Table for Two: A Rich Blend of Satire, Wit, and Emotional Depth
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I was at the library with my son, browsing for children books, when I saw Table for Two (publ. April 2024), by Amor Towles, featured in the new release section. Having read a Gentleman in Moscow, I looked forward to read another novel by Towles. So, I picked up Table for Two and proceeded to check it out with other children’s books for my kids.
At night, when I finally had a chance to open the book, I was perplexed to find Table for Two consisted of six short stories and one novella. I am not a fan of short stories, but I figured I would give Table for Two a shot. Good thing I did, because Amor Towles delivered.
Each short story is unbelievably entertaining. Towles descriptive writing about scenery transplanted me right into the settings of each story. His ability to explain regular everyday occurrences, that most people take for granted, is thought-provoking and illustrates life experiences in the cleverest way- this also applies to his characters actions and emotions. By the way, in case you were wondering why Towles named the book Table for Two, he states “it arose from a subconscious conviction that our lives can often change materially due to a single conversation.”
It too is hard to choose a favorite from the short stories. However, I found myself deeply entertained with “I Will Survive” and “The Bootlegger.” In all the stories, Towles does an amazing job developing the characters – I found myself attached to many of them. Additionally, Towles clever writing and sophisticated use of satire shines through. For instance, here are some quotes from the short stories and the novella I found particularly clever:
“When a man is paid to provide his opinions and has some success in doing so, he is bound to become a little insufferable.”
“It is a funny aspect of life, thought Charlie, how a group of grown people can convince themselves to do something that none of them really want to do. They start by talking an idea into existence. Once the idea begins to take shape and dimension, they’ll talk away their hesitations, replacing them with all the supposed benefits, one by one. They’ll talk away their instincts and their second thoughts and their common sense too, until they are moving in lockstep together toward some shared intention that doesn’t appeal to any one of them.”
“Certainly, we are all shaped by that first decade of our youth, but the first decade of our youth is shaped by the decade that preceded our arrival.”
Clever, huh? And just imagine these quotes in context! Towles is a brilliant writer.
As for the Novella, at first, I did not understand what Towles was doing with all the different stories and different characters. But, as I read, I found myself unable to put the book down in order to find out what would happen next. Whether it was the girl with the scare on her face, Olivia or Charlie Granger, I had to know what was going to happen to them. Watching Towles tie together the characters into one clever story was a true gift.
If you are looking for a great fiction book with clever writing I suggest you try Table for Two.