War and Peace discussion thread

[TooExtraImmatureCheddar]

For all things Rostov, Bezukhov and Bolkonsky - come in, pour yourself some tea from the samovar and settle down to debate love, politics, war and religion. Or if that sounds too hard, you can just bitch about the Freemasons or the BBC version.

Spoilers - what do people think? It will be a bit hard to discuss without posting any spoilers, but maybe we could write SPOILER! at the beginning of a post if it has something major in it.

I am 45% into it on my Kindle, but it's taken me 2 years to get this far! How far has everyone else got?

[regenerationfez]

I've downloaded this on my kidle, but am thinking maybe I should read the paper version. I remember attempting to vrewad it when I was younger and having to keep going back to the family trees and maps, and still giving up. I did struggle through Anna Karenina and persevered and was absolutely hooked in a way I hadn't been by a book probably before or since. Hoping if I plough through W&P it will be the same

[tumbletumble]

Checking in. I've purchased W&P on my kindle but not started it yet - not sure when I'll get round to it, but hopefully at some point! I read and enjoyed Anna Karenina many years ago.

Agree with writing SPOILER! at the beginning of a post.

[SatsukiKusakabe]

Haven't begun properly yet, hoping to at the end of this week though. I'm going to finish the couple of books I have on the go and then try and make a large (ish!) dent at the weekend, then maybe I can keep it ticking away in the background.

I'm going for paper version, Pevear and Volokhonsky translation.

I'm posting this New Yorker Piece about the history of the different translations that I put on the other thread, just in case it's of interest to anyone.

Agree with Spoiler Perhaps in bold at the beginning? As need to be able to discuss.

[TooExtraImmatureCheddar]

I haven't read Anna Karenina. I'm planning on reading that once we've made it through War and Peace (if I ever do!).

I've got the Maude version - downloaded when I didn't know anything about the different versions and it was the first one to come up in the Kindle library. I read that New Yorker piece, though - if I'd read that first I'd probably have gone for the P&V one.

I feel as if I'm starting to get to grips with WAP a bit more now. I've slogged past those battles at the beginning that went on for pages and pages and pages (and the BBC version did in 3 minutes!). Natasha is actually starting to emerge as a character a bit more now, sort of.

[regenerationfez]

I've got the Maude version too, for the same reason- it was the first one to come up. I've read the preamble bits so far. I've broken my foot, so if I can't read it now I'm incapacitated for large parts of the day, I don't know when I'll get round to it!!!

[SatsukiKusakabe]

Anna Karenina is so, so good. I read the P&V of it, so that's why I got W&P the same, as I got on with it quite well and had no idea otherwise!

[NatashaBolkonskaya]

You're up and running - brilliant.

I'm also reading the P&V translation and, on the whole, it's fine. I have a few niggles: Denisov's dialogue is the main one. And last night I read a paragraph four times and it still didn't make sense to me but I can't be sure whether that's me, Tolstoy or P&V.

I sort of read the Rosemary Edmonds translation years ago but cheated and skipped over the battles and possibly other tedious parts . In my defence I was only about 12.

I'm at 37% on the Kindle. I started reading weeks ago but, what with Christmas and all, I haven't got on as well as I'd hoped. With a bit of luck and more time I'm hoping to get on faster now.

[regenerationfez]

I started reading after my last poist and have quite quickly got to 10%. I'm quite engrossed already! I haven't got to the 'war' bit yet vthough, so that might change! Did the Rostovas have 12 children? They have only concentrated on 3 so far and mentioned 4...

[tokoloshe2015]

I fell in love with Prince Andrei at the age of 17

[NatashaBolkonskaya]

regeneration I assumed that the Countess was supposed to have had several children stillborn or die young. You only hear about four of them in the novel, I think.

I fell fell for him at an early age, too tokoloshe. And he looked just like Alan Dobie

[NatashaBolkonskaya]

fell fell ? Was serious, obviously! Sorry

[LookingForMe]

Glad to see a W&P thread.

I'm 42% in. Cheddar Glad that someone else found the battle stuff a bit hard-going. It just seemed to go on forever. Much prefer the Russia-based events.

[Duckdeamon]

I attempted to read it on maternity leave thinking that'd be a good time to tackle something big - what an idiot! I liked the peace bits much more than the war bits; found the freemasonry bits very strange. Couldn't understand why there were so many princes / princesses. I skipped to the very last bit so that I could know the ending before giving up!

Planning to watch the bbc one instead of trying again.

Loved anna karenin though.

[regenerationfez]

yes that's what I thought but I was getting so confused with the Anna's and the countesses at the beginning! I've got a grip on most of them now, I think!

[regenerationfez]

Really tolo and Natasha? Does he stop treating his wife like shit then a bit later on and banging on about his freedom?

[NatashaBolkonskaya]

Well, kind of...

Do you not know the story at all, regeneration? I don't want to say too much and spoil it for you.

[regenerationfez]

Not really, I presume something happens to the wife from the BBC posters, as he looks like he is in a love triangle with Natasha and Pierre! But no, don't give me any spoilers!!

[regenerationfez]

Do you advise me trying to beat the TV drama? I tried to do that with Game of Thrones but found the books spoilered the much more exciting TV series so stopped reading

[NatashaBolkonskaya]

[regenerationfez]

I'll have to get reading...

[NatashaBolkonskaya]

Sorry, crossposted.

Do you advise me trying to beat the TV drama? Not sure really - there's inevitably going to be a lot left out of the telly version.

Either way, you're going to be spoilering, I suppose.

[regenerationfez]

I think I'll just do it in tandem. I'm never any good with waiting. The TV has helped me keep up with the characters a bit. I am reading the bit where Anna M. takes the will and I keep seeing Rebecca Front in my head

[TooExtraImmatureCheddar]

Oh, I got so confused by the different Annas too! Is anyone else reminded of the bit in Riders where Rupert tries to read W&P and throws the book into the bosky depths of the Bois de Boulogne?

[TooExtraImmatureCheddar]

[Duckdeamon]

war and peace meets Riders! Riders is a more fun read!