This book is like a comfort book for me. I love it. I don't think I'd put it up on a pedestal or try and say it's some deeply profound thing, I just enjoyed reading it. And there are some great characters and snippets.

"If a man cannot master his circumstances, he is bound to be mastered by them."

I don't think it was too implausible for Sofia to defect, that wasn't an unheard of thing for folks during those rare occasions when the iron curtain was lifted. I'd say there is a bit of melancholy when considering the fate of many of the characters who take ideological stands against Stalinism (e.g. disappearing into Siberian obscurity, or outright death). That being said, I agree with your point that the ending (as well as the rest of the book) is distinctly American. The characters the book occupies itself with around the Metropol tend to be the individualistic free thinkers idolized by the west, so it shouldn't be too surprising it ends with a bit of western sentimentality.

I think folks looking for a bleak or darkly comic tome were bound to be disappointed by this one though, it's definitely more a cozy comedy of manners and light philosophical romp. Not every book that takes place in Moscow needs to be The Master and Margarita!

I haven't read the text of your post due to spoilers, but this is on my TBR next month. It's been collecting dust on my shelf practically since the book was released. I can't wait to read it!

I read just enough to figure out that it's a sentimental feel-good piece of faux intellectualism designed to dazzle the reader with "profound" aphorisms and quirky caricatures that can be comfortably discussed at book club over glasses of white wine....so this ending doesn't surprise me at all.