War and Peace follows Pierre, the illegitimate son of a wealthy count, Prince Andrew and his sister Princess Mary, and the Rostov family, who has lost all their wealth, in Russia during the Napoleonic Wars. It's an epic, full of love and death.
It was surprisingly easier to read than I expected. There were some philosophical history sections, reflections on history by Tolstoy, that were a bit intense. I also had a cheat sheet of the characters that I referred to frequently in the beginning as I was having trouble keeping track of all the characters. Despite those issues, it wasn't as intimidating as its reputation. It is very long though. Very very long.
One little section that I laughed over:
"I don't know why you think I am cross, "said Nicholas, replying to the question he knew was in his wife's mind.
I always ask Evan why he's upset and he always tells me the same thing.
Another few of quotes I liked:
"Where there's law there's injustice," put in the little man.
He read, and read everything that came to hand.
But Helene, like a really great man who can do whatever he pleases, at once assumed her own position to be correct, as she sincerely believed it to be, and that everyone else was to blame. (We certainly all know people like this.)
"Russia and summer weather are not bound together," he thought. (Wyoming, what?)
I'm really glad I read War and Peace, but don't imagine I'll ever do it again.
oh boy. At some point I will read this book. You know it's long when it's in a Charlie Brown episode and he can't get past the first page.
ReplyDeleteI felt the same way when I finished AK.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't it feel like such an accomplishment when you get to the last page of that book? You should be so proud!
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