Rules of Civility: A Novel by Amor Towles

 

Rules of Civility: A Novel  by Amor Towles. Penguin Books, 2011. Historical fiction.

The book begins with a flashback to 1937 and a young Katey Kontent and her flashy roommate, Eve Ross. Tinker Grey wows them with his grace, rich friends, and access to a world that Katey has never seen. By day, she types in the Quiggin and Hale secretarial pool; by night she explores the clubs of New York City. Of course, Mr. Parish recognizes her talents and Katey switches jobs. She makes friends with Wallace Wolcott and despairs at his talk of the war in Spain.

This is a coming of age story. By 1941, Eve is long gone. Tinker has revealed his early life. And, Katey ultimately makes a life with Val by the 1960's. Near the end, on page 323, the author put in two paragraphs that, for me, sum up the whole book: Life is less a rambling journey than filled with a few brief options. The decisions we make influence our lives forever. Just ask Katey Kontent.

While Towles has written several other novels, too, this early work is a classic. See A Man  in Moscow and The Lincoln Highway for more of his work.