.
The book spans the twentieth century, bringing together characters from a range of backgrounds into tableaus of deceit and desire where one must summon their better angels. It is also the tale of two cities and two very different cultural capitols on opposite ends of the United States and sharp and rich stories ripe with satire. There is a reason that I read everything that Amor Towles publishes and this winning collection only adds to his growing oeuvre.
April 27, 2024
Amor Towles has written another outstanding book. The first half of the book contains 6 short stories of about 30 pages. The last half of the book is a novella about Evelyn Ross, a character from his first book
Rules of Civility
.
Despite their short length these short stories are full of well developed characters. There is an O’Henry tone here with some surprise endings. Short stories can be difficult to match the elaboration of a longer novel. The character must be identified in fewer words. Here there is no problem learning about these individual people. As I was reading the short stories I found myself picking each one as my favorite upon finishing it.
However, the novella definitely captured my greatest interest. This picks up the story of Eve after she spurns an offer of marriage and leaves New York to return to her home in Indiana. However, when her parents wait for her at the train station she does not show up. They later learn she has extended her train ticket to Los Angeles. While on the train she meets Charlie, the first of an amazing array of characters that populate this story. Each character has at least one chapter in the book that describes his persona and his role in the story. This is a noir fiction, a genre defined by its moral ambiguity. Eve is in her element here as she defends a well-known friend with the help of her newfound acquaintances.
This book could be characterized as A Tale of Two Cities. The short stories are all based in New York City with its art museums, classical music concerts, book stores, its exclusive clubs, and the assorted entertainment that can be found in Central Park. The novella is based in Hollywood with its “tinsel town� manner and style. Here we see a has been actor, a stuntman, film studios and a young starlet. And Eve who we first met in Rules of Civility , which was based in New York City, is the connection between these two cities.
Having read and enjoyed all of Towles previous books, and most recently reading Rules of Civility a second time, in this book Towles delivers another winner. Once again, with its female protagonist and surprising twists, I find myself wanting to read some Agatha Christie.
Despite their short length these short stories are full of well developed characters. There is an O’Henry tone here with some surprise endings. Short stories can be difficult to match the elaboration of a longer novel. The character must be identified in fewer words. Here there is no problem learning about these individual people. As I was reading the short stories I found myself picking each one as my favorite upon finishing it.
However, the novella definitely captured my greatest interest. This picks up the story of Eve after she spurns an offer of marriage and leaves New York to return to her home in Indiana. However, when her parents wait for her at the train station she does not show up. They later learn she has extended her train ticket to Los Angeles. While on the train she meets Charlie, the first of an amazing array of characters that populate this story. Each character has at least one chapter in the book that describes his persona and his role in the story. This is a noir fiction, a genre defined by its moral ambiguity. Eve is in her element here as she defends a well-known friend with the help of her newfound acquaintances.
This book could be characterized as A Tale of Two Cities. The short stories are all based in New York City with its art museums, classical music concerts, book stores, its exclusive clubs, and the assorted entertainment that can be found in Central Park. The novella is based in Hollywood with its “tinsel town� manner and style. Here we see a has been actor, a stuntman, film studios and a young starlet. And Eve who we first met in Rules of Civility , which was based in New York City, is the connection between these two cities.
Having read and enjoyed all of Towles previous books, and most recently reading Rules of Civility a second time, in this book Towles delivers another winner. Once again, with its female protagonist and surprising twists, I find myself wanting to read some Agatha Christie.
January 25, 2025
“Times of upheaval throw off orphans like sparks. Wherever the grinder meets the metal they shoot in the air in dazzling arcs and either bounce once on the pavement and disappear or settle in the hay and smoulder.�
This book is collection of dazzling arcs: a contented comrade, a disgruntled theatre goer, an opportunistic art dealer, a roller skating lawyer, a beleaguered passenger, a shady book dealer, and a determined dame.
New York: The Line was by FAR my favourite. The hapless comrade/protagonist, Pushkin, is a goddamn delight! I would read a whole book about his story.
The combination of short stories and novella didn’t make much sense to me - it felt like this was driven by commercial outcomes instead of a unified concept.
I find Towles� style deeply pleasing, though, which makes up for it.
April 7, 2024
Simply brilliant! I'm speechless. I wasn't sure that I would like this book because, though I love books by Amor Towles, I am not a fan of short stories. However, this may now be one of my favorite books for 2024!
November 1, 2024
This is a fabulous assembly of six short stories, with the novella rounding out the collection. Before I talk about Eve, let me say that of the other six, only one was a minor disappointment. Each of the others would have garnered a 5-star rating from me standing under its own merits.
There are serious themes running through most of these stories and a wry humor that is absolutely enchanting, but what strikes me most is how very complex and real the characters seem. The writing has a cinematic quality, so that the stories run like little movies in your head.
I had two clear favorites among the six, The Bootlegger and The DiDomenico Fragment.
The Bootlegger is a study in (1) why we should mind our own business, (2) how mistaken quick judgments can be if we don’t have the full story, and (3) how something we do can have a lasting and unexpected impact on not only our own lives but the lives of others.
The DiDomenico Fragment had me liking, then not-liking, then liking again the main character. Uncle Percy isn’t a bad guy, he just sees an opportunity to make some money and takes it. In the process, I am of the opinion that he gains much more than he loses. I adored the ironic ending, as well as this marvelous quotation from the beginning of the story.
The only advantage to growing old is that one loses one’s appetites. After the age of sixty-five one wishes to travel less, eat less, own less. At that point, there is no better way to end one’s day than with a few sips of an old Scotch, a few pages of an old novel, and a king-size bed without distractions.
Eve in Hollywood is more a novella than a short story. Totally marvelous in every aspect. I have written a detailed review HERE
There are serious themes running through most of these stories and a wry humor that is absolutely enchanting, but what strikes me most is how very complex and real the characters seem. The writing has a cinematic quality, so that the stories run like little movies in your head.
I had two clear favorites among the six, The Bootlegger and The DiDomenico Fragment.
The Bootlegger is a study in (1) why we should mind our own business, (2) how mistaken quick judgments can be if we don’t have the full story, and (3) how something we do can have a lasting and unexpected impact on not only our own lives but the lives of others.
The DiDomenico Fragment had me liking, then not-liking, then liking again the main character. Uncle Percy isn’t a bad guy, he just sees an opportunity to make some money and takes it. In the process, I am of the opinion that he gains much more than he loses. I adored the ironic ending, as well as this marvelous quotation from the beginning of the story.
The only advantage to growing old is that one loses one’s appetites. After the age of sixty-five one wishes to travel less, eat less, own less. At that point, there is no better way to end one’s day than with a few sips of an old Scotch, a few pages of an old novel, and a king-size bed without distractions.
Eve in Hollywood is more a novella than a short story. Totally marvelous in every aspect. I have written a detailed review HERE
March 29, 2024
If anyone can get me to pick up a short story/novella collection with eagerness, it’s Amor Towles. TABLE FOR TWO features six short stories set in New York city that explore the nuances of marriage and conversations across the table as well as the novella, Eve in Hollywood which continues the life of a character from one of my favorite novels, Rules of Civility.
I approached the short stories with a bit of skepticism, but to my surprise I really enjoyed them. It was thought-provoking to consider what message Amor was attempting to convey in a limited number of words. (4 stars)
The novella following Eve was unfortunately less enjoyable to me. It somehow felt too long as well as too short all at the same time. The pace was very contemplative and I struggled to stay engaged in the story. (3 stars)
I much prefer Amor’s full-length novels but am thankful for the opportunity to branch out and try something new. I’m averaging out my enjoyment of the full book and landing on 3.5 ⭐️
Speaking of Amor’s novels, who is tuning into the A Gentleman in Moscow mini series coming soon?
Many thanks to @viking for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
I approached the short stories with a bit of skepticism, but to my surprise I really enjoyed them. It was thought-provoking to consider what message Amor was attempting to convey in a limited number of words. (4 stars)
The novella following Eve was unfortunately less enjoyable to me. It somehow felt too long as well as too short all at the same time. The pace was very contemplative and I struggled to stay engaged in the story. (3 stars)
I much prefer Amor’s full-length novels but am thankful for the opportunity to branch out and try something new. I’m averaging out my enjoyment of the full book and landing on 3.5 ⭐️
Speaking of Amor’s novels, who is tuning into the A Gentleman in Moscow mini series coming soon?
Many thanks to @viking for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
December 21, 2024
Sitting at that table for two is Amor Towles on the one side, and Amor Towles again on the other side � but despite the mirror image, they are not one and the same. Indeed, this collection showcases two distinct incarnations of a same talent; two voices to applaud that differ in their approach to storytelling even as they bear a same name; the realization came to me halfway through.
It hit me as I began Eve in Hollywood, that much-celebrated sequel to Rules of Civility, which made for roughly half this volume � specifically, the second half. I recognized in it the same writing as in Towles’s first novel, which I enjoyed enough when it came out, though it took A Gentleman in Moscow to wow me completely, later on. With Count Rostov’s reflections, it struck me that the author had grown: outstanding talent had always been present, but complexity had worked its way in, just as finesse had bloomed.
So in Table for Two, a first series of six excellent short stories reminded me of Towles’s second novel in their virtuosity and ambition, whereas in turn Eve in Hollywood stuck closer (and with its own measure of success) to Rules of Civility’s writing style. Which is to say, Eve postured and quipped and dazzled her way through like the fabulous creation that she is, but it’s the initial short stories that stole my heart in this collection.
If you know her, I had the good fortune of sharing this buddy read with Violeta, who brought her usual flair to the game and will have her own perspectives on all this. During our exchanges, what threaded the initial stories together for me were ethical conundrums, above anything else. As I was introduced to various characters consumed with anguish for one reason or another, I felt captivated by Towles’s playful takes on:
- a confounded communist in the face of her husband’s unlikely bargains;
- a young forger in denial;
- the impromptu guardian of a charismatic lush in relapse;
- a conservative man with a colourful secret;
- a married couple’s renewed foray into date nights; and
- an elderly art connoisseur getting back in touch with more prosaic family members.
That last story, “The DiDomenico Fragment,� turned out to be my favourite, crowning an already masterly crescendo. It wasn’t the only one to mix refined cultural references with accessible writing and relatable characters, but it proved the most generous of all, or at least it felt the richest in human observations � or maybe its blend of fact and fiction about Pietro di Domenico just put the finishing touch to a growing fascination with these short stories, each new one raising the bar. All of them delicately balanced humour and drama, and “The DiDomenico Fragment� was no exception.
“At a fine colonial table that Peter had presumably inherited from his father, we dined on a grass-fed roast, heirloom carrots, and organic Brussels sprouts—which is to say, the beef was tough, the carrots purple, and the Brussels sprouts exactly the same as Brussels sprouts in every respect other than price.�
Eve in Hollywood, by contrast, felt like a different beast. Not that it didn’t have humour or its own share of drama, but after the creativity that marked a first string of stories, all of a sudden the author was indulging in American golden-age glamour archetypes: the knockout blonde with an hourglass figure, the déclassé gentleman actor, the stereotypical private eye, and more, all of them playing true to type. This was an entertaining ride and endless tricks were put to good use by Towles, who visibly knows his classics, but gone was the feeling of reading something novel. It showed virtuosity in another way, instead, and it's hard not to picture the author having great fun writing this.
Those short stories, though.
It hit me as I began Eve in Hollywood, that much-celebrated sequel to Rules of Civility, which made for roughly half this volume � specifically, the second half. I recognized in it the same writing as in Towles’s first novel, which I enjoyed enough when it came out, though it took A Gentleman in Moscow to wow me completely, later on. With Count Rostov’s reflections, it struck me that the author had grown: outstanding talent had always been present, but complexity had worked its way in, just as finesse had bloomed.
So in Table for Two, a first series of six excellent short stories reminded me of Towles’s second novel in their virtuosity and ambition, whereas in turn Eve in Hollywood stuck closer (and with its own measure of success) to Rules of Civility’s writing style. Which is to say, Eve postured and quipped and dazzled her way through like the fabulous creation that she is, but it’s the initial short stories that stole my heart in this collection.
If you know her, I had the good fortune of sharing this buddy read with Violeta, who brought her usual flair to the game and will have her own perspectives on all this. During our exchanges, what threaded the initial stories together for me were ethical conundrums, above anything else. As I was introduced to various characters consumed with anguish for one reason or another, I felt captivated by Towles’s playful takes on:
- a confounded communist in the face of her husband’s unlikely bargains;
- a young forger in denial;
- the impromptu guardian of a charismatic lush in relapse;
- a conservative man with a colourful secret;
- a married couple’s renewed foray into date nights; and
- an elderly art connoisseur getting back in touch with more prosaic family members.
That last story, “The DiDomenico Fragment,� turned out to be my favourite, crowning an already masterly crescendo. It wasn’t the only one to mix refined cultural references with accessible writing and relatable characters, but it proved the most generous of all, or at least it felt the richest in human observations � or maybe its blend of fact and fiction about Pietro di Domenico just put the finishing touch to a growing fascination with these short stories, each new one raising the bar. All of them delicately balanced humour and drama, and “The DiDomenico Fragment� was no exception.
“At a fine colonial table that Peter had presumably inherited from his father, we dined on a grass-fed roast, heirloom carrots, and organic Brussels sprouts—which is to say, the beef was tough, the carrots purple, and the Brussels sprouts exactly the same as Brussels sprouts in every respect other than price.�
Eve in Hollywood, by contrast, felt like a different beast. Not that it didn’t have humour or its own share of drama, but after the creativity that marked a first string of stories, all of a sudden the author was indulging in American golden-age glamour archetypes: the knockout blonde with an hourglass figure, the déclassé gentleman actor, the stereotypical private eye, and more, all of them playing true to type. This was an entertaining ride and endless tricks were put to good use by Towles, who visibly knows his classics, but gone was the feeling of reading something novel. It showed virtuosity in another way, instead, and it's hard not to picture the author having great fun writing this.
Those short stories, though.
March 17, 2025
Like many I was introduced to Amor Towles with A Gentleman in Moscow and then circled back to Rules of Civility. I loved them both. For some reason I had not gotten around to Table for Two, although I had read the short story The Didomenico Fragment and enjoyed it very much. Now I find with Table for Two I am late with my loud and long applause. The six short stories and novella were all delightful.
My favorite character is Evelyn Ross in the novella Eve in Hollywood. I always enjoy reading about intelligent characters who outsmart the despicable people they meet, especially when it is a female living in a male-dominated culture, which was Hollywood in the 1930s. At one point Olivia de Havilland, a character in Eve in Hollywood, comments on some of Evelyn’s admirable traits but also notes that Evelyn is not particularly kind. I found Eve to be very kind to those characters who deserved her kindness, but always savvy and never naive. The other character worth noting in Eve in Hollywood is Los Angeles in the 1930s. I thought Towles imagining of this time and place made the novella a unique reading experience.
Well, Evelyn Ross was only in her mid twenties in Eve in Hollywood, so Amor Towles might choose to revisit her again as a character. If that happens, I will be at the front of the line, and if he doesn’t, then I will read whatever he chooses to write next.
My favorite character is Evelyn Ross in the novella Eve in Hollywood. I always enjoy reading about intelligent characters who outsmart the despicable people they meet, especially when it is a female living in a male-dominated culture, which was Hollywood in the 1930s. At one point Olivia de Havilland, a character in Eve in Hollywood, comments on some of Evelyn’s admirable traits but also notes that Evelyn is not particularly kind. I found Eve to be very kind to those characters who deserved her kindness, but always savvy and never naive. The other character worth noting in Eve in Hollywood is Los Angeles in the 1930s. I thought Towles imagining of this time and place made the novella a unique reading experience.
Well, Evelyn Ross was only in her mid twenties in Eve in Hollywood, so Amor Towles might choose to revisit her again as a character. If that happens, I will be at the front of the line, and if he doesn’t, then I will read whatever he chooses to write next.
November 26, 2024
Table for Two is a collection of six short stories and a novella by the talented novelist Amor Towles. Towles' gift with language is second to none. He is able to conjure up a story in diverse, almost mundane settings and believable characters with such intimacy that you can imagine sharing a table for two with each of them. The book shone with vivid imagery, beautiful language, wit and some twists and turns that leave you pondering. He is able to paint such an atmospheric canvas for each story wielding a tool he has so eloquently mastered- the English language. His knowledge of human behaviour, history, the arts and the finer things of life are woven into the fabric of each story as he captures the reader’s attention quickly with poignant dialogue. One page and you’ll be hooked! His gift of writing is remarkable.
November 25, 2023
The collection of short stories is so excellent. They're everything I anticipate and have come to expect from Amor, and I about screamed when he referenced his own book cover in the first story. And I really loved reading more about Eve - I have the 91 page Eve in Hollywood, but this 200+ page expansion of her story is an absolutely delightful caper. Amor's writing is impeccable throughout this book.
Thanks to PRH for an advanced reader copy!!
Thanks to PRH for an advanced reader copy!!
April 14, 2024
Table for Two by Amor Towles. Interesting read but I wouldn’t expect anything less from Mr Towles. In the beginning of the book it seemed to.be all over. Like the author did not know which direction to go. Then I realized they were a collection of short stories. Some were poetic and others light. The last was based on blackmail and mystery.
April 4, 2024
Absolutely loved the short stories, but the novella at the end (which I was initially most excited about!) really dragged.
May 15, 2024
5 stars
A book of short stories - plus one long novella - from one of my favorite authors - Amor Towles. And in each one he hits the spot.
Six short stories, all lively and vibrant, all happening in New York. One long novella taking place in LA. Each one just as good as the next. It makes no difference if Towles is writing a thousand page novel or a 50 page short story, the outcome is dazzling and dynamic.
There are a few threads that link the short stories together, besides all being historical and placed in New York. From the books title, there is an instance of two people sitting together at a table in each story, as well as intimate talk and compromise. The novella links us back to Rules of Civility and the future held for Eve - one of that story's main characters - told from seven different points of view.
I am not a great connoisseur of the short story, but this book, by this author, is right on the money. Each story is commanding, a wrapped up bundle of excellent writing that elicits a great series of emotions and feelings.
A book of short stories - plus one long novella - from one of my favorite authors - Amor Towles. And in each one he hits the spot.
Six short stories, all lively and vibrant, all happening in New York. One long novella taking place in LA. Each one just as good as the next. It makes no difference if Towles is writing a thousand page novel or a 50 page short story, the outcome is dazzling and dynamic.
There are a few threads that link the short stories together, besides all being historical and placed in New York. From the books title, there is an instance of two people sitting together at a table in each story, as well as intimate talk and compromise. The novella links us back to Rules of Civility and the future held for Eve - one of that story's main characters - told from seven different points of view.
I am not a great connoisseur of the short story, but this book, by this author, is right on the money. Each story is commanding, a wrapped up bundle of excellent writing that elicits a great series of emotions and feelings.
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