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quotablehedgehog's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death and War
Moderate: Classism, Grief, Mental illness, Infidelity, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Incest, Death of parent, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Blood, Addiction, Alcoholism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, Bullying, Cursing, Drug use, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and Violence
spirotechnics's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.25
Andrey was by far one of the most interesting and nuanced characters I've read as of late and seeing how he grappled with various circumstances
Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt
vlntnmz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Pregnancy, Murder, Medical content, Incest, Grief, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Abortion
erryesmith's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The novel and Tolstoy's writing is at its best here when focussing on the cast of characters and the human drama. It was this, against the backdrop of real events, that kept me coming back. The characters were all flawed, to the point of dislikeable at times, but many developed well.
Unfortunately, Tolstoy's repetitive and dry rambling musings on the nature of history, philosophy and God and lengthy description of military manoeuvring, when not done through the lens of a well established character, were a challenge to read and, for me, detracted more than they added.
Can we also talk about Tolstoy's view and interpretation of women? The word problematic may be overused but the only other that comes to mind is "ooft". Uncomfortable depictions of nearly every woman in the text who are all written as controlling, selfish, greedy, conniving, unfaithful and a host of other attributes less than favourable. The character development of Natasha was completely undone and actively subverted in the deeply unpleasant epilogue.
Who hurt you, Leo?
Moderate: Misogyny, Antisemitism, Child death, Death of parent, Racial slurs, Suicide attempt, and Violence