A Gentleman in Moscow Discussion

[moosishun]

Hey!  I am here.  I have the book on my computer and just did not get to it but I did read it a few months ago and will immerse myself as we go.  I will have to go back and refresh myself from time to time but we are going on and if you have some better questions to throw out, I"LL TAKE 'EM.  Ha!

Let's just hit the generic first day question:

Did you love the book, like the book or hate the book?  And why?  

I have been dying to ask this question since fair admitted to the hate.  Hahahaha!  

[moosishun]

And I will answer first because I am up and going right now:

I loved it. Absolutely got taken in from the sentence handed down in the first chapter. I honestly thought "Well, heck, I am going to hate this thing - how can it be interesting watching this guy stay in this hotel", but then I just got drawn in with all the characters that he met and how he made total lemon meringue pie out of the lemons he got.

I loved how he would adjust to things that would have daunted so many. He had amazing perseverance and was incredibly interesting and entertaining, although I felt like his character was sort of the George Burns to Gracie - all those characters were something else.

I loved him.

[bernelli]

I really really enjoyed this book.
I loved the characters, and I loved how this man who was used to the finer and easier life was able to accept and adjust to his confinement. Better than a prison, but that hotel was actually like a small (tiny) little city with ALL the amenities. So he was quite comfortable compared to prison. Try doing that at a Hampton Inn! haha

I am not familiar with Russian history at all, so there were a lot of political & historical references to the past and the culture that went over my head. I initial started googling things to fully grasp, but decided the book would take me a year to get through so I just let that stuff fall to the side.

[Deleted]

Ugh. I was encouraged (strong armed) into reading this by a friend who told this is the only book that she ever finished, turned it over, and restarted it. It’s been 1.5 years ago since I read it.

The best I can say for it is, “the count was an endearing character”. Nothing happened for soooooo long.

I mentioned earlier that I posted this on FB while trying to get through it:

‘I need a little encouragement on this one.
I’m bored with it. I mean the Count is endearing but that’s about all.. It seems like a Seinfeld episode...a book about nothing. Does this pick up? I mean I need something to happen .
This isn’t going to just turn into a tortured love story is it?’ I had also mentioned that, I needed something to happen ike the little girl could fall off the balcony or something. That way he couldn’t leave the hotel to carry her to the hospital. HA. My friend said, “keep reading” And I did. And, in a flashback this is exactly what happened except I think he did leave to get her medical care, right?

The only character I cared about was the little girl when she was grown up and became involved in the resistance. And then her character disappeared. It was as if the author thought, I will write a book where I stay on the absolute fringe of any real story. And I will make it a long torturing book for the reader. The main character will move about in large Amazon box, and others will kick the box from time to time. Oh, and there will be a small restaurant in the box where he will serve and only “overhear” the things of substance.

On a positive note, I also posted this, at some point. “He does write beautifully. Even thought, so far, it’s been eventless, the sentence structure and phrasing are some of the best I’ve ever read.” So there was that.

And this, “Still reading. So freaking slow”.

Even when things started to happen, I just couldn’t really care. By that time, I was pushing through only because I told my friend I would finish it. I think I resented the whole book.

[corgi]

I’m I’m about 1/3 of the way through my second reading. I hear what you’re saying @fairazzbueller, the first time through I was pretty annoyed how it seemed to be all these disjointed vignettes. But then, everything pulled together at the end and it was wonderful. This time through, I’m savoring each story. It’s reminding me a little bit of Man Called Ove, with the main character constantly being pulled into the lives of those around him, though in this case, much less grudgingly.

bernelli, I actually spent three weeks at a Hilton at the beginning of the year and was quite comfortable. My room had two beds and a separate seating area with a sofa, coffee table, and a desk, as well as a countertop with a fridge and microwave, plus of course a bath. I set up my sewing machine on the desk and passed the days working on a quilt (we were redoing floors at our house so all I needed to do was stay away from home), using the second bed to lay out pieces. Okay, maybe it was not the rest of my life comfy, but it was better than I imagined.

[zoomingzebra]

Unfortunately, I haven't finished it yet. Hoping to get it done today. I actually really like the book. It's interesting to see someone make a happy life stuck in such a small physical space. The references to Russian history fly right over my head, so I just haven't worried about it. Hopefully I can finish today so I'll be able to participate the rest of the week.

[sal]

I loved it, but I can see how some could find it a slog, because it really is a book that is playing the long game.

I loved how he found ways and people to make his house arrest bearable. Creating his extra little space behind the closet. Sneaking around, in more ways than one. Getting a job.

He never did finish that Montaigne book of essays, did he? I had to read that in English my freshman year of college, and he's better off having used it to prop up the desk.

[moosishun]

DAY TWO:

Let's talk about the ways the Count made his "prison sentence" more enjoyable and yes, even more fulfilling. What kind of person would be able to adjust to such a sentence? What attributes did he have that allowed for this to be successful over a decades-long stretch? Would you be able to do this and how might that help those of us who are not getting younger and will probably have our great freedoms curtailed as we age?

What would you need in order to sustain a vibrant life even though you may one day have your world limited to a more localized (and smaller) space?

[gemster]

I pretty much agree with everything @fairazzbueller said - but some of you will remember my dislike of waffly descriptive books so not surprising this one wasn’t for me

I am familiar with the history of this time period and this is absolutely never likely to have happened, the Count would have been shot or sent to the gulag during the Stalin purges. I know it’s fiction but an Enemy of the People living and working in a posh hotel when people were sent to a gulag for being late for work is just too far beyond belief for me.

I’m at work so will BBL to answer today’s question.

[bernelli]

I feel that the Count was ahead of his time in understanding what would bring him down (depression) and he aimed to maintain a schedule. That was genius, and really takes some mental strength after a struggle (that might be a little self back pat there). He did self maintenance things -- brush his teeth, maintain weekly haircuts, his daily exercises... that was good.

Nina definitely helped him LIVE while he was in the hotel. She expanded his world and he grew to love her like a good uncle. Then Sofia came along and expanded his world even more.

Also, he got a job being a waiter. I always wondered if he was paid for that work, or was he doing that voluntarily? Does anyone know?

[bernelli]

Oh shoot, I forgot to consider what it would take for ME to survive like this. Heck... I'd need the workout center, the pool, the dining areas, wifi and tons of books. I would hope for a rooftop fresh-air option like the Count. I'd probably get so involved in the worker's lives and go help them work just so I'd have some social interaction. It would be difficult. Just imagining this, makes me not like the feel of the hotel carpets on my barefeet...so I'd probably also want a nice rug =)

[Deleted]

Amen to what gemster said. I remember thinking the same things. “This man would be dead”. And I could not suspend those thoughts as I read.

I think you all have mentioned the many ways he entertained himself. I kept thinking about the money stashed in the desk and wondering how he might use it to bribe someone to escape or buy privileges.

[sal]

I did think he would probably have been dead 5 seconds after they decided he was an enemy of the people, but enjoyed the writing enough to suspend disbelief. I totally get that making the whole premise just too much, though.

I think in this situation, you would have to both be great with keeping to some kind of schedule, like Bernelli mentioned, and having a LOT of internal motivation. Because you wouldn't necessarily have other people to externally motivate you. He did, but by luck, not design.

[zoomingzebra]

Let's talk about the ways the Count made his "prison sentence" more enjoyable and yes, even more fulfilling. What kind of person would be able to adjust to such a sentence? What attributes did he have that allowed for this to be successful over a decades-long stretch? Would you be able to do this and how might that help those of us who are not getting younger and will probably have our great freedoms curtailed as we age?

What would you need in order to sustain a vibrant life even though you may one day have your world limited to a more localized (and smaller) space?

I think the fact that having always sort of been a "man at leisure", he wasn't accustomed to having a busy day. He had always gotten up when he wanted, and filled his days with reading, and other pursuits that were not taxing. I think having his daily rituals would have helped kept him sane. His morning exercises, breakfast, reading the paper, lunch, dinner, drinks at the bar. I couldn't imagine never going outside again, but once he found access to the roof, that must have fulfilled that need. The hotel key gave him access to lots of other spaces. And having the girls in his life was huge. Having them, though in different ways, helped keep his days full. And, becoming such good friends with the hotel workers. It was genius that he got a job. Kept his evenings busy, I assume kept a little money coming in, and allowed him to know, and access, all of the important people.

I'm sure my world will shrink as I age, but I would certainly want the option to venture out as much as I want for as long as I can. And once it is limited, my connections to people, reading, the internet, tv, podcasts and hopefully getting outside some, should help.

[honeybzzzs]

I’m firmly sitting on the gemster and @fairazzbueller couch. I like books that have well written sentence structure and beautifully phased wording. I even enjoy books by Russian authors (yep…read War and Peace) but this book just did not grab me.
I also know a bit about Russian history and also couldn’t believe he was allowed to live.

About living in a hotel. Yep, as a card carrying introvert this would be no problem for me. I could easily fall into the lifestyle of a luxury hotel. And having a waitstaff person job would be perfect. Enough contact with people to keep my mind healthy, a routine and purpose. Perfect!

[peacemama]

Lost track of time and forgot we were starting this discussion yesterday.

Day 1 response
I enjoyed the book, especially the ending. I started after it was announced that Ewan McGregor was cast as the Count in the upcoming movie version, so I totally envisioned him as I read. I pictured his relationships very similarly to his endearing (perfect descriptor @fairazzbueller) Obi Wan fatherly connection to Leia and charming interactions with others.

As part of my undergraduate Peace Studies courses, I endured the joy of wading through Russian lit. sal, your desk prop is how I felt about many of those Russian tomes.

For GoodReads I gave the book a 4-star rating.

[peacemama]

Day 2
For me, what matters most is who I am with, not where I can go.

Some nuggets from the book that linger with me related to his hotel confinement:


..the wise man celebrates what he can.

Who would have imagined,” he said, “when you were sentenced to life in the Metropol all those years ago, that you had just become the luckiest man in all of Russia.

When all was said and done, the endeavors that most modern men saw as urgent (such as appointments with bankers and the catching of trains), probably could have waited, while those they deemed frivolous (such as cups of tea and friendly chats) had deserved their immediate attention.

It is a sad but unavoidable fact of life,” he began, “that as we age our social circles grow smaller. Whether from increased habit or diminished vigor, we suddenly find ourselves in the company of just a few familiar faces. So I view it as an incredible stroke of good fortune at this stage in my life to have found such a fine new friend.

[gemster]

I think the Count was so incredibly lucky to be living the life he did, he had a much better life than most of the Russian population of that time. In fact that’s one the the (many) things that annoyed me about this book, he didn’t seem to really be aware of how horrendous and dangerous life in Stalin’s Russia was outside the hotel, even though his friend was in a gulag and Nina and her husband likely died in one too. Or maybe that got lost in the flowery language… In his situation I’d be thanking my lucky stars and every god in the universe for my luck in between worrying that any day now I’d be off to Siberia or the firing squad.

As for me I feel like I’d be ok living in a hotel, I’m not a very active or outdoorsy person so as long as I had work and company I’d probably be fine. Books would help too, and obviously speaking from a modern perspective iphone, iPad and TV

[moosishun]

DAY THREE:

And I am so sorry that I have not been around but I will give a full accounting of myself in another day or so!!!!!

What and who were adversaries or surprises that did not seem pleasant at the time that make up the conflicts of this book? How do you think the Count became victorious over them? What seemed like a "rock in his oatmeal" that really turned out to be a lump of brown sugar?

[moosishun]

And I understand the bit of anger about making this seem like it really could have happened when the times in Russia were all about separating royalty's heads from their bodies as fast as possible. For heaven's sakes, the Czar nor his family didn't even make it out of there. But with all the corruptness at the top, there might have been one or two or perhaps 100 royal folk that bought themselves into the "good graces" of somebody higher up. I always wonder if the Count had one such friend in a high place that did nothing but save his life in what might have been considered the lowliest of ways, especially when he was relegated to the upstairs drafty room.

I could see one person blundering through the cracks. And that would be the Count! Especially if he kept himself way under the radar.

I absolutely adored the way he would turn a tumultuous set-up into a bearable and even more preferred ending.

[peacemama]

I really enjoyed the Count's thoughts about the Bishop and their interactions throughout the years. The storeroom lock up was the perfect ending.

[bernelli]

One "rock in his oatmeal" was Sophia... at first anyway. But he jumped to that challenge without blinking and found his way and loved her like a father. I loved that storyline.

Another was the way he had to dare to leave the hotel to get her to the hospital...that was scary, and I worried someone would remember that he was to be shot on sight if he steps foot outside the hotel.

The fact of his friend (I forget his name) being subjected to terrible things and facing the real world of war... when he himself was imprisoned and yet kept safe from the realities of the war.

His attitude of accepting and rising to his circumstances kept him going. I'm making this seem all smooth & creamy and easy for him, but I don't mean that's the way it was... he alluded to depressions and falling to drink... and I'm trying to do this before a meeting... gotta run!

Love everyone's input!

[gemster]

moosishun, yes I’m sure there were people who somehow fell through the cracks and got overlooked and/or had a high up on their side. It still must have been hideously nerve wracking knowing that could end at any minute and you (and your high up protector and all your known associates) could be tortured, shot or sent to the gulag. I just don’t think that underlying dread and terror that everyone in Stalin’s Russia lived with came across strongly enough in the book - or at least not to me.

I agree with bernelli about Sophia, she was definitely a lump of sugar for the Count. She was to me too, I was about to give up on the book completely until she appeared

[Deleted]

I was having trouble remembering all the pickles he got himself into/out off. So, I enjoyed reading the responses. They helped me recall.

[peacemama]

bernelli, I gasped aloud "Oh, no! Don't do it." when he headed to the hospital.