A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

This is the classiest piece of historical fiction I think I have ever read. It’s the story of Count Alexander Rostov who, after the Russian Revolution, is confined to the elegant Metropol hotel in Moscow for the term of his natural life. Life, however, comes to him in his captivity and we meet the most fascinating array of characters against the backdrop of all the political machinations that took place during the period between 1922 and 1956. Not only is the story fascinating, it’s also beautifully told, with a lightness and elegance of touch that leaves me desperate to read more of this writer. Along the way we also learn what it is to be a true Russian gentleman, reminding me somehow of some of those English period pieces where to be a gentleman is the be all and end all of polite society.

A Long Way from Home by Peter Carey

I am a dedicated Peter Carey fan and this book did not let me down. It is the story of Titch Bobs, a flashy car salesman, and his feisty little wife Irene Bobs, and their neighbour Willie Bachhuber. In order to get publicity for their business they enter the Redex Trial with Willie as their navigator. The trip around the back roads of Australia takes them to both physical and metaphorical places they could never have imagined; it changes their lives forever. It also unravels a history that none of them ever suspected and provides Peter Carey with an opportunity to look closely at the shameful history of racism in this country. One of the things I admire most about Peter Carey is his ability with character and voice. This wonderful book is written in several voices, predominantly though in the utterly convincing voices of Irene and Willie. I was totally absorbed by them and often really surprised as their characters developed in unexpected ways. Willie’s gradual self-realization is a major and quite moving focus of this story. From the outset he seems to be able to sense the racial violence that has occurred in the landscape and as his journey continues, he finds himself attempting to record the truth.