A Gentleman in Moscow

When we visit our daughter Rebecca, she and I go shopping to look for special day gifts for my husband Murray.

Murray loves to read, so we always check out books.

During one visit, Rebecca picked up A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW by Amor Towles and said, “I’ve heard a lot about this book.”

I respect Rebecca’s opinion, so I got it and gave it to Murray for Father’s Day.

Soon after he started it, Murray said, “I think this is the best book I’ve ever read.”

I don’t read only Christian books. But I have so many good ones that are specifically Christian waiting for me, I hesitate to use time reading something else. But the more Murray talked about this book, the more I considered it. In the end, I finished it before he did.

What an excellent story, and story-teller.

This is a fictional story, laid over the history of Russia from 1922 to 1954.

A Russian Count is exiled for life by making him stay always inside the hotel where he lives. He must move from his luxury suite to a small attic room, and live there the rest of his life. He can move around the hotel, but he will die if he ever leaves it.

So well written, such excellent writing craft.

A beautiful story. Of sorrow and hope and terror, of loneliness and friendship. Of new ways to be found useful and needed. Of unexpected relationships.

Excellent descriptions, of Russia, of this fine hotel, of a wide variety of characters. Delicate and amusing twists and surprises. Joy, sorrow, delight. Tragedy, miracles. I laughed and I cried.

And although this is not a specifically Christian book, there were potent whispers about Jesus.

And what an ending!