War and Peace readalong thread 2022 - thread 3

At a chapter a day first epilogue finishes on 18/12/22, but if everyone is happy to finish earlier we can discuss it earlier.

It looks like it, rifling, that we are going at our own pace now. I'm going keep reading on and will finish up soon. I'd like if we discussed the first epilogue during December to talk about how things worked out for Pierre, Natasha and the others. Perhaps we should set a date for that? I don't think there will be much interest in the second one (more pontificating about the causes of war).

I think we’re still reading a chapter a day, but we’re a bit unmoored without @DesdamonasHandkerchief’s daily summaries - her sources seem to have all given up at this point. Also at this time of year people are even more likely to be reading when they can.

Thanks for the Dickens heads up @StColumbofNavron. Does anyone have any suggestions for a non-Dickens readalong? I know it’s already been established that Les Misérables has 365 chapters. Other books I’d be quite interested in would be Don Quixote or Ulysses, on the grounds that I’ll never read them without support, but I’ve no idea how suitable they are for dividing up like this, and others may not fancy them anyway.

According to the schedule in the OP it’s still a chapter a day, due to complete on Dec 21st (I think!). However I think some are reading a bit quicker now the end is in sight!

I'm confused at where we're up to! Are we just reading through to the end now at our own pace?

I have finished reading the first epilogue.
Now onto the second!

Prompted by our discussion here about next reads, it is being discussed. Looks like The Old Curiosity Shop most likely, though not 100% decided.

I’m still 11 hours from finishing or at least catching up. Dedicating what I can of the weekend to this.

Thanks @Mb76 for posting the last of the illustrations. It is really amazing how you can absolutely pinpoint what page of the book they relate to. Shows how good they are.
I see Pierre didn't manage to keep his POW weight off!

Lovely, Mb76. Thank you!* *

Hello everyone, well done on finishing the book, Here are the final three illustrations from my books - enjoy 😊

There's no talk yet about it :)

About next year, is there anyone who’s also on the Women in White thread? Just wondering what suggestions for next year have been discussed on that thread. Is there going to be another Dickensalong?

Been reading everyone’s posts about this section and nodding along - struggled through the war and all the ‘revisionist’ history that seemed to be talking me out of a view I never held in the first place - and was pleased to see Pierre, Natasha and Marya again, the last chapters were much more readable. It’s an odd place to draw the main ‘book’ to a close though and move on to epilogues, with Sonya, Nicholas and Marya’s fates unresolved.

But of course each chapter can be discussed individually - and there's quite a lot to unpick when we catch up with the main protagonists again.
Todays chapter 1 is basically more of the same - a discourse on historically famous characters with particular reference to Alexander I.

Okay, the summary is there to go back to when everyone has finished, mid December-ish I presume.

I think according to the original post we’re still due to read the epilogues as a chapter I day. I don’t mind reading a bit quicker than that but I think Monday is a bit too soon!

The epilogues are considerably longer that the chapters so I'll put the summary of the first here for people to read when they're ready.
It's split into 16 chapters but the summary takes it as a whole.
Do we want to set a date to discuss the first epilogue? Is Monday 5th too soon?

Spoiler alert! To be read after first epilogue:

Epilogue 1:

Tolstoy pauses for a long, essayistic critique of the ‘great men’ theory of history, which says that great individuals (usually rulers) determine the course of history. Tolstoy argues that broader circumstances, caused by infinite minute decisions, are actually responsible for major historical events. He tells Napoleonn_’s life story and explains how its events were driven not by Napoleon, but by external circumstances.

Count Rostov dies. Nikolai inherits the estate, along with a mountain of debts. He is poor for a few years, and tries to support his mother on a soldier’s salary. Natasha marries Pierre and becomes an extremely dedicated wife and mother. Nikolai resolves his debts through a combination of hard work and marriage to Princess Marya. He becomes a very successful farmer because he cares about his peasants’ needs. Sonya lives with Nikolai and Princess Marya, and works as a kind of servant. Marya and Nikolai’s children often become sources of discord between the married couple. Pierre remains active in the Freemasons.

I know 😂it took me by surprise too.
I wonder if Tolstoy took a break before writing the epilogues, if they were planned or tacked on later?

Yes, I was very surprised when I turned the page and it was the epilogue!

Am I the only one thinking 'Oh no, not again' as another of Natasha's fianceés heads off for an extended trip...? <cynic>

Yes, I like that idea, about Moscow going through a terrible destruction followed by a renewal.

I really liked these final chapters. So full of joy and optimism. In a way, I would have been happy if the book ended there, if it wasn't for the loose thread of Marya and Nicolai.

Interesting section analysis as always and plenty to think about, thanks for that, Desdamona. I had the thought as well that Moscow* *was rather like a character, having gone through great trauma, destruction and renewal.

We do in the first epilogue which moves us on 8 years from the point we are now.