"Rules of Civility," by Amor Towles

Ah, my summer reading ended with a bang.  Here's a new book that I'd gladly put up with the best books I read this year: Rules of Civility, by Amor Towles.

This debut novel captures life in New York City in the late 1930s.  Everything is right on the mark -- perfect settings, witty repartee, sharp lingo.  

Here's Amazon's commentary as it put this book among its best for August, 2011: "Set during the hazy, enchanting, and martini-filled world of New York City circa 1938, Rules of Civility follows three friends--Katey, Eve, and Tinker--from their chance meeting at a jazz club on New Year's Eve through a year of enlightening and occasionally tragic adventures. Tinker orbits in the world of the wealthy; Katey and Eve stretch their few dollars out each evening on the town. While all three are complex characters, Katey is the story's shining star. She is a fully realized heroine, unique in her strong sense of self amidst her life's continual fluctuations. Towles' writing also paints an inviting picture of New York City, without forgetting its sharp edges. Reminiscent of Fitzgerald, Rules of Civility is full of delicious sentences you can sit back and savor (most appropriately with a martini or two)."    ★★★★★