Disclaimer: I haven’t actually finished the second epilogue (why are there two?) but I’m done with the book and the first epilogue. I have ADHD and never thought I’d ever begin this book, much less finish it, but I became so invested in the plot that I couldn’t put it down.
It took me about a month and a half to finish, which is longer than I’ve ever read anything in my life. I’m definitely an avid reader but I tend to hyper focus on books and abandoned them if I couldn’t finish in a short time. (I read Tess of the D’ubervilles in a day except for the last eight chapters and haven’t picked it up for a year)
I honestly only started reading this book because I wanted to have read War and Peace, not because I wanted to read War and Peace. I also wanted to prove to myself that I could do it despite my ADHD.
As for the content of the book, it was great. The characters were so well developed and real. Natasha especially as I’m 16 right now and I related to her so much despite the time and societal differences.
The setting was immersive and painted a vivid picture of the time and society. I learned a lot of historical information, even though the novel wasn’t exactly historically accurate. The ‘war’ aspect was extremely fascinating to me even though I was sure I’d find it boring. And the ‘peace’ was even better. It was super dramatic and sad and even funny, but very real, all the way through. The way they talked and acted and makes mistakes and were confused, it was all very real.
I think it brought a very human side to the war. Like we all know that Napoleon wouldn’t win and that Russia wouldn’t be defeated, but it’s still tense because it’s not about Russia, it’s about all of the individuals we see throughout the novel. To be honest I didn’t care about the fate of Russia at all during the book.
Anyway, I really loved it. I will try to suffer through the second epilogue just to finish it for good. I know War and Peace is supposed to be super intellectual and philosophical, and I don’t doubt that it is, but it really didn’t feel like it.
I honestly just read it like any other book, the only difference is I sometimes think about passages I read weeks ago and finding different meanings in them, which doesn’t really happen in Wattpad books. So maybe there is an intellectual benefit to it.
Maybe it’s one of those books you have to read at 40 instead of 16 to get the full benefit. But I might not live not live to 40, so I’m glad I read it even though I might not have gained all the meaning.
by ImportunateRaven
16 Comments
I love that book and my soul felt larger when I finished. The ability of Tolstoy to capture life in all its various scope was brilliant.
In Russian schools, they impose that this is the greatest work of the Russian classic. At the same time, Tolstoy called his book “многословной дребеденью” (it means something like “big mouth rubbish”). Literature teachers cant even explain themselves most of the times. Thanks for post Dude!
I read it around age 40 about a decade ago and wish I had the same enthusiasm for the work as you. I’m quite happy to see that such a young reader is the first to truly make me want to read it again.
As a fellow adhd-er who’s tried a few times to read it, I have a few questions!
Did you follow a guide? Did you have a sheet of character names to remember all the people? Did you do any background history or information prep-work?
I loved Anna Karenina and the Death of Ivan Ilyvich and I’ve gotten through 200ish pages a few times, but then get lost in the names/ranks/history
Good for you! It’s an awesome book.
Ashamed to admit that I purchased it in my college days(63 years ago) but could not read it.
Lol, now I want to read it🤦 Congrats on outdoing yourself! Keep it up.
I loved it too, and absolutely read it for exactly the same reason at first. Congratulations. Anna Karenina next? I still haven’t got around to that one!
Well done! Just to say that the last hundred pages or so, where Tolstoy is talking at the reader like the boring man at the party who corners you, were tough for me too! I’ve read it three times now and I always get something new out of it
I recommend the movie is a 7 hour epic that will keep you throughout the 7 hours without getting bored and being impractical by the visuals and the realistic battles, however as i said you should watch it in one sitting.
The fact that you read this at 16 is impressive to me. I’m glad to find someone else that liked this book. Tolstoy is a genius when it comes to crafting characters and the war passages for me were the best place to see these characters truly come alive. Congratulations.
Im almost through with Crime and Punishment and I was looking for WnP, but most of the editions Ive come across have tiny fonts and lack French translations. Someone even suggested buying an accompanying book that contains the translations.
I dont know if Im allowed to ask which publication you are reading?
I read it back when I was unemployed and had some extra time on my hands.
I agree it’s a fantastic read. I want to read it again some day. I did try to read a chapter a day during the height of COVID but I failed in my endeavor.
Of course parts of the novel are slow but there are also parts that just hit you so profoundly. Like this
*How is it I haven’t seen this lofty sky before? And how happy I am that I’ve finally come to know it. Yes! everything is empty, everything is a deception, except this infinite sky. There is nothing, nothing except that. But there is not even that, there is nothing except silence, tranquillity. And thank God!…”*
Second epilogue is trash lol
The thing about reading it at 40 vs 16 is that other characters feel more real and interesting since you the reader may have experience some of the things you have gone through. That said it is still a good book also the 1812 overture is based on the big final battle of the book.
please share your tips on how to start and then finish this book!!