100 Word Challenge: Arrest

I had a routine doctor’s appointment this week, and as per usual, I took a book expecting a long wait to be invited back to the exam rooms.

Once called in, everything went as expected… then my doc asked what I was reading.

“’A Gentleman in Moscow’,” I said, explaining I had the book in my To-Read pile for a while and was only now reading it.

“I loved that book!” she said. “It’s one of my all-time favorites.”

(I’m hoping that she doesn’t list “50 Shades of Gray” and “Twilight” among her other top ten reads.)

Regardless, I felt validated. I am always pleased when any book I’m reading is also enjoyed by people I know and trust.

I’m not too far into the book, but so far, I’m loving it.

In 1922, 30-year-old Count Alexander Rostov was sentenced to house arrest by the Bolshevik tribunal, ordered to spend the rest of his days in the Metropol, a grand hotel located across the street from the Kremlin. His apparent crime – being a member of the aristocracy.

“… make no mistake: should you ever set foot outside of the Metropol again, you will be shot,” order of the Emergency Committee of the People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs.

While this on the surface might not sound compelling, it’s filled with intriguing characters, wonderful prose, and surprising humor. I laughed reading the first page.

I’m also intrigued by the idea of living exclusively in a posh hotel. Not being able to leave would be vexing, though.

“If you do things, whether it’s acting or music or painting, do it without fear – that’s my philosophy. Because nobody can arrest you and put you in jail if you paint badly, so there’s nothing to lose.” ~ Anthony Hopkins

This week’s word is:

Arrest

What to do:

Using “arrest” for inspiration, write 100 Words – 100 exactly – no more, no less. You can either use the word – or any form of the word – as one of your 100, or it can be implied. Include a link in your post back here, and add your story to the Mister Linky list. If you don’t have a blog, you can leave your submission in the comment section, or as a Facebook status post. Remember to keep spreading the love with supportive comments for your fellow Wordsters.