145. War and Peace

War and Peace
Leo Tolstoy
1869
Around 1500 pages

The Book argues that this book is too often seen as a test of endurance for dedicated readers rather than the masterpiece it is.  I happen to see it as both.  To be honest, after Remembrance of Things Past, this seems like a magazine.

Since this book is approximately a million pages long, I will not go into a lot of detail about the plot.  The story follows a whole myriad of characters, including Pierre Bezukhov, a socially awkward illegitimate child, Natasha Rostova, a non socially awkward romantic, Napoleon, I assumed I don't need an explanation for, and Prince Andrey, a philosophical military officer.

Certainly you can argue that this book tends to get tedious.  Particularly in the War part of War and Peace.  But honestly, I didn't want it to end.  There is so much depth here that I would highly recommend reading it with a friend to help unpack some of the content.  Rich characters, rich experience.  It's nice to know that some of these epic doorstops can be worth it.  I am stressing the word "some," Herman Melville.

RATING: *****

Interesting Facts:

Any thoughts on the movie?  Here's a trailer:

Praised by...well, everybody.  Flaubert, Dostoyevsky, Hemingway, etc.


UP NEXT: He Knew He Was Right by Anthony Trollope.  It is supposed to be around 850 pages.  Someone take his typewriter.

144. Sentimental Education

Sentimental Education
Gustave Flaubert
1869
Around 500 pages

I was very excited to get my hands on more Flaubert since I, like most people, was only familiar with him because of Madame Bovary.  I wasn't overly thrilled by this novel but I don't blame Flaubert.  When you have a main character as insufferable as Frederic Moreau, there is little the author can do in way of consolation.

Frederic Moreau is a young countryman who desperately wants to make it in Parisian society but lacks the courage to really try.  He falls in love with Madame Arnoux but is unwilling to do anything about it.  In fact, he meets quite a few women that he barely has the courage to speak to.  In the second half of the novel, he is a bit more courageous but also loses a bit of his kindness.  All this is going on during the 1848 French Revolution, although Frederic rather passively watches from the sidelines, despite the involvement of many of his friends.

God, I hate this character.  Frederic was constantly getting in the way of his own happiness because of his cowardice.  Therefore, he was getting in the way of my happiness by never letting anything interesting happen in his own life.  I would have loved to hear about his affairs with married women or his adventures in the Revolution.  But no, Frederic wouldn't allow that.  Of course, this didn't stop Frederic from admiring himself.  At one point, he gazes in the mirror at his reflection for quite a few minutes because he thinks himself so handsome.  I am 90% sure I have dated this man.

So is this novel still enjoyable, even with such an insufferable character?  Barely.  I always enjoy Flaubert's writing style, but I was definitely ready for this book to be over.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Praised by Emile Zola and George Sand.

UP NEXT: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy.  This is a big one, but thankfully, I've already read it so you won't have to wait nine years for a post.