Table for Two - by Amor Towles (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"The book spans the 20th century, bringing characters into tableaus of deceit and desire. Beneath his coifed prose Towles is a master of the shiv, the bait and switch; we see the flash of light before the shock wave strikes, often in the final sentence. . . . Table for Two delivers the kick of a martini served in the Polo Lounge." - The New York Times Book Review

Millions of Amor Towles fans are in for a treat as he shares some of his shorter fiction: six stories based in New York City and a novella set in Golden Age Hollywood.

The New York stories, most of which take place around the year 2000, consider the fateful consequences that can spring from brief encounters and the delicate mechanics of compromise that operate at the heart of modern marriages. Told from seven points of view, "Eve in Hollywood" describes how one of Towles's most beloved characters, the indomitable Evelyn Ross from Rules of Civility, crafts a new future for herself--and others--in a noirish tale that takes us through the movie sets, bungalows, and dive bars of 1930s Los Angeles.

Written with his signature wit, humor, and sophistication, Table for Two is another glittering addition to Towles's canon of stylish and transporting fiction.

Review Quotes

An NPR Favorite Fiction Read of 2024

"A knockout collection. ... Sharp-edged satire deceptively wrapped like a box of Neuhaus chocolates, Table for Two is a winner." --The New York Times

"Superb ... This may be Towles' best book yet. Each tale is as satisfying as a master chef's main course, filled with drama, wit, erudition and, most of all, heart." --Los Angeles Times

"Table for Two is a smorgasbord of deliciously mischievous tales imbued with Towles' signature wit and worldliness." --Time

"Table for Two has more than delivered. This collection is not just spare pieces to tide readers over until Towles's next novel. It's a worthwhile addition to his growing oeuvre." --The Washington Post

"Few contemporary authors quite capture the comic drama of fluctuating fortunes as ably as Towles." --Financial Times

"These are jam-packed, juicy stories." --Star Tribune

"Towles has a genius for immersive scene setting, and most of Table for Two . . . feels more delightfully, mythically New York than a Woody Allen storyboard painted by Edward Hopper. . . . [A] deeply satisfying collection . . . There is a great deal to relish in Table for Two." --The Times

"Delightful." --People

"Aficionados of Amor Towles's carefully crafted fiction will be thrilled by this latest collection of elegantly presented short stories along with a novella. . . . Long-standing admirers and new readers alike will take great delight in this entertaining collection." --The Guardian

"The author of A Gentleman in Moscow delights with six sophisticated short stories and a noirish novella." --Tampa Bay Times

"Towles continues to show his signature wit and literary prowess in this new collection, making Table for Two a can't-miss for current or future fans of his work." --Chicago Review of Books

"Towles excels with this collection. Readers unfamiliar with his novels will love these examples of his shorter fiction and they will be pure catnip to his legions of fans. Highly recommended."--Library Journal (starred review)

"Amor Towles is a master of language and one of the best storytellers of our time. In Table for Two, he lives up to his well-deserved reputation as a first-rate craftsman." --Bookreporter

"A sneakily entertaining assortment of tales." --Kirkus Reviews

"Table for Two is a masterful, subtle collection of thoroughly entertaining stories." --BookPage

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