Who Would Like This Book:
If you're looking for a truly epic read, War and Peace delivers on every level. This book isn’t just a sweeping story of love, loss, and Russian aristocracy - Tolstoy crafts a whole universe, blending romance, family drama, historical battles, and deep philosophical questions. The cast of characters is unforgettable and grow with such realism that you feel you’ve lived alongside them. Fans of big, character-driven sagas (think Game of Thrones but historical) and those who love to chew on life’s big questions will find so much to savor. If you enjoy being immersed in a different world, with complex people, grand settings, and lots of drama, this is a bucket-list read.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Not everyone falls in love with War and Peace. Some readers find the book’s length and huge cast intimidating (seriously, it’s over a thousand pages and features hundreds of characters)! Tolstoy also includes long digressions into philosophy and history, especially near the end - these sections can feel dense or dry, especially if you’re here for the story rather than historical theory. The constant switching between battle scenes and society drama can be jarring for some, and the Russian naming conventions can be confusing. If you prefer fast-paced plots or modern, concise writing over sprawling classics, or if war-focused chapters aren’t your thing, this might feel like a chore.
About:
'War and Peace' by Leo Tolstoy is a sprawling epic chronicling the lives of multiple characters during the Napoleonic and French Wars. The novel delves into the struggles and heroism of the Russian people, set against the backdrop of war. Tolstoy weaves philosophical dialogues throughout the narrative, offering deep insights into human existence and the impact of historical events. The book is known for its intricate character development and detailed accounts of Russian history, making it a captivating read despite its length.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Potential content warnings include themes of war, violence, death, infidelity, and societal pressures.
Has Romance?
Tales of romance are integral to War and Peace, with multiple love stories including the tumultuous relationship between Natasha and her suitors.
From The Publisher:
Nominated as one of America's best-loved novels by PBS's The Great American Read
Often called the greatest novel ever written, War and Peace is at once an epic of the Napoleonic Wars, a philosophical study, and a celebration of the Russian spirit. Tolstoy's genius is seen clearly in the multitude of characters in this massive chronicle-all of them fully realized and equally memorable. Out of this complex narrative emerges a profound examination of the individual's place in the historical process, one that makes it clear why Thomas Mann praised Tolstoy for his Homeric powers and placed War and Peace in the same category as the Iliad: "To read him . . . is to find one' s way home . . . to everything within us that is fundamental and sane."
Ratings (193)
Incredible (47) | |
Loved It (57) | |
Liked It (46) | |
It Was OK (32) | |
Did Not Like (8) | |
Hated It (3) |
Reader Stats (660):
Read It (203) | |
Currently Reading (11) | |
Want To Read (277) | |
Did Not Finish (23) | |
Not Interested (146) |
6 comment(s)
I'm just not a Tolstoy person. That silly family packing up almost all of their belongings to stay in their summer home. Good to read historically.
It is a good book, honestly it is, but with so many characters and some rather judgmental (I get it I do but argh) viewpoints, I'll put this as a 'If you can read it, do read it, but if not, you'll still live a grand and mighty life without it"
Przeczytanie tej cegły zajęło mi prawie 5 miesięcy. 5 MIESIĘCY.
Pióro Tołstoja jest przyjemne, nie używa jakichś super ciężkich słów żeby mocniej podintelektualizować książkę, ALE, O MÓJ BOŻE, CZEMU TO JEST TAKIE DŁUGIE? Książka jest DŁUGA, ale czytałam już w życiu znacznie dłuższe książki, czy pochłaniałam całe serie w jeden dzień, ale tę cegłę czyta się jak SUPER HIPER MEGA ULTRA POWIĘKSZONĄ XXXXXL książkę. Szczerze? Zasługuję na mocne samo-poklepanie się po plecach za przebrnięcie do końca i na jakiś czas mogę sobie odpuścić czytanie klasyków.
“Pierre’s eyes glittered with tears of rapture as he gazed up at this radiant star, which must have traced its parabola through the infinite space at speeds unimaginable and now suddenly seemed to have picked its spot in the black sky and impaled itself like an arrow piercing the earth, and stuck there, with its strong upthrusting tail and it’s brilliant display of whiteness amidst the infinity of scintillating stars.”
Not the masterpiece Anna Karenina is. Unlike with that book the length wore on me here and the characters came across as emotionally constipated and inconsistent.
The first review was from 2020 and as you can see it didn't go very well reading that time. But I for some reason wanted to tackle this beast and so I did. It took me 15 days whitch is rare for me but even though it took both time and a lot of effort, I really enjoyed it. Leo Tolstoy definitely was a talented writer and in the hand of some other authors this might been a massive boredom to read bit it really wasn't. And luckily wasn't very difficult to read, just the length of it makes it somewhat challenging. But I'm glad I spend my 15 days on it and don't feel like I've wasted time
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DNF at 60 % I've tried to get into the book for days and hoping that the next chapter will be more my thing. I really wanted to like this huge classic but I just don't. It was a real struggle to read 60% and I almost cried of boredom. I didn't see the point of the book or even enjoyed a little bit. I might give this a book another try in some years to see if my feelings have changed but for now I refuse to read another page
What can you read after
War and Peace?
About the Author:
Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) was born in central Russia. After serving in the Crimean War, he retired to his estate and devoted himself to writing, farming, and raising his large family. His novels and outspoken social polemics brought him world fame.
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