Book Review: Table for Two by Amor Towles

A good number of readers seem to have an aversion to reading short fiction collections. That fact is a shame in general, but especially in regards to the latest book by Amor Towles, as in passing it by they would be depriving themselves of one of the best books of the year. Across 6 short stories set in New York City and 1 novella in Los Angeles, Towles shows exactly why his fans make it a point to never miss one of his books.

The New York tales mostly take place in the present day, aside from opener “The Line”, and follow a variety of people who either through luck or will find themselves in situations that promise to change their circumstances. In the vein of many classic fables, these characters also find that their decisions often lead to a fateful lesson they hadn’t foreseen but likely deserved. “The Bootlegger” is the best of these and follows an investment banker who believes the elderly gentleman seated next to him at Carnegie Hall is surreptitiously recording the concerts, but who quickly comes to regret making an accusation against him.

The novella, “Eve In Hollywood”, takes up the latter half of the book and follows Evelyn Ross from Towles’ prior novel Rules of Civility as she arrives in Los Angeles looking to start her life anew. At first it plays out as a series of seemingly random encounters with interesting strangers but gradually reveals itself to be the assemblage of a new social circle as she becomes embroiled in an effort to rescue the actress Olivia DeHavilland from a potentially major scandal.

Every single sentence of this book is a joy to read, with Towles at the top of his game throughout. In prose that is witty and erudite while avoiding pretension he manages to elicit smiles during the most mundane of moments. His characters practically leap off the page and their relationships with each other feel genuine. The stories aren’t particularly “short” and always reach satisfying conclusions, but the worlds contained within them are so endearing that it’s hard not to wish to spend more time in each. Longtime fans of the author will delight in this volume though it would serve as a fantastic entry point for newcomers as well. Table for Two proves one of the most purely pleasurable reads I’ve come across in years. ★★★★★