TABLE FOR TWO
by Amor Towles
Wow! Can Amor Towles write! I found myself repeatedly amazed at his ability to craft a sentence, a paragraph and ultimately a short story. He is most assuredly one of the greatest living American authors writing at this time. For those of you who loved A Gentleman in Moscow (read review here), Rules of Civility and/or The Lincoln Highway (read review here), you are in for a treat with Table for Two.
Towles’ latest book begins with six impeccably crafted short stories—each one as engrossing as its predecessor. If you are like me and not often drawn to read books of short stories, I can assure you that this collection will entertain you to the point of changing your mind about reading said genre. Towles’ stories range from post-tsarist Russia and one couple’s embrace of communism to present-day New York City and an aspiring writer’s bad choices that lead to his demise. From passengers delayed at LaGuardia airport in a snowstorm to Carnegie Hall and a young patron’s outrage that his seatmate is illegally taping concerts. I can’t possibly choose a favorite—they are all outstanding.
Table For Two finishes with a 200-page novella entitled “Eve in Hollywood.” This could have been a stand-alone book, in my opinion, but was a truly satisfying ending to Towles’ amazing collection. The novella starts with Eve, who is heading to Chicago after a pre-marital break-up in New York City. She decides impulsively to remain on the train until California and what ensues is a growing web of interrelated adventures with an interesting cast of characters she meets in Hollywood. “Eve in Hollywood” caps off what I found to be a truly entertaining collection. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it, too. (Liz)
