cynthia’s Reviews > War and Peace > Status Update

finished epil.2, a broadly disliked 40pgs EVEN FURTHER articulating LT's (many) thots on history/free will. didn't hate it+he had some interesting pts! but it was so long-winded and not wholly convincing. harder to finish if i didn't know the end was in sight.

also finished LT's appendix and now I'M DONE!!! the 50pg left are various endnotes and references which i read throughout. rate&rev to come @some distant time

end of epil.1! finished months ago but winter quarter destroyed me so now updating. this is the end of the story; epil.2 is 40pg LT monologue

intriguing to see how the mcs change in middle age and adapt to family life. final assessmt: mary=angel+a fave for sure, nikolai=annoying but rightfully admires mary, p&n=eh..but i did LOVE ep.1.xvi! v tender, touching, real convo between lovers. nikolushka: good luck babe :')

ep.1.x maybe most disturbing ch i've read. not like i think LT shouldve written it differently—it's valuable to see how women were perceived+LT's idea of a REAL woman (which n has been set up to be since day1). also don't take issue with how n ended up, just the tone in which LT writes it. i think i just feel so sad that these were the views on how bright young women should grow up+v grateful to be alive today

all four volumes done, only epilogue left!

love how n+m grow to value the other's "formerly incomprehensible side of life" thru their friendship, yet don't change. pierre is "morally from the bathhouse", imo unrealistically so but glad he finds joy

i'm completely aware of the times but just could not help bristling at LT's "intelligent women" dig

thinking about how each death brings another to life in this story!

denisov sobbing re:raisins+petya taking vincent's hand :''( +platon's story of forgiveness. more whimsical math

LT on napoleon "the great": "the recognition of a greatness not measurable by good and bad is only a recognition of one's own immeasurable littleness. with the measures of good and bad given us by christ, nothing is immeasurable. and there is no greatness where there is no simplicity, goodness, and truth."

the tide of the war finally turns+our big friend finally reaches enlightenment after 1000pg of grasping for truth (IV.2.xii). interesting to read about his (EXTREMELY sudden but ig times are dire) transformation; not complaining bc i'm happy to be able to root for him+his growth into some1 worthy of n!

heavy war sections slowing me down. since i started mid-jan last yr tho i'll say it's okay i'm not done yet. SOON!

NOOOO 3 3

i did not reallyy believe it 200+ pages ago when p said it was the last time they'd see each other...and even after he disappeared for 50pg after being grievously injured i had hope...and then the reunion caught me off guard i was so ready to believe he would live!

beautifully written MOVING scenes but i'm devastated. maybe my favorite character + i love how his relationship with n evolved

so much packed into this section (moscow burn), BEST moment was the reunion of n+a...AHH T_T what a beautiful scene x2, i was swept away!!! bummed tho bc it seems this love "triangle" isn't gonna go how i want

LT comparing his "historical science" to calculus was truly thought-provoking. but i find the conclusion that historical events have no true beginning to be dubious, advise leo to review the concept of a limit

"[napoleon], predestined by providence for the sad, unfree role of executioner of the peoples, assured himself that the goal of his actions was the good of the peoples, and that he could govern the destinies of millions and by means of power be their benefactor!" LT hates n's guts so bad and spends most of w&p devastatingly roasting him. it does make me wonder how ppl w unthinkable amts of power perceive their role

III.2.36+37 w&p at its best. tho the generals believe their commands cause the events of the battle to unfold, the reality on the field is pure chaos, horror, + lack of meaning

a's meeting w death, realizing there's still smth that compels him on earth despite his nihilism, the insane surgery scene, weeping for his archrival and realizing compassion and love is "what was still left for me, if i was to live." AUGHHH