I loved Rules of Civility, and I STRONGLY object to the description of Katey as a “gold digger.” She is in fact a highly intelligent and witty, and capable young woman from a very modest background who makes her way professionally because of her superior skills. The fact that she’s good-looking and runs with a privileged crowd part of the time helps her make connections, but that’s it.
@mathmom, I have the feeling that you would like her very much.
I see someone mentioned Sport of Kings. I read it last year and was very disappointed, ultimately. I hadn’t found anyone else who read it to discuss it with.
Oh, and as regards the Count and the poem, several has suggested that his friend felt guilty for letting the Count pass as the author, because it resulted in his house arrest. I think that is getting things backward: the only reason the Count was not executed or at best imprisoned in Siberia was that his authorship of that poem made him a hero of the revolution. So in fact it saved his life.