zeasea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Death, Violence, Pregnancy, War, Miscarriage, and Suicidal thoughts
jackmchristensen's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: War
Moderate: Murder, Violence, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief
ivana's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pregnancy, Violence, and War
audreybelle's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Sexism, and Violence
Minor: Incest, Domestic abuse, and Miscarriage
dani007k's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, and Pregnancy
Minor: Incest, Terminal illness, and Sexism
vlntnmz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Pregnancy, Murder, Medical content, Incest, Grief, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Abortion
erryesmith's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The novel and Tolstoy's writing is at its best here when focussing on the cast of characters and the human drama. It was this, against the backdrop of real events, that kept me coming back. The characters were all flawed, to the point of dislikeable at times, but many developed well.
Unfortunately, Tolstoy's repetitive and dry rambling musings on the nature of history, philosophy and God and lengthy description of military manoeuvring, when not done through the lens of a well established character, were a challenge to read and, for me, detracted more than they added.
Can we also talk about Tolstoy's view and interpretation of women? The word problematic may be overused but the only other that comes to mind is "ooft". Uncomfortable depictions of nearly every woman in the text who are all written as controlling, selfish, greedy, conniving, unfaithful and a host of other attributes less than favourable. The character development of Natasha was completely undone and actively subverted in the deeply unpleasant epilogue.
Who hurt you, Leo?
Moderate: Misogyny, Antisemitism, Child death, Death of parent, Racial slurs, Suicide attempt, and Violence