“Our lives are steered by uncertainties, many of which are disruptive or even daunting; but if we persevere and remain generous of heart, we may be granted a moment of supreme lucidity — a moment in which all that has happened to us suddenly comes into focus as a necessary course of events, even as we find ourselves on the threshold of a bold new life that we have been meant to lead all along.”

I recently joined the Book of the Month club. The reasoning behind that decision was twofold. First of all, I won't lie, I was overly excited to know that I would have a brand new book mailed to me every four weeks. Doesn't that sound exciting? But it is, honest! It's like making a new friend every month! But I also joined because I thought it would be good to step out of my comfort zone a little bit. Although I like to think of myself as having a wide scope when it comes to reading, I know that a lot of times I tend to stay within certain genres. Choosing a book from an already pre-selected list forces me to read something I may not have picked up otherwise. Last month I received my first book, which was A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. This is Towles' second novel, but the first one I have personally read.

A Gentleman in Moscow begins in 1922 with the trial of Count Alexander Rostov. He has written a flagrantly anti-socialist poem and has been deemed by his tribunal to be an unconforming aristocrat. His punishment? Lifelong imprisonment at the Metropol, an enormous hotel right across the street from the Kremlin. Once a man of exceeding wealth and countless possessions, the Count is reduced to a small room in the attic and must rid himself of everything that will not fit in it. The world passes him by, tumultuous and breathtaking, while he is forced to watch from the sidelines.

There are so many things to love about this beautifully written book that I barely know where to start. From the description, you would think that this is a depressing story. But in actuality, it's very uplifting. The change of Count Alexander's circumstances doesn't bring him down negatively, rather, he appreciates each and every moment of his life. He looks forward to his morning coffee and time spent reading. He rejoices in the coming and going of visitors staying at the hotel and treasures the friendships he cultivates with those who work there. Although he loses his status and many of his possessions, what he does not lose is his chivalrous manners, his ability to laugh, and his delight in causing mischief. He is the perfect epitome of taking what you are given and making the best of it. Even though he is essentially sentenced to life imprisonment, he faces each day with wit and wonder.

The Bolsheviks were depicted in a truly terrifying manner, and I could feel that radiating off the pages. In case you're unfamiliar, the Bolsheviks were a faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party and eventually formed the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. The thought that something like a poem could cause such a reaction is mind blowing. And really, Count Alexander was lucky he didn't get sent to Siberia or executed on the spot.

But perhaps the biggest reason why I adored this book is because everything in it felt so real. It's almost 500 pages, and just filled to the brim with lush descriptions of Russia. It's people, it's places, it's food. I swear, you could eat a five course-meal before picking up this book and still be hungry after reading it. I could feel the deep bite of the snowy air, smell the petrol burning in the streets, taste the spices in the food and the sweetness of the liquor. I really felt as if I were a part of the story, and that is one of the highest recommendations I can give about a book.

“The surest sign of wisdom is constant cheerfulness.”

If you enjoy this, I would also highly recommend Bel Canto by Ann Patchett, The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker, Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys, and Enchantment by Orson Scott Card. Additionally, I would recommend the works of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, since Count Rostov praises them (and rightly so) throughout the novel.