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Post by moosishun on Sept 28, 2022 21:07:08 GMT -5
I cried about Nina. Such a wonderful soul.
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Post by moosishun on Sept 29, 2022 8:52:40 GMT -5
DAY 4: This is a set of questions, of which you can pick one or none or all, that I lifted from the author (I think). Here goes:
This novel covers a wide expanse of time within a single character's lifetime. How does the author convey the passage of time, and do you think it is successful? What periods in the Count's life did you enjoy reading about the most?
How does the Count view the revolutions that occur in his country throughout the course of the novel? How does his perspective differ from those held by other characters in the book?
I thought they were very interesting and touched upon some of the likes/dislikes for this book.
Again, I just loved this tome, I loved the Count's sense of humor (which was so downplayed that it took a second reading to get some of it) and the people that surrounded him. I am reminded of Anne Frank's assessment that "In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart. I simply can’t build up my hopes on a foundation consisting of confusion, misery and death." Because really, how many bad sorts surrounded the Count during his long stay? This whole book gave me an appreciation of the people that can be found in the every day doings of life.
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Post by bernelli on Sept 29, 2022 9:49:57 GMT -5
I thought the time span did work. I did have to flip back and forth at times to remind myself how far in time the story jumped, but once I got the hang of that it wasn't a big deal.
I think the Count was very sheltered from the horrors of war. I think he KNEW, but he was a bit coddled in his "prison".
It was through other people that he came to face reality as much as he was able to.
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Post by moosishun on Sept 29, 2022 9:56:02 GMT -5
Somehow, I think he had a very good friend who placed him in that upstairs out-of-the-way place so as not to cause undue attention to himself while living at the Hotel. I believe he was extremely shocked at his friend, who really got punished for believing that he could speak his own mind. That hit me pretty hard as well. And then Nina, well, she never came back.
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Post by moosishun on Sept 30, 2022 8:42:47 GMT -5
Last Question:
What did you think about the Great Escape?
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Post by bernelli on Sept 30, 2022 9:35:54 GMT -5
I LOVED it. I loved it so much. I felt like, FINALLY. And also, it was terrifying.
What a scary situation.
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Post by peacemama on Sept 30, 2022 11:06:35 GMT -5
Loved the reveal of the defection planning as it unfurled. A great ending!
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Post by peacemama on Sept 30, 2022 11:10:37 GMT -5
moosishun, Thank you for facilitating this week's discussion and for your years of leading our GDT book club.
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Post by moosishun on Sept 30, 2022 11:23:49 GMT -5
I was absolutely riveted to the entire escape plot from beginning to end, thinking for sure the stinkweed of the whole book was going to mess it all up. You know, we never really talked about Anna. I think the Count was definitely smitten with her. She definitely was also smitten. WHY DON'T WE THINK OF HER? \ Here is this woman who still had a great career and did not see her favorite person all the time, but the embers never died between the two of them. She was maybe my most favorite character of this book.
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Post by gemster on Sept 30, 2022 13:02:16 GMT -5
I must admit I did enjoy the ending as we got a bit of action finally. And I also liked Anna, just wish we’d got to know her a bit better. Sorry I’ve not been around much, I’ve been having major issues with my work laptop & feel like I’ve been running all over Wales this week trying to get it sorted, but thank you for the discussion moosishun, as is often the way I’ve enjoyed the chat more than I did the book
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Post by moosishun on Sept 30, 2022 13:15:37 GMT -5
I think Anna was the Count's special person and we probably were not allowed to become further acquainted.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2022 13:51:37 GMT -5
Thanks, moosishun. I’ve forgotten more about this book than I remember. I kind of recall the ending. I think the little girl was going to leave the country. I don’t recall who she was going to be with. The count….he escaped but stayed in Russia, in the country side? Not even sure if I’m right. I do remember a sense of satisfaction that the little girl was going to be safe. I’ve started the next book….so far…I like it!
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Post by moosishun on Oct 1, 2022 6:47:24 GMT -5
So, I was reading on another board about the ending, and it is so up in the air!!!
I didn't for a minute doubt that he and Anna were trucking it on out of Russia and that they were having a lovely sip of whatever just to begin the journey to leave.
NOT EVERYBODY BELIEVES THAT THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED!!!!!!!
What do you think happened?
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Post by antalina17 on Oct 6, 2022 18:52:04 GMT -5
I never remember to look at the separate bookclub board, since it's been a while since I participated. So I'm late to the discussion. I liked A Gentleman in Moscow very much, but thought it could have been at least 100 pages shorter. I studied Russian history and literature in college and grad school and cataloged books from the Soviet Union and Russia for 35 years, so I know a bit about the era and the real people mentioned in the book. I too was skeptical that he would have been allowed to stay in the hotel rather than be sent to Siberia or "disappeared." But all throughout Russian and Soviet history, it was all about who you knew and what you've got on people and how well you can bribe. So "maybe" it was possible. Some people can make the best of bad situations, like those who survived the Holocaust. He was a survivor and for the most part always found the good in (most) people and charmed them. I think he knew what was going on outside but chose not to dwell on it. The ending was not what I expected. I was hoping that he too would escape to the west. I felt the idyllic scene with Anna was a fantasy he chose to dream when he was ultimately sent to the GULAG or was dying. There's no way anyone could appear out of nowhere in a remote area and not have one of the locals turn them in to the authorities. My guess is that he was not paid for being a waiter, but was paid in kind, earning his keep and getting the little luxuries like his haircuts as compensation.
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Post by peacemama on Oct 7, 2022 4:58:27 GMT -5
Wait! What? There are different interpretations of the ending?! I'm sticking with my initial thought that he also escaped.
Looking forward to watching the movie when it's released.
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