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War and Peace discussion thread

168 replies

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 06/01/2016 13:12

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?

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TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 11/01/2016 21:55

I'm still on the eve of the battle of Borodino. They haven't even reached Moscow yet.

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regenerationfez · 12/01/2016 08:29

My DS said 'why don't you just skip the boring bits' when I kept sighing at that bit but it would mean missing the whole bit! I am ploughing through it but God it's tedious!

LookingForMe · 12/01/2016 10:01

I'm on 52% - the beginning of the 1812 war. This is better than the first war but I prefer the Moscow/Petersburg bits. From reading some of the comments above, does this war last to 65%+?! Eeek.....

Am reading pretty slowly - around 2-3% a day but also have another book on the go at the same time. Am aiming to finish by the end of January...

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TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 12/01/2016 10:21

Regeneration, have you made it out the other side of all the boring war exposition?

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regenerationfez · 12/01/2016 10:36

No! It just goes on and on, chapter after chapter! I'm wondering if I can skip ' the authors views on...' without missing much of the story!

LookingForMe · 12/01/2016 10:37

Oh no...

regenerationfez · 12/01/2016 10:51

I'm on 73% but I have a feeling I may have to backtrack as I have no recollection of anything that happened! I think I skim read it and missed out huge chunks Grin

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TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 12/01/2016 10:54

Oh no - at 73% and still not clear of it! Have you got to whatever Natasha does during the escape from Moscow?

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regenerationfez · 12/01/2016 10:56

yeah its a bit dull though. She basically is really good at packing...

regenerationfez · 12/01/2016 10:57

I've decided to go back to the start of book eleven and cread through again though

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TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 12/01/2016 13:28

Grin at really good at packing.

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SonyaAtTheSamovar · 12/01/2016 13:59

'Really good at packing" is a great summary.

regenerationfez · 12/01/2016 14:14

Grin I need to get my Natasha love!

SonyaAtTheSamovar · 12/01/2016 14:18

She is developing her character through KonMari methods..

regenerationfez · 12/01/2016 19:45

I take it all back( almost!) Natasha is redeeming herself and growing up somewhat. I might be getting to another interminable war bit Shock

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TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 12/01/2016 20:10

Oh goody! Right. I will read on. I stopped to MN in disgust at Pierre's gormlessness, wandering onto the battlefield and getting his horse shot in the knee and not even flipping noticing. The poor horse! Why why why is Pierre so dopey? And why is no one telling him to get out of the middle of the fucking battle?

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regenerationfez · 12/01/2016 21:01

Yeah I'm presuming they were so desperate to have people on there because they were being slaughtered!

regenerationfez · 12/01/2016 22:03

I was just thinking about Pierre's unrequited love for Natasha and was getting a bit confused with the ages. Basically, is what has happened that a succession of older men have had sexual feelings for a girl from the age of 12? She was 12 when she kissed Boris, but she also knew Pierre at that time. I've forgotten what year it was at the start and am worried about going to the beginning on the kindle in case it all goes wrong! I presume by the Anatoly debacle she's about 16 and has had 4 much older men chasing after her. I'm starting to feel sorry for her!

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TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 12/01/2016 23:47

I think it starts in 1805. Also on Kindle and not wanting to flip back! I think she's about 16 when she's engaged to Andrew. I'm not sure how old Pierre and Andrew are at the beginning, but Andrew starts off married to Princess Lise so he's been married for probably a year at least, and there would have been a reasonable amount of wedding prep before that, and courting etc. He must be early 20s at least. Pierre must be similar as a student. Maybe 21 or so.

I don't think Pierre was sexually attracted to Natasha when she was 12, though. I could be wrong! I thought he liked her very much as a little protegee and friend.

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regenerationfez · 13/01/2016 08:02

So actually she must have been 16 or 17 at the ball, and they must be mid 20's. IM up to the bit where Pierre is thinking about her and how he loved her from the start, them iirc Boris promises to marry her in 4 years when she is 12 but I suppose in retrospect it's probably Natasha playing at being in love after seeing Sonya and Nicolas and the men playing along and not taking it seriously until 1810 at the ball.

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TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 13/01/2016 22:46

Shock Major happening just randomly announced! I'm trying not to spoil it for anyone who hasn't got there yet, but I was stunned at the casual way Pierre learns something important after the Battle of Borodino!

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SonyaAtTheSamovar · 13/01/2016 22:56

Why don't I remember this? I will now have to look it up before bedtime!

regenerationfez · 13/01/2016 22:58

Is this after Pierre's rescuing in Moscow?

regenerationfez · 13/01/2016 23:00

God I feel so sorry for Sonya! And how horrible is Countess Rostov! I know they are doing, but still. It's not Sonya's fault!

regenerationfez · 13/01/2016 23:02

I meant I know they are skint! Bloody tablet!