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heather_boo's review against another edition
4.0
I learned a great deal about history and battle during the early nineteenth century. The story changes between the drawing rooms of Russia to the battlefield. I’m quite sure no better battle scenes have been written. When I correlate with historical fact the events are accurate for the majority. There are many philosophical deviations, and Tolstoy clearly wanted to impart his thoughts on how history is documented.
lottie1803's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lucaswalzer's review against another edition
5.0
Yes, I definitely read the novel “War and Peace” and definitely didn’t watch the 7 hour film by Russian filmmaker Sergei Bondarchuk, which contained some of the finest directing, production design, and cinematography ever conceived for the screen; I also definitely didn’t spend 50 dollars on the Criterion blu ray and watch it all in one sitting…
Anyways, here’s a hard-ass quote from the film that may or may not have moved me to tears.
“Never, to the end of his life, had he the least comprehension of goodness, of beauty or of truth, or of the
significance of his actions, which were too contrary to goodness and truth, too remote from everything human for him ever to understand their meaning.”
Anyways, here’s a hard-ass quote from the film that may or may not have moved me to tears.
“Never, to the end of his life, had he the least comprehension of goodness, of beauty or of truth, or of the
significance of his actions, which were too contrary to goodness and truth, too remote from everything human for him ever to understand their meaning.”
dennyb1's review against another edition
5.0
Mai avrei pensato, leggendo Guerra e Pace, di ritrovarmi di fronte a un libro trascinante come pochi, avvincente, luminoso, potente e contenente un personaggio indimenticabile come il principe Andrej (che ho amato all’istante). Guerra e Pace non sembra essere stato scritto da un uomo bensì da un Dio che conosce tutti gli aspetti e i segreti dell’esistenza.
qstew's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
ehmannky's review against another edition
I would rather read another 10 chapters of Herman Meville's thoughts on Cetology than read another chapter about war. This book is just not for me.
joedunham's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.75
happylilkt's review against another edition
5.0
There is a mass of movement in this book:
Armies and artillery, evacuating (or looting) Moscow, advancing and retreating. Tolstoy asks: who is really causing this movement? Is it really a "hero" or "great man"—what about all of the individuals involved? He also exposes political maneuvering, rumor-mills and machinations.
There is a feeling of inevitability in this book: Entanglements. Marriage. War. Death.
Yes, this book is about war and peace in Russia, but it is also about war and peace in the inner lives of its characters—particularly in the uncomplicated happy Rostovs and the more tortured intellectual Bolkonski family. Both families intersect especially through the plot arc of their massive, somewhat bumbling, golden-hearted friend Pierre Bezukhov.
Near the end, Tolstoy's philosophizing grated on me (I'm actually rather tolerant of that sort of thing), HOWEVER, I am still rating it 4.5 stars because it was so interesting and beautifully written and I will absolutely be re-reading it. Also, he probably didn't have an editor, so... there's that.
I would probably still recommend Anna Karenina to Tolstoy first-timers, and especially for those who will only read one Tolstoy—it is a true novel with tighter construction. This one is, according to Tolstoy, not really a novel (it's mostly a novel, but has historical retellings and philosophy enmeshed). But, oh, I loved and cried over these characters more.
This time (July 2021) I read the Maude translation. Next time I will try Pevear and Volokhonsky.
Armies and artillery, evacuating (or looting) Moscow, advancing and retreating. Tolstoy asks: who is really causing this movement? Is it really a "hero" or "great man"—what about all of the individuals involved? He also exposes political maneuvering, rumor-mills and machinations.
There is a feeling of inevitability in this book: Entanglements. Marriage. War. Death.
Yes, this book is about war and peace in Russia, but it is also about war and peace in the inner lives of its characters—particularly in the uncomplicated happy Rostovs and the more tortured intellectual Bolkonski family. Both families intersect especially through the plot arc of their massive, somewhat bumbling, golden-hearted friend Pierre Bezukhov.
Near the end, Tolstoy's philosophizing grated on me (I'm actually rather tolerant of that sort of thing), HOWEVER, I am still rating it 4.5 stars because it was so interesting and beautifully written and I will absolutely be re-reading it. Also, he probably didn't have an editor, so... there's that.
I would probably still recommend Anna Karenina to Tolstoy first-timers, and especially for those who will only read one Tolstoy—it is a true novel with tighter construction. This one is, according to Tolstoy, not really a novel (it's mostly a novel, but has historical retellings and philosophy enmeshed). But, oh, I loved and cried over these characters more.
This time (July 2021) I read the Maude translation. Next time I will try Pevear and Volokhonsky.
1212westphalia8's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0