Rules of Civility

A story of friendship and social class set in 1938 New York City, Armor Towles makes an impressive debut with Rules of Civility:  the story of working class friends Katey and Eve who move to New York to lead the glamorous life.  Along the way, the two meet a gentleman:  one seemingly rich and sophisticated Tinker Grey, whose chance encounter changes the course of both their lives.

Towles depicts Katey as an admirable, smart, independent female lead character, and writes snappy dialogue and a complex narrative much better than Fitzgerald (The Great Gatsby) ever could.