|
Post by kungfuzu on Aug 25, 2021 9:15:39 GMT -8
One thing I found subtly humorous was the way the author described the Count's exercise regime. At the beginning of the book when he is in his thirties, he would do 30 squats, 30 stretches, and take 30 deep breaths every morning. As time went on, the number became 20 of each, then 15 and finally 5 when he was in his sixties. A very good way of showing the aging process. Out of curiosity, I checked to see if I could find any info on that "Russian" restaurant in Singapore. Surprisingly, I found some. Troika And here is what the Count was searching for when feeling wine bottles in the cellar.
|
|
Brad Nelson
Administrator
עַבְדְּךָ֔ אֶת־ הַתְּשׁוּעָ֥ה הַגְּדֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את
Posts: 11,027
|
Post by Brad Nelson on Aug 25, 2021 9:32:27 GMT -8
Ahh…what a classic-looking bottle of wine. And one certainly could feel for those crossed-keys, even without the label.
I’m not surprised that Russian restaurants outside of Russia would be better than those inside. I would suspect better ingredients (and at a cheaper price) are available outside either The Worker’s Paradise or Putin’s Hacker Club Masquerading as a Country.
The chef at the Metropol (Andre, right?) seemed to have the skill to make truffles out of swamp grass. But, still, the novel does note the shortages.
I remember well the Count always taking the stairs two at a time. Later it was one at a time. Indeed, a nice way to indicate the passage of time.
|
|
|
Post by kungfuzu on Aug 25, 2021 9:42:22 GMT -8
Very good. The chef was Emile and the Maitre'd was Andrey. If you have every had the occasion to know a chef, you will see Towles' characterization as "true to life."
|
|