The content is interesting, the characters are charming and the language is impressive.

The storyline is quite simple and without much plot twists; but what makes it engrossing is how the story is told. On face of it, it seems like it’s confined within the four walls of the Hotel Metropol just like it’s leading man Alexander Ilyich Rostov. Oh, the charms of getting pleasantly surprised!!!

By setting the story in the former USSR and more importantly beginning on the cusp of Russian revolution; the storyline taps in so many unique stories. Like what happens to those authors who have certain pride in their work and not ready to remove even a paragraph or those fathers who picked from one end of Russia to be thrown at the other end. So there are stories within stories, just like we get to know our endearing Count Rostov better by learning tidbits about his past.

The hotel where all of these stories sort of confluence, is portrayed in quite details. From it’s curtains to people segregating the buttons. Of course, we have temporary residents, permanent visitors, employees and mingling amongst this throng is our charming gentleman. There is enough buzzing because of various congregations, conferences and conspiracies. That keeps us hooked for a significant amount of time in the book.

At one point, I found the details getting a tad tedious. Oh but thank heavens for Sophia!! She of the raven hair and unblinking blue eyes just takes control of all central characters from the word go. That includes the attics in which Count has all but two rooms with all of belongings with longings.

Somehow the story arch takes turn after this, even the plot lines picks a pace and we just whizz along with it.

Even though, you can guess the end by ample hints thrown in last chapters; the actual curtain call kind of surprised me. Yes, to be fair in a romantic charming way.

I believe the charm of this book lies in ‘standing still and looking out’. As the hotel stands happening, buzzing but bit aloof through revolution, wars, upheavals, social changes; it just presents a lookout point for all that surrounding in its surroundings. For my personal referral point, I considered one such grand hotel in my home city of Mumbai which withstood so much and surely will have its own tales to tell.

To sum up it, just read it and get swayed by a certain gentleman with his class, cleverness and warmth.