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War and Peace

Leo Tolstoy

Start date: April 1, 2024

Finish date: June 30, 2024

Discussion: Old School Classics, Pre-1915

Why we're reading this: Long Read Classic 2nd Quarter 2024

Long Read Classic Group Read, 1st & 2nd quarter, 2014
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Long Read Classic Group Read, 1st & 2nd quarter, 2014

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What Members Thought

Mar 01, 2021 Kenny rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, desert-island-books, favorites, long-haul-reads, россия, big-book-reads-2021

The strongest of all warriors are these two; Time and Patience.
War and Peace ~~~ Leo Tolstoy

Much earlier in this year, I was speaking to my friend, Srđan. I had not come up with a reading goal for 2021. It was during that conversation that I decided I would make my 2021 goal to read big classics, delving into my bucket list of books unread & inhabit a new world each month. During January, I read all four books of The Little Women Series . In February, I took on War and Peace.

I have found ...more

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Dec 22, 2017 Andrea rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-sorted

June 24, 2017:

"Было морозно и ясно. Над грязными, полутемными улицами, над черными крышами стояло темное звездное небо. Пьер, только глядя на небо, не чувствовал оскорбительной низости всего земного в сравнении с высотою, на которой находилась его душа. При въезде на Арбатскую площадь огромное пространство звездного темного неба открылось глазам Пьера. Почти в середине этого неба над Пречистенским бульваром, окруженная, обсыпанная со всех сторон звездами, но отличаясь от всех близостью к земле, June 24, 2017:

"Было морозно и ясно. Над грязными, полутемными улицами, над черными крышами стояло темное звездное небо. Пьер, только глядя на небо, не чувствовал оскорбительной низости всего земного в сравнении с высотою, на которой находилась его душа. При въезде на Арбатскую площадь огромное пространство звездного темного неба открылось глазам Пьера. Почти в середине этого неба над Пречистенским бульваром, окруженная, обсыпанная со всех сторон звездами, но отличаясь от всех близостью к земле, белым светом и длинным, поднятым кверху хвостом, стояла огромная яркая комета 1812-го года, та самая комета, которая предвещала, как говорили, всякие ужасы и конец света. Но в Пьере светлая звезда эта с длинным лучистым хвостом не возбуждала никакого страшного чувства. Напротив, Пьер радостно, мокрыми от слез глазами смотрел на эту светлую звезду, которая как будто, с невыразимой быстротой пролетев неизмеримые пространства по параболической линии, вдруг, как вонзившаяся стрела в землю, влепилась тут в одно избранное ею место на черном небе и остановилась, энергично подняв кверху хвост, светясь и играя своим белым светом между бесчисленными другими мерцающими звездами. Пьеру казалось, что эта звезда вполне отвечала тому, что было в его расцветшей к новой жизни, размягченной и ободренной душе."

What an incredible passage to conclude the first two volumes of the greatest novel ever written! So many interpretations can be formulated from the contrasting feelings of dread by the general public and Pierre's sudden inspiration upon seeing the comet of 1812. What is to happen next? We know that superstitious feeling of doom is to be proven correct soon, when Napoleon invades Russia once again in near future. But what is to come for Pierre?

Natasha, Natasha.... I really disliked her character at first because of her endless childishness, but it is her naïveté and tendency to follow her every changing mood with reckless abandon that gets her in a lot of trouble. Now I just feel very sorry for her, and I'm anxious to see how her destiny unfolds. Part V of Volume 2 is an incredible piece of melodrama done right. I'm so in love with Tolstoy's writing.

September 4, 2017:

I finally finished War and Peace!! That's an incredible feeling of accomplishment. Volumes 3 and 4 definitely contained many more war segments, compared to the previous two. Sometimes it was trying to get through them, but once in a while a brilliant scene would emerge and capture my attention once more (ie. Pierre as a French captive). I loved how Tolstoy brought one of the most famous Russian generals, Kutuzov, to life through his field strategy and defiant nature.

I'm a bit disappointed about Natasha's marriage in the end. (view spoiler) Contrary to popular opinion, I disliked Pierre very much. He was awkward and, frankly speaking, stupid, easily manipulated by all around him, and unable to think for himself. It was much more interesting to see the love triangle between Princess Maria, Nikolai, and Sonya unfold.

The epilogue was the most painful part, of course. Tolstoy just endlessly rambled on about his philosophical ideas, and it felt like it would never end.

However, all the human drama, so wonderfully and realistically captured in this book, made it absolutely worthwhile to persevere through the slow bits. 4.5 stars overall. ...more

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Nov 24, 2021 Johanne rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2021-books, classics, books-over-500-pgs

I have finished War and Peace. All 1358 pages. The longest book I’ve read in many, many years. And I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I’m not going to write a really detailed review, as there are so many brilliant ones already floating around here. But I will give you my over-all thoughts.

There’s no doubt that Tolstoy was a brilliant writer. The characters in this book just leap off the pages, so full of life. Each one, in his/her own way, is seeking meaning, trying to understand the nature of life and lov ...more

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Feb 25, 2014 Trisha rated it it was amazing

Shelves: drama, classics, romance, around-the-world, best-ever

My epic, two month journey through War and Peace has ended....and it was worth every minute! The novel was absolutely amazing! The characters had such depth and the multiple story lines kept the momentum of the book moving forward. The chapters were short and because they often skipped around to the various story lines, you rarely got bogged down. I will be honest, I thought the sections on military tactics and the societal what-nots according to Tolstoy were a little slow, but they were a very ...more

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