On the last night of 1937, 25yearold katey kontent is in a secondrate greenwich village jazz bar when tinker grey, a handsome banker, happens to sit down at the neighboring table. Find discussion questions and reading group guide for rules of civility by amor. I especially like civility distinguishes between facts and opinions and we should not assume or impugn motives. After seeing tinker at chinoisserie, katey indicts george washingtons rules of civility as a doityourself charm school.
But those little tidbits are not the bulk of this quite plotty pacey novel, which is a this book was strange for me, at points, it was a 5, at other points a 1. A sort of how to win friends and influence people 150 years ahead of its time. Are dicky vanderwhile, wallace wolcott, bitsy, peaches, hank, and anne grandyn as essential to kateys story as tinker and. They meet once a month to discuss books and art and celebrate culture in a very civilized way. This novel is less riveting, with a more circumspect plotline, but no less beautiful and poetic in its writing. Rules of civility by amor towles reading guidebook club. Climbing the manhattan social ladder in rules of civility. This study guide consists of approximately 53 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of rules of civility.
Oct 12, 2017 what they said about rules of civility. Are dicky vanderwhile, wallace wolcott, bitsy, peaches, hank and anne grandyn as essential to. There is never any one way to experience or interpret a book. There is a reading guide available with ten thoughtprovoking questions, and i think so many of them are excellent. June 27, 2012 amor towles debuts with a crisp, 1930s manhattan love story. Now, they are in the process of trying to find the perfect actress to portray. Amor towles recreates the beautiful atmosphere of this era and fills the pages with people and events that take you back to this time of witty conversation, lavish parties and soaring ambitions. Are dicky vanderwhile, wallace wolcott, bitsy, peaches, hank and anne grandyn as essential to kateys story as tinker and eve. Partway through rules of civility, the novels autodidact protagonist goes to work for a book publisher that is conservatively described by its celebrated fiction editor as being decades behind. George washingtons rules are included in the appendix. One of the central themes in the book is how chance meetings and offhand. The classic game of never have i ever had to be included in this list of party games for adults.
Not everyone can finish every book, but nonreaders may still have valuable insights. The section is titled, the rules of civility and decent behaviour in company and conversation, and washingtons manuscript of it still survives in the library of congress. Aug 31, 2011 rules of civility takes its name from the famous guide to decorum that george washington copied down as a young man, which tinker keeps with him. Rules of civility would make an outstanding book club selection. Girls of a tender age by maryann tirone smith stetson book club of new haven, connecticut. George washingtons rules of civility and decent behavior.
Rules of civility by amor towles book club discussion questions. First mentioned in branch wars, the finer things club is considered by some to be the most exclusive club in the office. Born and raised in the boston area, amor towles graduated from yale college and received an ma in english from stanford university. Katey kontent, daughter of russian immigrants, and evie ross, from the sleepy midwest, are an ambitious, wisecracking pair who, despite lack of money and connections, aim to set. All is moving along well, if slowly with the film version of rules of civility. I found the book a bit difficult to get into at first, but really wanted to know more about the characters the more i read. The novel examines how, by changing your attitudes, behaviors, and manners, you can reinvent yourself, and how katey, tinker, and eve all did this in 1938. Israeli salad and a middle eastern rice dish the martian by andy weir.
She said that she was mulling over some of the ideas she. His second novel, a gentleman in moscow, published in 2016, was also a new york times. Its so nice to be able to finally discuss i read this last summer and skimmed it for this months book club. The novel, jaffes book is about the life of office girls in a 1950s publishing house. Jan 05, 2012 rules of civility, without crying at chefd.
The rules of civility is a manual of behavior comprising 110 guidelines for maintaining friendly and respectful relations among people. The cocktail party november 27, 20 14 comments in etiquette, savoir vivre by jay sennett the ability to entertain is a powerful skill that once mastered, gives a gentleman many hours of joyous reflection and boundless amounts of goodwill from others. Commentary on the role of jazz in the book is included here. A central theme in the book is that a chance encounter or cursory decision in. Armed with little more than a formidable intellect, a bracing wit, and her own brand of cool nerve, katey embarks on a journey from a wall. Serve the group a simple and delicious meal, let the wine flowand theyll want to have every meeting at your house. Everything about this novel, set in 1930s new york, is achingly stylish from the authors name to the slinky jacket design. His first novel, rules of civility, published in 2011, was a new york times bestseller and was named by the wall street journal as one of the best books of 2011. Our book for this month is amor towles novel rules of civility. June 27, 2012 amor towles debuts with a crisp, 1930s manhattan love story, while george pelecanos and sapphire return with. We are around the same age as the main character, katey. Aug 14, 2011 in towless first novel, rules of civility, his clever heroine, who grew up in brooklyn as katya, restyles herself in 1930s manhattan as the more clubbable katey, aspiring to. The girl with the dragon tattoo by stieg larsson see our recipe in the book club cookbook. If you are interested, there is additional content regarding rules of civility at.
Maine foods including lobster bisque, irish soda bread because the family was irish catholic and for dessert, rice pudding with maine blueberries. But dicky sees some nobility in tinkers aspiration to washingtons rules. Below are some answers to commonly asked questions about rules of civility. In amor towless witty and slyly brutal debut novel, rules of civility, the protagonist is one katey kontent.
Discussion questions for rules of civility by amor. If you have other questions or would like to be on my distribution list for rare news of my writing and receive an occasional short story, please register on my contact page. Rules of civility and decent behaviour in company and. But amor towless novel is a different endeavour and puts its own retro stamp on self.
Presumably they were copied out as part of an exercise in penmanship assigned by. Here are some basic questions to get a book club discussion going i mean, lets try not to gossip the whole time. My first night in the city, i got invited to a party at the home of an acquaintance. Buy rules of civility by amor towles online at alibris. I read it in one long, sixhour gulp, and just spent half an hour rereading the first few chapters. So i was worried as i picked rules of civility as our instore book club selection for november. We started with marcel prousts remembrance of things past and have since worked through the works of twain and faulkner, cervantes and marquez. Rules of civility is the authors first book, and although it is superbly written, his third book, a gentleman in moscow 2016, is the one worthy of 5 stars. Rules of civility rules of civility is the title of amor towles novel, and also the shortened title of george washingtons rules for social behavior.
In the fall of 2012, the novel was optioned to be made into a feature film. As a group we have not yet met to discuss the rules of civility. Rules of civility is a terrific book that provides a nostalgic journey back to simpler and more dangerous times that some would love to relive and others forget. Its 1938 as the story opens, and katey has just about had it with the narrow options facing a young woman in depressionera manhattan. So i was thrilled to see the rather openended book club that simona.
They are based on a set of rules composed by french jesuits in 1595. These little nuggets are katys own rules of civility and they made the book worth reading. Rules of civility by amor towles book club discussion. Rules of civility takes its name from the famous guide to decorum that. Rules of civility by amor towles reading guide book club. Fornis 25 choosing civility rules match george washingtons rules. This wonderful chicago tribune and sharply stylish boston globe debut novel presents the story of a young woman whose life is on the brink. Besides the huge number of questions, theres also a drinking game variation, penalty variation, and a nonalcoholic variation. The mandelbaum gate by muriel spark overdue book club of huntsville, alabama. There is very little in the understanding of human behavior that is new. The civility of his books title is very often a puton. Many characters in the novel are concerned about appearances, often over substance, so following rules of acceptable behavior is crucial. Aug 02, 2011 refined manhattan shines with glamorous civility filled with snappy dialogue and sharp observations, amor towles elegant debut novel transports readers back to new york city circa 1938. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
In towless first novel, rules of civility, his clever heroine, who grew up in brooklyn as katya, restyles herself in 1930s manhattan as the more clubbable katey, aspiring to. Discussion questions for rules of civility by amor towles our book for this month is amor towles novel rules of civility. Like the early renaissance in tuscany with massacio, della francesca, botticelli and donatello, or jazz in the late 50s in new york with davis and coltrane and monk and gillespie. I am only two months late, but i just wanted to say how much i enjoyed reading the rules of civility discussion you hosted.
Aug 25, 2011 still, towles gets the emotional heft of things right. The new york times bestselling novel that enchants on first reading and only improves on the second the philadelphia inquirer a gentleman in moscow the highly anticipated new novel from amor towles is now available from viking. The rules of civility study guide contains a comprehensive summary and analysis of rules of civility by amor towles. Katey kontent narrates her own journey through the year 1938, from the future perspective of 1966, after she runs upon photographs of a man named tinker grey.
Jun 26, 2012 if only by following rules such those of civility, everything in life would turn out okay. Set in new york city in 1938, rules of civility tells the story of a watershed year in the life of an uncompromising twentyfiveyearold named katey kontent. Amor towles recreates the beautiful atmosphere of this era and fills the pages with people and events that take you back to this time of. See more ideas about art deco party, great gatsby party and roaring 20s party. Armed with little more than a formidable intellect, a bracing wit, and her own brand of cool nerve, katey embarks on a journey from a wall street secretarial pool through the upper echelons of new york society in search of a brighter future. I personally would love for my book club to read and discuss this novel because i truly believe that there is so much to talk about. Use our ideas to help you organize your book club activities, hold good discussions, and settle tough issues. Five years ago, three friends and i set out to read some of the great books or those works of literature which would merit rereading several times over the course of our lives. Apr 1, 20 our book for this month is amor towles novel rules of civility.
The book was rated by the wall street journal as one of the ten best works of fiction in 2011. True civility is stiff and prim traits nowhere in evidence in a splashy, dishy novel like rules of civility. Asparagus gratin from rules of civility novel food no. Corn pudding and green beans and meatloaf and chicken casserole.
At the outset, rules of civility appears to be about the interrelationship between katey, tinker, and eve. This chance encounter and its startling consequences propel katey on a yearlong journey into the upper echelons of new york society where she will have little to rely upon other than a bracing wit and her own. Manhattan in the 1930s with all its charm, sophistication and jazzage dynamics is the highlight of this book. At george washingtons rules of civility and decent behavior, your students can bridge some of the rules of the past and how they apply to their present lives. Rules of civility, the first novel by amor towles, chronicles a transitional year in the life of a young woman in manhattan. And if your reading group is meeting for dinner in new york somewhere between. Italianamerican cookbook author lidia bastianich, whos accustomed to cooking for a crowd, says a bubbling casserole of shellshaped pasta stuffed with ricotta is something everyone. Reading guide five years ago, three friends and i set out to read some of the great books or those works of literature which would merit rereading several times over the course of our lives. The stunning debut by the millioncopy bestselling author of a gentleman in moscow by towles, amor isbn. At the outset, rules of civility appears to be about the interrelationship between katey, tinker and eve. As someone who has written quietly for twenty years, the notion that a group might gather.
An interesing look at history and charcter development. Im very interested in periods where there is a density of creative invention. Andy desperately wants to be a part of the finer things club, but is never granted membership. With its sparkling depiction of new yorks social strata, its intricate imagery and themes, and its immensely appealing characters, rules of civility won the hearts of readers and critics alike. Refined manhattan shines with glamorous civility filled with snappy dialogue and sharp observations, amor towles elegant debut novel transports readers back to new york city circa 1938. Tell us about george washington and his rules of civility a. Rules of civility amor towles, 2011 penguin group usa 352 pp.
As stated by pam, there is no paper, no plastic and no work talk allowed. I loved the feel of the period created in this book. The narrator is one with whom you are happy to spend time, her world sparkles and glitters but has a distinct bite. Commentary on the role of walker evanss photography in the book is included here. Although the cover of the book grabbed my attention since i saw it in a bookstore a few months ago, for some reason i didnt buy it and then i regretted my decision when i saw it mentioned on your blog. One of my main issues with books i read is their predictability i can see where something is headed way too early to enjoy or get too lost in the story. Her writing has appeared in the awl, the av club, the chicago reader, and chicago magazine. In fact, differing opinions make the best discussions. Rules of civility takes its name from the famous guide to decorum that george washington copied down as a young man, which tinker keeps with him.
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