Hive & Seek

How lucky am I?

How lucky am I to belong to a book club that truly embraces the theme of an assigned book? This month the book we read (experienced) was: A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles.

I listened to this book on Audible. Although my mind did wander at times, the book was overall an enjoyable read…. As long as you kept in mind that this book is not about excitement and drama, it’s about “the journey.”

It’s a historical fiction book about a Russian aristocrat, Count Alexander Rostov, who is placed under house arrest in the Hotel Metropol after the Bolshevik Revolution in 1922. He has lived in this hotel for more than thirty years. The book is about his journey from an aristocrat living in luxury to that of a prisoner who has his life but no freedom.

Our host for this particular read, was Bridget. Bridget’s husband was lucky enough to visit Moscow in the 80s. He and his family brought back many souvenirs and these accessorized the house for our book club dinner at The Metropol event.

We had it all! We had Russian music. Russian artifacts. And delicious Russian food & wine! Dinner was served in fun courses. Each course featured a food and/or beverage associated with the book and a discussion question.

The Apertif: Champagne and a toast to those around you for “Companionship is the only true luxury”

The Starter: Blinis with Creme Fraiche & Smoked Salmon paired with a crisp white wine. The group reflected on friendships, influence, and who shape our lives. The count made many lasting friendships and reflected often on their influence on his life. “We must always be careful of the company we keep, for we are the sum of those around us.”

The Main Course: Beef Stroganoff with Buttered Noodles paired with Burgundy Pinot Noir. The group considered resilience, grace under pressure, and navigating lifestyle challenges. Not only was the Count forced to navigate the lifestyle challenge of living in the attic of a hotel, but his friends who had “freedom” to roam outside of the hotel walls were often challenged to adapt to an ever-changing world under Bolshevik governance. “The treasure of a man is how he bears the weight of his circumstances, not how he evades them.”

The Side Dish: Buttered Green Beans with Almonds. “Elegance is not about being noticed, it’s about being remembered.” Those beans were delicious!

The Dessert Course: Vanilla Ice Cream with raspberry and mint. Simple and elegant.

If given the opportunity, would you like to travel to Moscow? There were many times while reading this book that I wished I could see some of the sights described for myself. Certainly, circumstances in that region would have to be different and safer before I would travel there, but it would be a place I would put on my travel bucket list.

Interested in reading this book:

A Gentleman in Moscow: A Novel – https://amzn.to/4s0WUwv

**please remember that I am an Amazon Associate. If you click on a link, and make a purchase, I may earn a commission.**

Photo credit also given to Bridget Coffey