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timmytunter's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
"War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy is a monumental work that exceeded my lofty expectations and captivated me from start to finish. Tolstoy's mastery in detailing the inner workings of his characters' minds makes them incredibly relatable, despite their aristocratic context far removed from my own. Characters such as Andrey and Pierre particularly resonated with me due to the richness with which their thoughts, feelings, whims and dreams are rendered.
I approached this reading of "War and Peace" with the intention of consuming the story at a rapid pace, finishing the novel within 3 weeks. This approach helped me maintain continuity and grasp the complex narrative that spans a considerable period and shifts between various characters, locations, and themes. However, I plan to read it more slowly next time to fully marinate in the story and its concepts.
Tolstoy explores profound themes including the nature of history, the purpose of war, the concept of power, the quest for redemption, the importance of honour, and the role of religion. The theme of power and the role of leaders in shaping history, or rather their lack of control over it, particularly resonated with me. The theme of redemption drove me deeper into the book as I watched various characters undergo significant transformative arcs.
The historical context of the Napoleonic Wars is crucial to the narrative, grounding it in a time of great uncertainty and upheaval. It is true that Tolstoy's detailed military descriptions and philosophical reflections can be challenging, and indeed a bit rambling, but they are essential to forming this body of work, and without which, War and Peace would be lesser. Throughout the descriptive war portrayals, Tolstoy maintains a focus on the personal perspectives of individuals, which kept me engaged and connected to the action.
By the end of the book, I felt deeply for the trio of Andrey, Pierre, and Natasha, appreciating their transformations and struggles. Pierre's journey—marked particularly by his spiritual awakening during his imprisonment—was particularly moving, and Natasha's experiences of loss and love were heart-wrenching.
Having read Anna Karenina before War and Peace, I was surprised to find that the latter resonated more with me, in which I was more engrossed, enamoured with the characters, and engaged with Tolstoy’s philosophical musings. perhaps another valid comparison is between War and Peace and Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment, penned just one year after. I find that, while both are doubtlessly literary masterpieces, Crime and Punishment edges it just slightly due to its fascinating exploration of a murderous protagonist’s mind and its profound themes of sin, guilt, repentance, forgiveness, and morality.
Nonetheless, I believe "War and Peace" is essential reading for everyone at least once in their life. Its exploration of timeless themes through richly drawn characters, coupled with its historical context and philosophical insights, make it a deeply rewarding and thought-provoking read.
I approached this reading of "War and Peace" with the intention of consuming the story at a rapid pace, finishing the novel within 3 weeks. This approach helped me maintain continuity and grasp the complex narrative that spans a considerable period and shifts between various characters, locations, and themes. However, I plan to read it more slowly next time to fully marinate in the story and its concepts.
Tolstoy explores profound themes including the nature of history, the purpose of war, the concept of power, the quest for redemption, the importance of honour, and the role of religion. The theme of power and the role of leaders in shaping history, or rather their lack of control over it, particularly resonated with me. The theme of redemption drove me deeper into the book as I watched various characters undergo significant transformative arcs.
The historical context of the Napoleonic Wars is crucial to the narrative, grounding it in a time of great uncertainty and upheaval. It is true that Tolstoy's detailed military descriptions and philosophical reflections can be challenging, and indeed a bit rambling, but they are essential to forming this body of work, and without which, War and Peace would be lesser. Throughout the descriptive war portrayals, Tolstoy maintains a focus on the personal perspectives of individuals, which kept me engaged and connected to the action.
By the end of the book, I felt deeply for the trio of Andrey, Pierre, and Natasha, appreciating their transformations and struggles. Pierre's journey—marked particularly by his spiritual awakening during his imprisonment—was particularly moving, and Natasha's experiences of loss and love were heart-wrenching.
Having read Anna Karenina before War and Peace, I was surprised to find that the latter resonated more with me, in which I was more engrossed, enamoured with the characters, and engaged with Tolstoy’s philosophical musings. perhaps another valid comparison is between War and Peace and Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment, penned just one year after. I find that, while both are doubtlessly literary masterpieces, Crime and Punishment edges it just slightly due to its fascinating exploration of a murderous protagonist’s mind and its profound themes of sin, guilt, repentance, forgiveness, and morality.
Nonetheless, I believe "War and Peace" is essential reading for everyone at least once in their life. Its exploration of timeless themes through richly drawn characters, coupled with its historical context and philosophical insights, make it a deeply rewarding and thought-provoking read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, and War
Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Confinement, Infidelity, Sexism, Transphobia, and Classism
Minor: Racism
quotablehedgehog's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and War
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Grief, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Drug use, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, and Alcohol
liesthemoontells's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The hardest thing about reading War and Peace is the length, the content itself is (mainly) engaging and easy to read, and the characters are as fresh and believable in their motives and expressions as those in any novel written today. The peace parts are way more engaging than the war parts. Also I took a quarter of a star off for the exhausting protractedness of the second epilogue.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, and War
Moderate: Suicide
ggcd1981's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Ler War and Peace foi um desafio para mim, não só porque é um clássico bastante longo, mas também pela forma como foi escrito. A obra mostra o panorama da vida da alta sociedade russa durante os avanços e consequente guerras napoleônicas. O livro lança luz sobre a vida de alguns personagens chave, para a narrativa senão para a História mundial, ao longo dos anos de duração da campanha de Napoleão na Rússia. Os principais desses personagens são:
Pierre Bezukhov - O filho ilegítimo corpulento, desajeitado de um velho nobre russo. Pierre, educado no exterior, retorna à Rússia desajustado. Sua herança inesperada da grande fortuna de seu pai o torna socialmente desejável. Pierre é enredado pela caçadora de fortunas Helene Kuragina, cuja eventual traição o deixa deprimido e confuso, estimulando uma busca espiritual que abrange todo o romance. Pierre eventualmente se casa com Natasha Rostova.
Andrew Bolkonski - O filho inteligente, disciplinado e ambicioso do comandante militar aposentado Príncipe Bolkonski. Andrew é friamente analítico e resistente a questões emocionais. Solitário após a morte de sua esposa, Lise, com quem teve um filho, ele se apaixona por Natasha, mas não consegue perdoar a paixão momentânea dela por outro homem, Anatole. No leito de morte ele a perdoa. Sua morte deixa para trás seu filho com sua irmã Maria e gera uma forte amizade entre esta e Natasha.
Maria Bolkonskaya - A filha solitária, simples e sofredora do príncipe Bolkonski e irmã de Andrew. A princesa Maria cuida do pai, suportando o tratamento cruel com o perdão cristão. No final, Nicholas Rostov casa-se com Maria e salva-a de uma solidão infeliz.
Natasha Rostova - A filha viva, irreprimível e consequentemente mimada da família Rostov, que encanta a todos que conhece. Eu diria que a principal das personagens femininas. Natasha se apaixona por uma série de homens e então se compromete seriamente com Andrew, embora ela arruíne o relacionamento ao se envolver em um breve encontro com Anatole Kuragin. Eventualmente, Natasha se casa com Pierre e se torna uma matrona corpulenta e desleixada.
Nicholas Rostov - O impetuoso filho mais velho de Rostov, que se junta às forças russas em 1805 e passa grande parte do romance no front. Nicholas acumula dívidas de jogo que se tornam onerosas para sua família. No entanto, vemos seu compromisso com a família após a morte do pai, quando ele sustenta a mãe e a prima Sonya com seu parco salário, enquanto continua a pagar as dívidas da família. Nicholas eventualmente se casa com a herdeira Maria, salvando sua família da ruína financeira.
Como pontos negativos do livro destaco poucos: O primeiro é a forma como Tolstoi introduziu muitos personagens relevantes, mas apesar de quão longo o livro é, sua escrita não me fez me apegar a nenhum. Mesmo os personagens principais não são realmente aprofundados emocionalmente. Outros inúmeros personagens secundários para história são apresentados, passamos um tempo razoável com eles nos levando a crer que estes serão importantes para a narrativa, porém eles são deixados para trás e são pouco ou nada mencionados na segunda metade do livro; O segundo ponto fraco é um gosto pessoal meu e contradiz um pouco minha primeira reclamação. Eu acredito que o texto foca demais Natasha Rostova. Ela é por muito do livro voluntariosa e mimada e sua narrativa parece supérflua diante da realidade da guerra. Suas paixonites, sua angustia diante de ter de esperar para casar com Andrew no lugar de casar imediatamente como gostaria, sua traição do mesmo por uma paixão temporária. Diante do contexto maior da obra sua narrativa parece tola e enervante; Meu terceiro ponto fraco também é uma questão de gatilhos pessoais meus, o livro figura crueldade contra animais e morte de animais. Não gosto disso apesar de compreender que essa era a realidade daquele tempo e contexto histórico.
Como ponto positivo principal do livro cito as reflexões que Tolstoy faz em alguns capítulos ao longo do livro e em especial no segundo epilogo. O autor fala do enigma da história no abstrato e filosófico Segundo Epílogo, refletindo sobre o poder humano. O poder, que ele define como a vontade coletiva do povo transferida para um governante, é o único motor identificável que impulsiona a história. Mas esse poder é impossível de definir, por isso o mistério da história é insolúvel. É impossível explicar completamente porque as coisas aconteceram como aconteceram, pois, segundo o autor, líderes não tomam outra decisão senão aquela imposta a eles pelas circunstâncias, e essas circunstâncias são estabelecidas por uma infinidade de outras circunstâncias advindas do movimento do povo. O enigma da mudança histórica implica a questão teológica sobre o livre arbítrio e até que ponto qualquer indivíduo é verdadeiramente livre nas suas ações, quaisquer que sejam as suas ilusões de liberdade. Segundo o narrador, é tão impossível imaginar a liberdade total quanto imaginar o determinismo total. Ao final, o autor expõe a ideia de que devemos necessariamente depender de um poder do qual não temos consciência. Esta ideia equivale ao reconhecimento de que, embora o nosso sentido de liberdade seja indispensável, também o é a nossa compreensão reprimida de que fazemos parte de algo maior do que nós mesmos, uma força que move as nossas vidas para a frente. A narrativa das vidas dos personagens de War and Peace não foram particularmente interessantes para mim, mas os capítulos com as reflexões de Tolstoy sobre guerra, poder, História, livre arbítrio entre outros temas abstratos e filosóficos elevaram a nota do livro para mim, dou 3.75 estrelas.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, War, and Classism
Moderate: Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racism and Dementia
queerloras's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Lost a quarter star at the end for the epilogue - I enjoyed the bits about Pierre, Natasha (although it's a shame Natasha changed so much once she was married) , Marya and Nikolay - but all of the digression about what is power and Napoleon and Alexander and the revolution was so dense it was hard to get through, so I gave up with 10 pages to go.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infidelity, Abortion, and Gaslighting
ivana's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail
audreybelle's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Undeniably worse than the actual published text. At first it seemed like Tolstoy was writing in a more grounded, character focused voice (for example: wherein actual War and Peace, Tolstoy says something to the effect of "ippolit told a nonsensical story in his terrible Russian with his French accent" in this we are actually given the dialogue of that story and can tell how nonsensical it sounds) but eventually Tolstoy shifts into his normal philosophical bullshit prose. The Andrew Bromfield translation is terrible, and often awkwardly modern, including such poorly chosen phrases as "Anatole is trash" and "Ippolit's stupid face". I suppose it's worth a read if you're obsessed with the same mid-tier villains I am and want the two chapters in which they are slightly more fleshed out. Overall it is still War and Peace (but shorter!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Infidelity, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Dementia, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Domestic abuse, Incest, and Miscarriage
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