Take a photo of a barcode or cover
Moderate: Death, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Pregnancy, War
Graphic: War
Moderate: Death, Violence, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, War, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Infidelity, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Dementia, Death of parent, Pregnancy
Minor: Domestic abuse, Incest, Miscarriage
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Pregnancy
Minor: Incest, Sexism, Terminal illness
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy
Minor: Abortion
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: Child death, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Violence, Antisemitism, Suicide attempt, Death of parent