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A review by midwifereading
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
What in the world do I say about one of the greatest works of all time? And who cares about my opinion, anyway? 😳
I wasn't sure what to expect going in, but I certainly didn't expect an engaging story that felt so personal and intimate. Neither did I expect some deeply philosophical historical essays sprinkled generously throughout! (I admit that I skimmed some of those--they were above my pay grade, and I just didn't have the bandwidth sometimes.)
I am glad I read it, but my goodness! 1,358 pages is a lot! I'm not afraid of big books, but some go down easier than others! This one took work, and it was worth the effort.
I can see why it has stood the test of time, and I wish I could have read it in Russian and French. The afterword and the translator's notes made me realize just how much of Tolstoy's message is missed without the ability to read it in the original languages. Reading all of it in English leaves so much nuance out. Still, the bright glimpse into Russian culture of the 19th century was amazing. I had to google a lot, but I kind of enjoy books that actually give me a window into another part of the world.
Normally, I would give this one three stars, because I liked it. However I'm going to give this one ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, Because Tolstoy earned it. It's an amazing book, regardless of how I feel about it.
I wasn't sure what to expect going in, but I certainly didn't expect an engaging story that felt so personal and intimate. Neither did I expect some deeply philosophical historical essays sprinkled generously throughout! (I admit that I skimmed some of those--they were above my pay grade, and I just didn't have the bandwidth sometimes.)
I am glad I read it, but my goodness! 1,358 pages is a lot! I'm not afraid of big books, but some go down easier than others! This one took work, and it was worth the effort.
I can see why it has stood the test of time, and I wish I could have read it in Russian and French. The afterword and the translator's notes made me realize just how much of Tolstoy's message is missed without the ability to read it in the original languages. Reading all of it in English leaves so much nuance out. Still, the bright glimpse into Russian culture of the 19th century was amazing. I had to google a lot, but I kind of enjoy books that actually give me a window into another part of the world.
Normally, I would give this one three stars, because I liked it. However I'm going to give this one ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, Because Tolstoy earned it. It's an amazing book, regardless of how I feel about it.