I’m a little disappointed by this last section of the book, I have to admit. We’ve had an awful lot of Tolstoy telling us how he doesn’t think historians know anything about military battles. According to old mate Leo, everything happens by fate and no amount of planning or military strength/genius will make a difference. That’s fine for a paragraph or two. But there are several chapters of this as we near the end of War & Peace.
That said, things are still developing for our main characters. New loves are discovered, old loves are on the brink of destruction. Characters are dying. Some people are developing more self-awareness, while others are stuck in their old ways.
I very much want to find out what happens, and I can feel the end beginning to define itself. I’d just love it if Mr Tolstoy spent less time big-noting his fate theory and more time writing about the actual plot…
In other news
Once this book is behind me, I have only two of my 20 book list left to complete! Brideshead Revisited and Animal Farm are my last two titles. I can’t believe that this is wrapping up a little over halfway through the year. I’m pleased that it’s gone much faster than I expected. It’s meant that I have been able to add new books to the list, such as the bonus book, but also three Agatha Christie books that I’m looking forward to getting into.
But I’d like to know: would you like more book reviews on the blog? I could include a review of the Christie books, and any others I can slip in between finishing the original 20 and the end of the year. Or is it all a bit too bookish? Keen to hear your thoughts, so let me know in the comments.
[…] was really enjoying this book. Of course, there were several dull parts, where Tolstoy gets on his hobby horse about how all historians are wrong. And then there are the very detailed and rather dry battle […]