I read Moby Dick and it was an excruciatingly painful experience. For the life of me I can't understand how pontificating about the philosophy on the whiteness of the whale chapter after dragging chapter became a classic. I don't want to start War and Peace unless it can capture my imagination... By the way I didn't especially enjoy Pride and Prejudice either but it was worlds better than Moby Dick!
2007-02-13 07:15:28 · 4 answers · asked by Here Today 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
You have to really get involved with it, no lengthy breaks in between. I recall years back, I had to give a presentation on it. Apparently that is why I read it. If it were not for grilling I feared from my colleagues, I'd not touch such long and dense text, longer than the bible. . . . .just for enjoyment. I had to isolate myself at a park for a whole weekend and when I returned home, I had managed to finish reading the Russian epic. Having said that, it is one interesting epic story about exactly what the title promises: War and peace. The two are related. One thread follows the adventures of these fellas from five families, how affected during the Napoleonic wars, the other focusses on their five families. These chapters intertwine. Amazon.com says "Each individual is immersed in experiences and conversations elucidating Tolstoy's themes of self-sacrifice and self-indulgence, anguish and ecstasy, diplomacy and deception, and religion and perdition. The complexities of character and plot are sometimes enigmatic, and names are often exhausting to recollect, but the genius of this book is everlasting. The impressive dialog sparkles with humor and wit, and the vivid scenes of battle are riveting." I did not enjoy the long chapters about battlefront but the ones about "peace." Well, you may enjoy all chapters.
I also read Jane Austen but was put off by long scenes of of conversations at tea. W&P is not quite different.
Get Rosemary Edmonds' translation, Penguin edition. I think it is a good one. It is good to be able to talk about Tolstoy, Homer, Shakespeare, Goethe when at an introduction or at tea in literary circles and woe unto those who have not read W&P! But I'd not recommend it for just sheer enjoyment of story. It is quite an experience.
Just scheme through the Russian names except for important recurring names which you may shorten as I did. A name like Raskolnikovesky, I shorten to Rask whenenever it appears.
Good luck
2007-02-13 12:55:05 · answer #1 · answered by ari-pup 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The thing about War and Peace is that it's a little hard to get into. The Russian names can be confusing and sometimes the characters go by more than one name. However, I found that it was well worth the effort. It is probably the best novel I've ever read. The philosophizing is kept in check and the action is great - I'm not much for war novels or battle scenes, but found it riveting. Go for it!
2007-02-13 10:03:54 · answer #2 · answered by c'mon, cliffy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's really a matter of preference and each book is different from the other one, so it's hard to compare. I would judge by how you react as a reader. As with any book, if it doesn't hold your interest, put it away. If you wish to keep reading, then read on. It is widely considered the greatest novel ever written in any language, but again, that's a matter of perspective.
You could try and rent the movie first, it's not totally spot on with the book but it will give you an idea of whether you might like the theme or not. You'll lose 3 hours as opposed to how quick you might read the book.
2007-02-13 07:43:36 · answer #3 · answered by thebattwoman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
W&P is a very long and involved book - in my opinionj worth the reading time.
But then I like stories on warfare...
2007-02-13 07:59:35 · answer #4 · answered by flowerpet56 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋