War and Peace

Planned to read "Les Miserables", but I couldn't find a notebook to put down my notes. I had to restart "War and Peace" for I read a few pages and put down notes back in Feb. Guess this is more difficult than "Les Miserables" but believe that I'll get inspired much from this great work and art.

The first 600 pages are a masterpiece; the second 600 pages are a masterpiece periodically interrupted by the same naive theory of history delivered through repetition, hectoring and self-satisfaction. Tolstoy's half-assed religious deterministic non-determinism ("Bonaparte didn't win the battle! No one did! No one could know how the battle is won, since the outcome is the result of...more

The first 600 pages are a masterpiece; the second 600 pages are a masterpiece periodically interrupted by the same naive theory of history delivered through repetition, hectoring and self-satisfaction. Tolstoy's half-assed religious deterministic non-determinism ("Bonaparte didn't win the battle! No one did! No one could know how the battle is won, since the outcome is the result of thousands of tiny individual mysteries unknown to any actor on the world stage! That is why Bonaparte, a bad general, is a general who is bad. Unlike Kutuzov, who is a great general, because he recognizes that, as a commander, he can command nothing! Except what he commands. But it's all unknowable! No one can understand what happens—except Jesus") is annoying enough when he's bending over backwards to explain Napoleon's incompetence, but it becomes almost unbearable when he interrupts the plot every 50 pages to reiterate the same harangue.   hide

Outstanding. It goes amazingly fast for 1400 pages. Well worth it. The characters are compelling and richly drawn. The writing is wonderful, whether he's describing a battle or a ball. His analysis of history and how we view events really made me think, too. It lives up to its hype. Ah, it's summer and there's finally time for a good, long tome. So far, it's great--much faster...more

Outstanding. It goes amazingly fast for 1400 pages. Well worth it. The characters are compelling and richly drawn. The writing is wonderful, whether he's describing a battle or a ball. His analysis of history and how we view events really made me think, too. It lives up to its hype. Ah, it's summer and there's finally time for a good, long tome. So far, it's great--much faster reading than I thought, even with all the characters to keep straight.   hide

I read this while on the Trans-Siberian Railroad from Vladivostok to Moscow. I now know why its been labeled the "Greatest Book Ever". Its a must read for everyone. However, reading while experiencing Siberia and Russia made it special. Although the book takes place during the Napoleonic years, the scenery of the countryside has not changed much as the descriptions in the book...more

I read this while on the Trans-Siberian Railroad from Vladivostok to Moscow. I now know why its been labeled the "Greatest Book Ever". Its a must read for everyone. However, reading while experiencing Siberia and Russia made it special. Although the book takes place during the Napoleonic years, the scenery of the countryside has not changed much as the descriptions in the book matched what I was seeing from the train.   hide

I can see why this book is counted as one of the best novels of all time, and I have read a lot of the classic novels. Both in span and depth this book is breath taking. It covers a period of time of more than 15 years and yet Tolstoy really analyzes why he thinks happened. It contains over 580 characters with more than a dozen main characters and yet I feel like I really know, almost that I...more

I can see why this book is counted as one of the best novels of all time, and I have read a lot of the classic novels. Both in span and depth this book is breath taking. It covers a period of time of more than 15 years and yet Tolstoy really analyzes why he thinks happened. It contains over 580 characters with more than a dozen main characters and yet I feel like I really know, almost that I really am, some of the characters as much if not more than any other book I have every read.   hide

Льва Толстого. Я ненавижу тебя и никогда не простит. И вы знаете, что!

Definitely the hardest book i've ever read. The parts focussing on the relationships between the main characters, especially the Rostovs, Bolkonsky's and Bezuhov were fairly easy to read and even enjoyable. However, the detailed explanations on the strategies of War and discussions on history, god, philosophy etc. were somewhat harder to get through. I feel an achievement in having read this book...more

Definitely the hardest book i've ever read. The parts focussing on the relationships between the main characters, especially the Rostovs, Bolkonsky's and Bezuhov were fairly easy to read and even enjoyable. However, the detailed explanations on the strategies of War and discussions on history, god, philosophy etc. were somewhat harder to get through. I feel an achievement in having read this book but (and i feel as though its some kind of blasphemy to say this) i definitely wouldnt count it as an enjoyment. On the plus side, i learnt a bit of history, on the not-so-plus side i felt like the vast majority of the novel was a chore.   hide

read it when I was very young... Is it really a masterpiece ?

Not gonna lie, I read about five chapters of the first book and realized that there was just no way I could ever finish this book in my lifetime. As for what I read, it was ok but in my opinion it was nothing special. Maybe if I read this when I was younger or read it if I were alive during the time period I might have found it to be mind blowing. However I feel it just absolutely drags and...more

Not gonna lie, I read about five chapters of the first book and realized that there was just no way I could ever finish this book in my lifetime. As for what I read, it was ok but in my opinion it was nothing special. Maybe if I read this when I was younger or read it if I were alive during the time period I might have found it to be mind blowing. However I feel it just absolutely drags and can't find myself any reason to finish it.   hide