Ahmad Othman’s Reviews > War and Peace > Status Update

The doctrine of Tolstoy on the law of Freedom and necessity and their interweaving in historic events is beyond marvelous, mind intriguing and thought provoking. It is one of the best endings to a book

Done with Volume IV as well. This concludes the main volumes of the book and leaves only the epilogue to be done. This final volume was by far the most exhilarating and thought provoking. The entwining of the conditions of war and peace together, through the situation of French retreat and Russian prisoners is marvelous. It is gratuitous and yet sad at the same time.

The first chapter of Vol. IV is awfully morbid

Done with Volume III. And It is a full book on its own. Full of marvels about peace and more importantly war. Its turmoils, dynamics and philosophy

Finished with the battle of Borodino, and that was a glorious battle, that was marvelously laid in words, the sheer effort by Tolstoy to describe the battle. The cynicism and bitterness in which he described the input, general course and outcome of the battle is a marvel in itself. And the extra mile of charting the battlefield and rectifying the historical accounts of the battle is quite impressive.

Finished with part I of Vol.III and it is quite apparent that this volume has a tone of cynicism, manifested in the ridiculing of collectivistic feelings like patriotism and exclusivity of religious correctness.

Finished with Volume II. It was milder than Volume I. It has a lot of philosophical monologues and dialogues. However, the characters are giving a soft, fickle impression. One of the most interesting transformations is Pierre's and one of the least is Natasha's. It feels as Tolstoy was either a misogynist or documenting a misogynist society. I feel a long period of peace and hints of war is an intrigue to volume III.

End of Part II of Book 1. This was a masterpiece of description, contrast in character and richness of detail. The difference between Andrei, Rostov and Other officers is well depicted

The whimsical sense of sarcasm. the great difference between grandiose of peace and barbarity of war. even to the sense of not using correct french and german. This is some brilliant writing

It starts to an excellent start. Tolstoy character and writing method is distinguished and quite different. His transitions from small talk to satire and philosophy is seamless and quite smooth. The characters are well structured, and his descriptions are magnificent. I guess this will be a good long read, very long as I presume. Especially with having to move to and fro the translations