I can easily declare that this will be one of my three favorite reads for 2024— a bold opening statement. This book is comprised of short stories that are set in, or have firm links to, New York City. The latter third of the book is a novella that follows the story of a Towles character from his first book, Rules of Civility: Evelyn Ross, who, while onboard a train departing New York City, bound for Chicago and her parents’ home, impulsively chooses to stay on board and visit Los Angeles. The reader does not need to have read the earlier novel to appreciate and enjoy the novella (as I have not.) May I point you to an earlier review I wrote for Towles’ book The Lincoln Highway (https://www.margueritereads.com/home/the-lincoln-highway-by-amor-towles). While I did not review A Gentleman in Moscow, I read and loved it. Be sure to read it before viewing the new Amazon Prime mini-series.

In the New York section, we have six short stories that feature various aspects of the city in different historical periods, from very different perspectives. From Russian immigrants escaping the early Soviet, post-Bolshevik deprivations, only to land in post-stock market crash NYC; to Carnegie Hall, Central Park, the New York Public Library, upper west side down to Greenwich Village, we meet people of various economic levels, educations, classes, and occupations, clashing and living in this amazing city. No need for familiarity with New York to enjoy these stories; although, if you do know the city, you will have another level of enjoyment.

Tonally, Towles’ wonderful sense of humor pervades these stories. For example: the naive would-be young author, lacking any experience from which to pursue his craft, will soon gain valuable life experience as a result of his venture into forgery; the self-righteous investment banker, outing an elderly gentleman surreptitiously recording a performance at Carnegie Hall will get his comeuppance; a daughter spies on her step father when her mother fears he is having an affair, only to discover a humorous, secret pastime pursued by this otherwise trustworthy, conservative, unassuming man. These are some of the scenarios that Towles has created for his very real characters, situations that have a uniquely New York stamp on them. The stories have the feel of a yarn shared by an uncle at the Thanksgiving table, an unbelievable tale about a friend from the City.

Each story involves some degree of deception, where a character talks themselves into a pursuit, thinking it would hurt no one, or be time limited, or no one will notice, or care. Somehow, when the inevitable occurs, the gig is up, and consequences are met, to the reader’s great satisfaction, since we knew the plan was unsustainable. Most stories also hinge around economies of relationship, where agreements are either arrived at or tacitly agreed to between individuals, and the unspoken parts carried around in a character’s head do not align with the partner’s expectations. Operating from those unspoken clauses, trouble ensues, tables are turned, surprises revealed. Towles appreciates that people in relationship are naturally funny, that we create our own comedies everyday, based on the unspoken, false assumptions we operate on.

In Eve in Hollywood, Eve Ross is the connective tissue between people who otherwise would not have likely met: Prentice Symmons, the former theater and movie star, now overweight has-been; Olivia de Havilland, rising star, just before achieving fame in Gone With the Wind; and Charlie Granger, widower and retired L.A. homicide detective. Eve has her own mysterious past, a beautiful woman with a large, obvious scar on her face and a limp, who leaves a former fiance behind in New York City, and a dull Midwestern family, to what end? See the world? Live life on her own terms? A good judge of character, she sees the honest and the good in those she befriends, and the conniving, weak, and selfish in those she dislikes. Eve uses her wits and tricks she picks up along the way, to protect her friends and thwart the plots of selfish users preying upon the innocent and those lacking wiles of their own. Hollywood is populated with such villainous characters, people feeding off of the success of others, using them for gain or sinful pleasure.

I hope I have not given too much away. My most heartfelt wish is that you borrow (from your public library) or buy (support our independent booksellers) this wonderful collection, then enjoy Towles’ characters, inventive plots, and the memorable settings of these unique cities.