A little bit about what you'll find reviewed here

A little bit about what you'll find reviewed on this blog: I believe the best books involve characters you wish you could read more about long after the book is finished. Recently, I've been searching for hidden gems from the past. I read mostly fiction, and I'm a bit of a prude. I don't normally enjoy books with sex or excessive language.

Who I am:
I raised two wonderful girls, and I'm super proud of them. I enjoy reading (of course), sewing, cross stitching, photography and writing. I live in the high desert portion of Washington (which I didn't know existed until my husband and I decided to move here) and have really enjoyed my time out here. I am excited to see what God has next in store for my life!

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy

My experiment into the great epic classic has ended in my defeat. I struggled with the decision for a few days, but I just don't want to go any further. Every percent feels like an eternity at this point, and I'm waving my white flag.

With a book this long, I'm not even sure how to describe the "plot." Numerous characters and events make it hard to figure out what the point of the whole thing is. Maybe if I'd finished it, I'd be able to tell you, but as it is, I'm going off what I know.

My first issue came when I couldn't find a character to like. There's plenty to choose from, but they are all pretty much are boring, terrible or annoying, so I didn't have anyone to look forward to reading about. My other issue came with WAR. Okay, so it's half the title, but I didn't need to know which flank was weak in the battle, or why the historians were wrong about Napoleon's motivations.

I took a break at 50% thinking it would be the boost I needed to make it through the rest of the novel, but alas, I'm quitting at 64%. Many times I would ask myself, "What is the purpose of this scene?" or "How is this important to the story?" Most of the time, I would forget what I'd asked about, so apparently it wasn't important.

I'm sure this book is a classic for a reason. It wasn't the most unbearable thing to read, it was just tedious to the point where I felt like I was reading for days and making no progress. I know myself, and when I'm more concerned about where I am in the book rather than what's going on in the story, it's time to evaluate why I'm still reading it. Sorry, Leo, this one's a pass from me.




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