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Matthew's Reviews > War and Peace
War and Peace
by
by
Matthew's review
bookshelves: 2016, kindle, own, completist-book-club, classic, at-home-reading
Dec 31, 2015
bookshelves: 2016, kindle, own, completist-book-club, classic, at-home-reading
Holy cow! I am done! Not sure what to say . . . I feel like I should write a 1000 page review, but I will keep it short.
I finished the book while a passenger in a mini-van stuck in horrible Atlanta traffic.
The book was not quite as readable as some other BIG books I have read, but still pretty good. What amazed me is how few specific events occurred during the 1000+ pages - Tolstoy was just really detailed in describing the events. Only a few times, though, did I feel like it was too much.
This book may not be for everyone, but it sure feels cool to be able to say "War and Peace? Yeah, I read that!"
I finished the book while a passenger in a mini-van stuck in horrible Atlanta traffic.
The book was not quite as readable as some other BIG books I have read, but still pretty good. What amazed me is how few specific events occurred during the 1000+ pages - Tolstoy was just really detailed in describing the events. Only a few times, though, did I feel like it was too much.
This book may not be for everyone, but it sure feels cool to be able to say "War and Peace? Yeah, I read that!"
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Reading Progress
December 31, 2015
– Shelved as:
2016
December 31, 2015
– Shelved
December 31, 2015
– Shelved as:
kindle
December 31, 2015
– Shelved as:
own
December 31, 2015
– Shelved as:
completist-book-club
December 31, 2015
– Shelved as:
classic
December 31, 2015
– Shelved as:
at-home-reading
January 1, 2016
–
Started Reading
January 4, 2016
–
1.52%
"A drunken wager and a policeman chained to a bear - those crazy Russians!"
page
32
January 23, 2016
–
10.61%
"Arguing over battle plans - Prince Andrew is certain they are doomed."
page
223
January 30, 2016
–
14.18%
"Pierre contemplates what is truly good, what is truly evil, God, and Freemasonry"
page
298
February 5, 2016
–
16.75%
"“Our business is to do our duty, to fight and not to think! That’s all. . . .� said he. “And to drink,� said one of the officers, not wishing to quarrel. “Yes, and to drink ,� assented Nicholas. “Hullo there! Another bottle!� he shouted."
page
352
February 17, 2016
–
21.32%
"Sounds like Nicholas and Sonya were really not meant to be together"
page
448
February 19, 2016
–
22.28%
"Are there only 5 or 6 single young nobles in Russia in the early 1800s?"
page
468
February 24, 2016
–
23.56%
"Was not expecting so much use of the word "hussy" in War and Peace"
page
495
February 28, 2016
–
25.56%
"Okay, Tolstoy, I get it! There are about 5000 schools of thought related to the war! (probably would mean more to me if I was living in early 1800s Russia)"
page
537
March 6, 2016
–
28.22%
"The French army heads into the interior of Russia, and the people are very unprepared."
page
593
March 14, 2016
–
30.7%
"Answer: 5000 Question: What is the number of times "left flank" appears in the section of War and Peace Matthew just read?"
page
645
March 29, 2016
–
36.17%
"Blaming the fall of Moscow on one man . . . then the Burning of Moscow"
page
760
March 31, 2016
–
37.41%
"Natasha and Andrew reconciled. Pierre saves a girl from a fire (dang! Pierre is good at saving people! )"
page
786
April 2, 2016
–
37.74%
"The communication techniques available in the early 1800s mean that not everyone is on the same page about whether the French or the Russians are winning."
page
793
April 16, 2016
–
42.27%
"Sneaking into the French camp and the orchestra of the sharpening saber"
page
888
April 17, 2016
–
42.6%
"Pierre compares being married to the French death march to which he is being subjected"
page
895
April 24, 2016
–
44.07%
"Only one more page of progress so far today, but had to share this! I may have just read one on my favorite quotes ever: "But despite the fact that the doctors treated him, bled him, and gave him medicines to drink, he recovered." Good one, Tolstoy!"
page
926
April 24, 2016
–
44.93%
"Holy cow! I made it to the epilogue! (well, at least the first epilogue)"
page
944
April 26, 2016
–
45.41%
"Napoleon was successful because he was lucky . . . according to Tolstoy"
page
954
April 28, 2016
–
46.79%
"This epilogue reads like an argument about the current US presidential election"
page
983
April 29, 2016
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-46 of 46 (46 new)
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message 1:
by
Bianca
(new)
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rated it 5 stars
Feb 17, 2016 09:31PM
Ah, my favourite book of all time. Or in top 3, depending on the day ;-) I take it that since you have gone so far into it you're enjoying it?
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It is definitely very readable. Some parts better than others. I am enjoying the experience.
Congratulations on being able to say such a phrase! This is definitely an achievement with such a big book.
Congratulations! I am a reader of long books. I only need to mention my favorite writer and you'll know why: Dostoevsky.I'm close to start the only one of his I haven't read yet, The Karamazov Brothers.
Your concise review is telling me that I must read War & Peace. Thank you and congrats again...
Matthew...that is quite an accomplishment! Not many of us on GRs have the patience to finish a tome like that or Ulysses either. Try that next? Congrats sir and cheers! Murf
I must echo the congratulations. I have no desire to tackle this and am in awe of anyone who reads through to the end!
Thanks everyone! I feel like I am winning an award and I didn't even write a speech!
Kudos to you Matthew! I like the way you went at this one. Gives me incentive to do the same someday.
Congratulations!!! You should get yourself a drink to celebrate! It is quite an achievement to read the whole thing:-) Cool review too!
Very cool!
Congratulations Matthew. :)I read an article about libraries purging and cleaning out books that no one checks out (to make room for others) and couldn't help but think of you when I read this: At Hibner’s library, War and Peace has been checked out just five times in the past twenty-two years. “It’s huge, it’s taking up quite a bit of space,� Hibner said. “But for libraries like us to not have War and Peace at all—it doesn’t seem right.�
Catherine - agreed! You gotta have the classics. But, since it is now public domain and therefore free on Kindle, probably a lot of people would rather download it instead of checking out such a beast and hauling it around. Note: I read the entire book on my phone!
Matthew wrote: "Catherine - agreed! You gotta have the classics. But, since it is now public domain and therefore free on Kindle, probably a lot of people would rather download it instead of checking out such a be..."OMG...that is impressive and would drive me insane! It's also rather hilarious. :D
Well done for finishing it. I remember being in love with Prince Andrei and crying my eyes out when he died. I sure hope I get to re-read it, just so that I can see if it's got the same impact.
Bianca wrote: "Well done for finishing it. I remember being in love with Prince Andrei and crying my eyes out when he died. I sure hope I get to re-read it, just so that I can see if it's got the same impact."Hey Bianca! Looks like you posted this a long time ago, sorry I missed the notification back then. I did enjoy this one more than some of my other BIG reads, but I am not sure if I would go back and re-read. Maybe a listen? I still want to check out the mini-series they did a couple of years ago. Did you see that?
I ammimpressed, Matthew! Congratulations!
Christine wrote: "I ammimpressed, Matthew! Congratulations!"Thank you, Christine!😁😁😁
Wow!! I'm impressed also. It's a monster of a book! It's a HUGE accomplishment.
Sheri wrote: "Wow!! I'm impressed also. It's a monster of a book! It's a HUGE accomplishment."Thanks! It definitely felt good to conquer one of the Everests of literature!
An impressive accomplishment. Well done.
That's an awesome achievement, Matthew. I have not yet gathered the strength to put everything aside and take on this massive tome! Glad traffic is good for SOMETHING :)
Alyona wrote: "An impressive accomplishment. Well done."Thank you, Alyona!😀
Erin wrote: "That's an awesome achievement, Matthew. I have not yet gathered the strength to put everything aside and take on this massive tome! Glad traffic is good for SOMETHING :)"Thanks! If it helps any, my trick was reading on Kindle so I could read on my phone as well and I made sure I read at least 1% a day. 100 days max and War and Peace is done!😃
This is very impressive Matthew! Congratulations !
This is really cool, Matthew! Kudos to you for getting through this one!
ܳï wrote: "This is very impressive Matthew! Congratulations !"Thank you so much, Ouma make!😀
Kiki wrote: "This is really cool, Matthew! Kudos to you for getting through this one!"I appreciate it, Kiki!😁😁
Good for you! I can’t think of this novel without thinking of the episode of Cheers where Sam reads all of War and Peace to impress Diane😂 “Theres a movie?”�
Eric wrote: "Good for you! I can’t think of this novel without thinking of the episode of Cheers where Sam reads all of War and Peace to impress Diane😂 “Theres a movie?”�"Thanks! I don't remember that one, but sound hilarious!😀
Season 2 episodes 5 and 6 on Amazon,Hulu, and Netflix 😂
Eric wrote: "Season 2 episodes 5 and 6 on Amazon,Hulu, and Netflix 😂"Nice - you hunted that down for me!? I appreciate that!
NP you’re gonna laugh... especially since you tackled this one! “Last time I read War and Peace in 5 days to impress some broad!”�
Congrats Matthew! I’m scared of even adding it to my “To Read� list. Kudos!
Jose wrote: "Congrats Matthew! I’m scared of even adding it to my “To Read� list. Kudos!"Thanks, Jose! Good luck to you if you do! :)
Greatest novel ever written!
TMR wrote: "I would like to try this."A noble and sometimes difficult battle - but worth it! :)
Henry wrote: "Greatest novel ever written!"So, I am guessing you enjoyed it, Henry??? ;) ;) ;)
Very very much. I certainly gave it all the stars available and it is on my favorites list. However, I never felt worthy enough to write an actual review of Tolstoy’s masterpiece. I feel the same way about Moby Dick and Look Homeward, Angel. Have read all multiple times.
Henry wrote: "Very very much. I certainly gave it all the stars available and it is on my favorites list. However, I never felt worthy enough to write an actual review of Tolstoy’s masterpiece. I feel the same w..."I remember discussing Moby Dick with you. Unfortunately I was not quite as impressed with it as I was with this one. Glad these books have all brought you joy many times!
I read this like 10 years ago and I can barely remember a lot of it, because as you said a lot happens and there is a ton of tiny details.
Wes wrote: "I read this like 10 years ago and I can barely remember a lot of it, because as you said a lot happens and there is a ton of tiny details."There was a mini-series a few years ago that I still want to watch since I enjoyed the book but have had a hard time retaining it. I figure it would be a good refresher!
Anca-Daniela wrote: "❤️ loved it"😁😁😁 Awesome!
