Quick Note
Well, I finished War and Peace. I’m now in that state of post-reading experience stupor, when I’m not quite sure what to do with myself. Read a book? But what can follow Tolstoy? Watch a movie? But what can match the epic scope of what I just finished? Start over at page one? Tempting, but somehow I think I should let it rest for a little bit.
Immediate, un-censored thoughts: the epilogue, with Tolstoy’s apparent description of an ideal wife (and I happen to know how he treated his own wife) had me thundering Russian curses inside my head. I didn’t enjoy volume four too much after part one; I knew everything that was going to happen, and I didn’t want it to happen, so I briefly considered just stopping and imagining the ending for myself. The translation was really, really good; I’ve read (very small) parts of W&P in the original, and whenever I came to a passage I’d read in Russian, I got the same power and feeling. I need to reread this, since this time I almost sprinted through it to find out the plot. While I did read all of Tolstoy’s philosophising, I didn’t give it as much thought as I should have. Speaking of which, I really enjoyed how about half through he started introducing every new part with a couple of pages on history. That enjoyment was matched by the pain of part two of the epilogue, the closing of the book, which is thirty-six pages of the same style. I don’t think I’ll ever forget these characters.
And now, still in a state of numbness, I believe I’ll go take a hot bath.
Wow. That was FAST. Congratulations. I’m still on the first few pages of War and Peace myself.
Dark Orpheus, thanks! At first, I got really sucked into the story. Then I picked it up today (yesterday? Saturday), and I was at Volume Four, and I just decided I wanted to make one big push through it.
Hi Eva
The ending was not disappointing at all … it just blew my brain a little. The heroine is such a lady and actions and behaviors do follow that even though she made a mistake. The details all wrap up and it is nice to know what happened to all the main characters. I was holding my breath on what decision she would make several times throughout the novel. It is targeted as Christian Fiction but it is not preachy at all. It would def. be classified as Edgy Christian Fiction. Don’t let that turn you away if this is not a genre you would pick first … it is an excellent book.
Brittanie
Hi Brittanie! Thanks for letting me know. :) At first, I thought you were talking about War and Peace, and I was soooo confused, lol. I’m thinking to myself “Really? Tolstoy is Edgy Christian Fiction?” I’ll defintely put Lady of Milkweed Manor on the TBR list; it’s good to branch out into new genres!
I echo DO’s comment…Fast! I can’t wait to read it. I really think it’s one of the best books put out in a long time, and that’s just from flipping through the pages. The translation looks to be done so well, with the footnotes and all and I love that they left the French in! It’s just presented so well. I guess I should actually read the content too, huh? I just love books that leave you numb…as odd as that sounds, it’s so rare that a book is that powerful that I cherish the feeling when it happens. I enjoyed your thoughts, Eva :)
I’ve never read War and Peace, but maybe I should give it a try (I’ve seen the new book out and it sure does look pretty)!
Congratulations on your accomplishment! I don’t know that I’ll ever read this, but I’m certainly impressed by those that tackle it. What fun to find all those wonderful books in your mailbox!
Wow, you flew through that!! I took me months! :) Even with a slower reading (in my case it was split in two with several months in between) I still feel like I didn’t catch everything and need to reread it. I’d love to get the new translation–and I’m very impressed that you’ve read some in the original Russian! It is really hard to choose a book after W&P–I had the same problem.
Chris, they left German in too. :D It is presented really well-it has so many extras! Besides an appendix with Tolstoy’s essay on War and Peace, the translators have provided simple summaries of what happens in each part of each volume. Not to mention that character list in the front. Talk about some handy references!
Stephanie, you should, you should. :D It’s pretty acessible, and you can always skim the battle parts if you get bored.
Tara, it was fun! If you enjoy classic novels in general, you’ll probably enjoy W&P (with some judicious skimming). No pressure though. ;)
Danielle, I think it was the translation…and I wanted to get it done before my niece came back!