A review by sinneblommen
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
challenging
emotional
reflective
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
3.0
Enjoyed it less than I thought I would. The strengths are really strong, the characters, the way Tolstoy gets to the heart of any relationship. How alive everyone feels (I legit had to mourn several characters)
However, I do think the book tries to be two things at once. A history book and a great family novel. They clash and while context is important, I'm simply not interested in military history and ended up skipping over most of these chapters (including the entire second epilogue).
The way many of the female characters were either and ingenue or a seductress, and how some of the most interesting characters were shoved aside to make the plot easier was frustrating af.
However, I do think the book tries to be two things at once. A history book and a great family novel. They clash and while context is important, I'm simply not interested in military history and ended up skipping over most of these chapters (including the entire second epilogue).
The way many of the female characters were either and ingenue or a seductress, and how some of the most interesting characters were shoved aside to make the plot easier was frustrating af.