A few years ago I read an entire book before realizing I had already read it. I looked back at my Goodreads read list and realized I had no memory of about half of the books on there. So I built a new habit – (almost) every time I finish a book, I word-vomit my thoughts and emotions into a note on my phone. Sometimes they’re brief, sometimes they’re long-longwinded, sometimes they just ramble…and now I’m putting them here. Please enjoy the madness.
SPOILERS AHEAD…
This was a very interesting book. I like the way it explores the dichotomy of being a loyal, proud citizen that has been turned out (but kept in) by ones country. The Count was clearly very clever and it seems like he could have orchestrated an escape much sooner but was committed to Russia and serving his sentence with as much positivity as possible. It was interesting the way the story explores how you can make so many connections and keep your world big while being confined to a single building (provided that building is a fancy hotel with interesting guests who seem to return regularly or stay for long stretches).
There is a part that talks about the particular pain of being exiled but remaining in your country, the way that Russians are when sent to Siberia and the way the Count is. He was no longer free to enjoy the country he loved but he also was not free to live a new life elsewhere. Seems a much worse fate that actually being kicked out. I think the author did a good job of toeing the line of arrogance with the Count while keeping him likable and realistic. And the story was not overly dramatic or cliched. It ended well without dipping too far beyond what could conceivably be accomplished in real life by people with similar connections. It was very clever.