After several attempts at War and Peace (as a student of Napoleonic history) I only cracked it enough to finish after I started studying Russian language and finally got the patronymics and could follow the characters. Later on a guided tour of Napoleon’s occupation of Moscow (more Tolstoy than history) I swear I could hear the French guns and limbers trundling through Arbatsky Ploschad heading for the Kremlin.
Thank you! I’m not someone who tends to reread books. My stack of “want to read” unread books just keeps growing larger and my time to read shorter! But you’re making me reconsider at least this one. And, how I would have loved to be part of that lush family experience next to the fire or on those cozy blankets! No one in your family will ever forget that. Wonderful!
I fully sympathize with the TBR pile growing faster as the years pass! But I think there are definitely a few that merit some of that precious time for rereading, especially if it's been a long time since you read them. And thank you!
I found this piece fascinating for the way in which they gradually reconcile the story of what was read with the way in which it was read. Often in the story or review of the reading of a book we focus above all on what we appreciated most in terms of style or content, but we struggle to highlight how that book or why it thrilled or struck us, what it bored us or because it failed to captivate us more than we expected. This is a very important aspect, not only in terms of feedback for the writer and other readers, but because in my opinion it adds to those who read a story or a review of a book in an absolutely engaging way, and the metaphor of 'war' is also beautiful and of peace'. Finally, it would be interesting to use this approach also in the narration of other contents, news or otherwise. I'll bookmark it to experiment!
I was presented with "War and Peace" as a prize for English at high school when I was 15, the heftiest book I'd ever owned with gilded binding, Bible-thin 1000+pages and a useful bookmark that listed the dramatis personae. It survived all my library culls until I was 50, then I felt ready for it and read it night by night through an entire winter. What an experience. I understood then its status as the greatest of all novel. I hope to reread the same copy in the same way before I'm too old.
I read this when I was a teenager and remember being confused half the time by who was who. Recently, I watched the BBC adaption and LOVED it. I love Anna Karenina too and have read it multiple times (I loved finding out that E.E. loved it to when I read your bio on her). I think it's time for me to try W&P again soon, but maybe after I finish The Count of Monte Cristo! :)
I read War and Peace in my young teens. I might not have understood all the themes, but the story held my attention and I have not forgotten it. It is a mistake to think young people cannot comprehend the great classics at a young age. Children have a high capacity for following detailed stories, even those who cannot sit still through a reading. I still remember thinking my then four year old nephew, who was playing, wasn't really listening to me read 'The Magician's Nephew' to his older sister, until during the creation scene when Jadis is frightened by the sight of Aslan, he asked why she didn't use her knife - he remembered Jadis had pulled out a knife in the street scene in London in the previous chapter, a detail I had even forgotten. Among my extended family, a brother in-law read The Lord of the Rings to his preschool children and they loved it, while another young relative read War and Peace on her own at age nine.
This was so vivid. Thank you for sharing, you've inspired me to try and read something like this to my kids 4 & 7. Any recommendations ? I'd love to experience something like this before we dig our teeth into something that meaty.
There really are so many great choices! With a 4-year-old in the mix, I would try to keep the reading times short so they don't get squirmy. But for rich language that even younger kids can enjoy I would think you could try Joan Aiken (especially Arabel's Raven, but also Wolves of Willoughby Chase, Midnight is a Place, etc.), E. B. White (eg., Trumpet of the Swan), Roald Dahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Mary Norton's Borrower's novels--just to name a few to start with!
Read-Aloud Revival website would be great for you. Sarah Mackenzie wrote the book, The Read-Aloud Family. Also Meghan Cox Gurdon wrote a book on reading aloud to children, I think it's The Enchanted Hour. So many great options!
Very nice. And what a wonderful thing that you read it to your children aloud over two years. I'm reading it now, about 300 pages in, at the age of 75, and enjoying it.
It's been a few years since I read War and Peace. What resonated with me is the families at home waiting on their loved ones who were at war. I am a mother of a son who was in the war in Iraq. I'm sure this is why I am able to identify with the families.
What a beautiful, vivid sketch of your family’s “enchanted hour” and the way a true classic meets us different ways in repeated readings through our lives. Many thanks to your family for your husband’s military service, too. Though I’ve not read W&P, this makes me want to move it up in my TBR queue. 💙
I love War & Peace. Anna Karenina is my favorite, but there are so many vivid scenes in W&P that I think about all the time.
Close to my heart is Natasha's, "leave the furniture, put in the wounded." I want that to be the theme of my home. I don't want to keep furniture or things that get in the way of welcoming more and more people into my house. We've hosted a weekly open invite dinner for over eight years now.
Reading Dr. John Senior's The Restoration of Christian Culture wasn't enough to convince us to smash the television set, but eventually, as our dinners became more well attended, the tv got in the way and we gave it away. Then we gave away the electric keyboard we didn't play, the round solid wood dining room table, the sewing desk... Our weekly dinners, in our small home, regularly host twenty adults and six to nine children. I'm attached to my stuff, but I'd so much rather welcome the wounded than keep the stuff.
After several attempts at War and Peace (as a student of Napoleonic history) I only cracked it enough to finish after I started studying Russian language and finally got the patronymics and could follow the characters. Later on a guided tour of Napoleon’s occupation of Moscow (more Tolstoy than history) I swear I could hear the French guns and limbers trundling through Arbatsky Ploschad heading for the Kremlin.
Wonderful to get to walk those streets!
Thank you! I’m not someone who tends to reread books. My stack of “want to read” unread books just keeps growing larger and my time to read shorter! But you’re making me reconsider at least this one. And, how I would have loved to be part of that lush family experience next to the fire or on those cozy blankets! No one in your family will ever forget that. Wonderful!
I fully sympathize with the TBR pile growing faster as the years pass! But I think there are definitely a few that merit some of that precious time for rereading, especially if it's been a long time since you read them. And thank you!
I found this piece fascinating for the way in which they gradually reconcile the story of what was read with the way in which it was read. Often in the story or review of the reading of a book we focus above all on what we appreciated most in terms of style or content, but we struggle to highlight how that book or why it thrilled or struck us, what it bored us or because it failed to captivate us more than we expected. This is a very important aspect, not only in terms of feedback for the writer and other readers, but because in my opinion it adds to those who read a story or a review of a book in an absolutely engaging way, and the metaphor of 'war' is also beautiful and of peace'. Finally, it would be interesting to use this approach also in the narration of other contents, news or otherwise. I'll bookmark it to experiment!
I'm so glad you found it helpful!
I was presented with "War and Peace" as a prize for English at high school when I was 15, the heftiest book I'd ever owned with gilded binding, Bible-thin 1000+pages and a useful bookmark that listed the dramatis personae. It survived all my library culls until I was 50, then I felt ready for it and read it night by night through an entire winter. What an experience. I understood then its status as the greatest of all novel. I hope to reread the same copy in the same way before I'm too old.
Oh, Pauline, I *love* everything about this. Wonderful. I hope you can, too.
I read this when I was a teenager and remember being confused half the time by who was who. Recently, I watched the BBC adaption and LOVED it. I love Anna Karenina too and have read it multiple times (I loved finding out that E.E. loved it to when I read your bio on her). I think it's time for me to try W&P again soon, but maybe after I finish The Count of Monte Cristo! :)
That's so great! Yes, I think printing up a handy list of characters and all the versions of their names can be a helpful aid :D
I read War and Peace in my young teens. I might not have understood all the themes, but the story held my attention and I have not forgotten it. It is a mistake to think young people cannot comprehend the great classics at a young age. Children have a high capacity for following detailed stories, even those who cannot sit still through a reading. I still remember thinking my then four year old nephew, who was playing, wasn't really listening to me read 'The Magician's Nephew' to his older sister, until during the creation scene when Jadis is frightened by the sight of Aslan, he asked why she didn't use her knife - he remembered Jadis had pulled out a knife in the street scene in London in the previous chapter, a detail I had even forgotten. Among my extended family, a brother in-law read The Lord of the Rings to his preschool children and they loved it, while another young relative read War and Peace on her own at age nine.
Wonderful!! And I think what you're describing is a huge part of what makes reading aloud to a varied age group such a gift!
This was so vivid. Thank you for sharing, you've inspired me to try and read something like this to my kids 4 & 7. Any recommendations ? I'd love to experience something like this before we dig our teeth into something that meaty.
There really are so many great choices! With a 4-year-old in the mix, I would try to keep the reading times short so they don't get squirmy. But for rich language that even younger kids can enjoy I would think you could try Joan Aiken (especially Arabel's Raven, but also Wolves of Willoughby Chase, Midnight is a Place, etc.), E. B. White (eg., Trumpet of the Swan), Roald Dahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Mary Norton's Borrower's novels--just to name a few to start with!
Thank you so much! Saving these!
You're welcome! I wish you many happy hours of family reading!
Read-Aloud Revival website would be great for you. Sarah Mackenzie wrote the book, The Read-Aloud Family. Also Meghan Cox Gurdon wrote a book on reading aloud to children, I think it's The Enchanted Hour. So many great options!
Thank you so much
Reading War and Peace now with @SimonHaisell and hindreds of others @FootnotesandTangents! A chapter a day so we're halfway in!
What a great project!
Very nice. And what a wonderful thing that you read it to your children aloud over two years. I'm reading it now, about 300 pages in, at the age of 75, and enjoying it.
Thank you! And I'm glad you're reading it and enjoying it!
I am very inspired to pick it up after this beautiful review!!
I'm so glad! I hope you will enjoy it!
Great piece. I'm publishing something similar this Friday about reading and rereading On the Road, so I definitely resonated with the idea of change.
I'll be looking forward to reading your post!
It's been a few years since I read War and Peace. What resonated with me is the families at home waiting on their loved ones who were at war. I am a mother of a son who was in the war in Iraq. I'm sure this is why I am able to identify with the families.
Yes, that makes perfect sense. The people waiting at home have their own war to fight 💜
Hundreds, not hindreds. Oh, for an edit option.
What a beautiful, vivid sketch of your family’s “enchanted hour” and the way a true classic meets us different ways in repeated readings through our lives. Many thanks to your family for your husband’s military service, too. Though I’ve not read W&P, this makes me want to move it up in my TBR queue. 💙
I love War & Peace. Anna Karenina is my favorite, but there are so many vivid scenes in W&P that I think about all the time.
Close to my heart is Natasha's, "leave the furniture, put in the wounded." I want that to be the theme of my home. I don't want to keep furniture or things that get in the way of welcoming more and more people into my house. We've hosted a weekly open invite dinner for over eight years now.
Reading Dr. John Senior's The Restoration of Christian Culture wasn't enough to convince us to smash the television set, but eventually, as our dinners became more well attended, the tv got in the way and we gave it away. Then we gave away the electric keyboard we didn't play, the round solid wood dining room table, the sewing desk... Our weekly dinners, in our small home, regularly host twenty adults and six to nine children. I'm attached to my stuff, but I'd so much rather welcome the wounded than keep the stuff.