Table for Two

Fictions

By: Amor Towles

Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini, J. Smith-Cameron

Length: 13 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times Bestseller

“A knockout collection. ... Sharp-edged satire deceptively wrapped like a box of Neuhaus chocolates, Table for Two is a winner.”—The New York Times

From the bestselling author of The Lincoln Highway, A Gentleman in Moscow, and Rules of Civility, a richly detailed and sharply drawn collection of stories, including a novella featuring one of his most beloved characters

Millions of Amor Towles fans are in for a treat as he shares some of his shorter fiction: six stories based in New York City and a novella set in Golden Age Hollywood.

The New York stories, most of which take place around the year 2000, consider the fateful consequences that can spring from brief encounters and the delicate mechanics of compromise that operate at the heart of modern marriages.

In Towles’s novel Rules of Civility, the indomitable Evelyn Ross leaves New York City in September 1938 with the intention of returning home to Indiana. But as her train pulls into Chicago, where her parents are waiting, she instead extends her ticket to Los Angeles. Told from seven points of view, “Eve in Hollywood” describes how Eve crafts a new future for herself—and others—in a noirish tale that takes us through the movie sets, bungalows, and dive bars of Los Angeles.

Written with his signature wit, humor, and sophistication, Table for Two is another glittering addition to Towles’s canon of stylish and transporting fiction.

©2024 Amor Towles (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2024 by the New York Times Book Review Podcast, Reader's Digest, Time, and more

“A knockout collection. ... Sharp-edged satire deceptively wrapped like a box of Neuhaus chocolates, Table for Two is a winner.”—The New York Times

“Superb ... This may be Towles' best book yet. Each tale is as satisfying as a master chef's main course, filled with drama, wit, erudition and, most of all, heart.”—Los Angeles Times

“Table for Two is a smorgasbord of deliciously mischievous tales imbued with Towles' signature wit and worldliness.”—Time

I adore Amor Towles!!

I know a lot of people think Eduardo Ballerini is the GOAT, and I have often enjoyed him myself, but I didn’t here. The stories were lovely, and I especially enjoyed spending more time with Eve, but Ballerini often gave it a tone I didn’t understand. On straight narration, he’s usually very good. But he can’t do a believable accent to save his life, and at times he gets going so fast in that clipped, pretentious style, that I was distracted from the stories themselves. I adore Towles’s writing style, and I DID enjoy the stories, but I’m sure I would’ve enjoyed them more with a more subtle reader or by reading them to myself.

The Eve stories.

I enjoyed a few of the initial stories but know that I had read (or heard) the Di Domenica Fragments before. Liked it then but was afraid that the rest might be “repeats” too. But the whole Eve saga is amazing! Definitely worth it! Glad I “stuck it out”.

And no matter the subject, Amor always delights me with his exquisite language!

flawless.

Amor Towles shines.As do the narrators. Vivid images and complete details in each story. Not the best missed.

Excellent writing

Always a joy to experience this elevated level of artistry.d I look forward to his next effort with great anticipation.

Great writing, delectable stories.

Intense believable but not stereotyped characters in unusual plots with dialog that seems real, the stories are very hard to put down.

4.27 stars

I rarely every pick short story collections. Prior to purchasing I didn't read anything about this selection, as I had preordered it since I have liked everything this author has written. I didn't realize until a couple hours in that it was short stories. I ended up liking all of them. There is a novella at the end that connects back to Rules of Civility. It was also good. Overall I'm glad I listened.

4,27 stars

A Great Towles Read as Usual

For Towles fans, I needn’t say anymore than to welcome you into another brilliantly crafted collection of stories from our favorite writer. For those new to Towels … welcome to the greatest writer of our generation (in my humble opinion).

Outstanding stories

Takes out does himself once again of course reading rules of civility first truly made this book fun interesting and a pleasure eve is a remarkable character and weaving her story with Olivia and Hollywood made an old movie buff smile with every chapter

The intricate storyline with many surprises

The narrator is excellent and brought the characters to life. Tolles writes intelligent and insightful fiction, so he drew me deeply into the story.

Incredible Short Stories

The six short stories were some of the best I’ve ever read. I didn’t love the novella as much but as a compilation it’s superb.