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riskwalla 's review for:
War and Peace
by Leo Tolstoy
Leo's Toy Store: So, I finally did it. As part of my New Year's resolution I told myself I'd force myself to read War and Peace. Well, in truth, I don't read books, I listen to them via audible during a very long commute. So, as a reader and listener, I'm giving myself five stars for reading it, but what are my thoughts? There is not denying that Tolstoy was a rare genius and as lengthy as the book is, it may require another reading or two to fully appreciate. Tolstoy makes every character complex, every political discord complicated and such is the human condition. SPOILERS AHEAD. But he is able to do it in a way that is realistic and natural. For example, in Pierre we see a young iconoclast, wealthy prideful (and sinful) aristocrat, then masonic/religious leader, later humbled through an unfortunate and fortunate prison experience. This complexity is in every character, Andrei in battle and death, Natasha in her early immaturity, and Nikolai surprising love for Princess Maria. Such is the parallel we see in the odd relations between Napolean with Alexander, the men shedding blood in the military and within ranks of service. It took a while for me to figure a lot of this out, but the epilogues, while abstract, were very helpful and yes, awesome writings on philosophy. Best are his critique on the historians inability to really "know" and man's freedom and inevitability . So, why then only four stars? Was it too long? No, although there were parts of the battle of 1812 where I almost fell asleep behind the wheel. The truth is, I appreciate Tolstoy more as a brilliant philosopher than the best Russian writer (who in my opinion is Fyodor Dostoevsky). Dostoevsky is a five as author, Tolstory a five as a philosopher.
A final note: While a gem of western literature, with western societies being more secularized since the War and Peace era, I believe that people of religion and societies that are more God-central would have a higher appreciate of the novel. The idea of God is very relevant in all the characters and that includes their beliefs, doubts, and hypocrisies. Also, some of the nuances may be higher appreciated by people versed in Russian culture, which i was not.
Now I shall become that snob at dinner parties who reminds everyone about how I read "War and Peace" Let's hope not.
A final note: While a gem of western literature, with western societies being more secularized since the War and Peace era, I believe that people of religion and societies that are more God-central would have a higher appreciate of the novel. The idea of God is very relevant in all the characters and that includes their beliefs, doubts, and hypocrisies. Also, some of the nuances may be higher appreciated by people versed in Russian culture, which i was not.
Now I shall become that snob at dinner parties who reminds everyone about how I read "War and Peace" Let's hope not.