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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
This largely wasn't as dense to read as I expected, and as long as I could remember character names I could follow along easily enough and get into the drama and intrigue.
Those last fifty pages, though. Oof. I would have rated this 4 stars if not for that epilogue.
Those last fifty pages, though. Oof. I would have rated this 4 stars if not for that epilogue.
Think Jane Austin goes to war—all the banal aristocracy social dynamics with some dull writing about war too!
The story of uninteresting characters struggling with pointless social taboos. One or two interesting war scenes.
The story of uninteresting characters struggling with pointless social taboos. One or two interesting war scenes.
I DID IT!
Honestly, War and Peace isn't that hard to read. It's just reeeally, reeeeally long.
I liked how the book took place over the course of fifteen years, so it really showed how actions are connected and how history doesn't end, it just keeps going on. I also liked Prince Andrey and his inner conflict. The second epilogue was also really interesting because it was trying to ask and answer the question "What is Power?"
I didn't like how long it was. I don't think it's worth reading unless you really, really want to. I would recommend Crime and Punishment over War and Peace.
I think Tolstoy should have just written a couple of novels for his stories and several essays for his philosophy, instead of trying to combine them in the world's longest book. War and Peace is at the same time a romance, a drama, a history, a philosophical treatise, and a lesson in patience. That's no necessarily a good thing.
Honestly, War and Peace isn't that hard to read. It's just reeeally, reeeeally long.
I liked how the book took place over the course of fifteen years, so it really showed how actions are connected and how history doesn't end, it just keeps going on. I also liked Prince Andrey and his inner conflict. The second epilogue was also really interesting because it was trying to ask and answer the question "What is Power?"
I didn't like how long it was. I don't think it's worth reading unless you really, really want to. I would recommend Crime and Punishment over War and Peace.
I think Tolstoy should have just written a couple of novels for his stories and several essays for his philosophy, instead of trying to combine them in the world's longest book. War and Peace is at the same time a romance, a drama, a history, a philosophical treatise, and a lesson in patience. That's no necessarily a good thing.
El libro está bien, pero hay momentos en que se hace pesado y termina por hacerse largo. Me gusta la descripción de las batallas. Hay tramas que atraen más que otras. Sobre los personajes, creo que no hay ninguno que te deje indiferente. Recomendable, pero no hay que tener miedo a saltarse los párrafos y capítulos que parecen más un ensayo que una novela. Si este hombre le hubiera quitado toda la paja que tiene el libro, sería 5 estrellas. Como no, pues 4 estrellas justitas.
This title owes its reputation to the sheer breadth and scope of the story, which encompasses dozens of characters in Russia during the Napoleonic Wars. Also, its length. At over 1450 pages, this is the longest book I've read and a complete portrait of human life. It wouldn't be hyperbole to say Tolstoy represents the total human experience through adversity and triumph within this book. Yet, this isn't quite a novel and Tolstoy is explicit about it. Sizable portions of the book are devoted to long digressions on the philosophy of history, military strategy and analysis. Without a background in the latter, the passages can be tedious. But that said, this book is a demonstation of Tolstoy's complete mastery as a novelist.
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Who am I to give this any less than five stars? It is easy to see why this book has stood the test of time, but I would have traded the Second Epilogue, reciting Tolstoy's theory of history, for some more information earlier in the narrative regarding the off-camera (and convenient!) deaths of two of the characters. Though I did enjoy the "happily ever after" victory lap of the First Epilogue, after the long journey I had come on with these people. Now I want to see a sequel musical, "The Great Comet: Moscow Burning," with Princess Mary as the lead character (I never did warm up to Natasha).
Pop Sugar Reading Challenge 2021-a fave category from a prior year-a book you see someone reading on tv (Erin on the Waltons).
I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. very descriptive. Lots of characters so there is the potential of forgetting who's who. Crazy plot twists all the way through.
I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. very descriptive. Lots of characters so there is the potential of forgetting who's who. Crazy plot twists all the way through.
I'm not sure it's fair to categorize this one as a novel. It has fictional elements but it's also History, Philosophy, Theology, etc. There is just so much here and I'm sure much of it went over my head or beyond my comprehension. Despite my devotion to reading unabridged works, this is one that would probably benefit by some careful abridging to appeal to a wider audience.
(One aside and a reason I marked off stars: Tolstoy's women are his weakest characters. They are all caricatures and in a book this lengthy, that's fairly inexcusable. Also, the Russians, including the men, sure were kissing a lot or asking for kisses and all that sounded really strange to my modern ears.)
(One aside and a reason I marked off stars: Tolstoy's women are his weakest characters. They are all caricatures and in a book this lengthy, that's fairly inexcusable. Also, the Russians, including the men, sure were kissing a lot or asking for kisses and all that sounded really strange to my modern ears.)