War and Peace

[EmpressaurusDeiGatti]

I’m listening to the audiobook. I’m up to chapter 15 & to be honest I’m bored. There are too many characters who simply seem to visit each other & chat

Does War and Peace get better?

Years ago I listened to an audio of it, half an hour a day for months. It has it's interesting moments but I wouldn't want to repeat the experience. In answer to your question, I'd say honestly, probably not.

It has some amazing writing where Tolstoy captures human experiences in a vivid way. There are also some quite tedious sections. I don't get on with audio books and prefer reading text which allows me to stop and think and re-read if necessary. I think it's unlikely to improve for you if you aren't enjoying it after 15 chapters.

I loved it when I eventually read it in my 40s but had tried previously and not got on with it. If you're not enjoying it just put it down and if you want to try again read a chapter aday starting in January, it'll last all year.

I don't enjoy audio books. My brain goes off into it's own little world and I find i aren't actually listening. But I have tried to read it about 4 times and gave up. I aren't sure how far through I got last time

Haha, I have this on my wishlist to read on Audible and keep avoiding it as something more interesting crops up🤣 but looking forward to listening one day...think I would struggle to concentrate for more than 30 minutes at a time, tbh.

Thanks everyone.

I like audio books for distracting me in the gym & for when I’m crocheting / doing the housework. I think I’ll listen to 2 more chapters & if I’m not enjoying it then, that’s it.

I think it's a brilliant book but possibly better read than listened to. I'm like a pp; I tend to drift off rather than follow an audiobook unfortunately. Podcasts like A Good Read work better for me.

The comments about it being better read than listened to are interesting. I’ll look out for a secondhand / charity shop copy & try that.

Well done for trying, even if you do give it up. W&P is one of those monsters we all feel duty-bound to tackle (Middlemarch and Bleak House would be other examples, I guess). My friend read it on her second attempt. She compiled a list of all the characters and their names and kept it by her for reference.

I enjoyed it, but, like other posters have said, I know I would drift off if listening to it.
Also, I must confess that I skipped the war bits.
I do love Anna Karenina though.

I read a chapter a day for a year, which works well as there are 361 chapters and they are mainly short! I love it, but if you're not enjoying it then try something else. Reading is for pleasure after all.

I found the war parts a bit boring but at least these were shorter than the peace sections. I'm not into historic battles though.

He does go on a bit at the end about recording history, which just dragged on and on. This might be sacrilege but I think a good editor would have improved it.
Having said that I really did get drawn into the characters' world.
I also remember my version of the book had a character list with the different families which helped.

Bleak House is a book I didn't manage to finish, I'll have to go back to it one day.

There was a War and Peace read-along on Mumsnet about 3 years ago. I didn't last the distance...

Radio 4 also did a drama version, rather than audio book, and I assume it was shorter. I listened to the last few episodes in one go (I think they broadcast a W&P-athon one New Year) so between reading the first quarter and listening to the last quarter, I feel I've pretty much covered as much of W&P as I need to.

The radio drama might be available on iPlayer.

Really don't think I could 'listen' to this one, my concentration would drift. Having said that, I really enjoyed reading it.

I feel like books like this were made for different times and different attention spans.

Will keep that in mind when I get around to reading it.

I read it on a readalong, a chapter a day.
I really liked it and didn't mind the war sections at all. I think it would be difficult to listen to it as an audiobook.

It's my favourite book, just started reading it again for a second time. I love it.

Audiobook, I don't think I'd be into that though, it'd lose the magic.

He does get a bit ranty towards the end but it's part of who he is as a writer.

Read it. Read it please. My favourite book.

I’ll definitely look out for a copy. It sounds as if it’s much better on paper!