There’s nothing like immersing yourself in a good book. Not sure if this happens to anyone else, but I know a book is really good when it takes over my life. I become less interested in watching TV, or catching up on email – all I want to do is find out how the book ends. This is exactly what happened to me with The Rules of Civility by Amor Towles.
Set in New York City in 1938, The Rules of Civility follows the story of heroine Katy, plus her two best friends Eve and Tinker. Katy and Eve are up-and-comers struggling to find their place in the world while stretching every dollar they have. Katy is smart, ambitious, independent and very much a woman who cleverly challenges the role she’s required to play in society. Eve, on the other hand, is beautiful, daring and adventurous – the perfect sidekick. Tinker is a wealthy banker who they serendipitously meet and helps to usher them into Manhattan society.
My hunch is that those who enjoy The Great Gatsby will like this book. There’s the nostalgia of re-living the glamour and enchantment of upper class society in the late 1930s into the 1940s and beyond in New York City. The book also has a powerful, likeable heroine, romance, intrigue and a few plot twists. It’s heartbreaking at times, but also very real.
For more information on the Rules of Civility by Amor Towles, click here (affiliate link).