SIX STARS. Marvelous. Top three books of my year. Count Alexander Rostov has lived an incredible life - luxury, glamour, wealth - in early 20th century Russia. Then, one fateful night, circumstances conspire and his life is forever changed. As a "gentleman" with a well known and respected past, his actions, and specifically reactions, find him placed under house arrest at a large Moscow hotel - for the rest of his life.
Never one to sulk, the Count makes lemonade out of lemons in ways large and small. It is his attitude towards life and what you do with it that makes this a very special story. Never bitter, never vengeful, always proper, the Count shows us how life should be lived, regardless of our circumstances. What happens to him and because of him during his decades in the hotel will surprise you, uplift you and yes, make you laugh. I love how the author gives little side winks to the reader. Rostov himself has a brilliant sense of humor in both definitions of brilliant. I really wanted to read this book out loud, it has that much personality. So original, sneaking in Russian and international history, espionage, government corruption, family loyalty, paternal strife and fulfillment, and workplace frustrations all in one little novel.
Even better than Rules of Civility, and that was a great book. Read this. I might even (gasp) read this one twice!!!!
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