Talking of challenges, I wonder if you have ever read Tolstoy’s War and Peace. I bought it in early adulthood and then could never get to grips with the Russian names and the tendency to lapse into French at times taxed my overburdened brain. Then, one winter, when we lived in the Outer Hebrides and black and white grainy TV – if you were lucky, depending upon the rain – was all that was on offer for external stimulation, I pulled out the new-looking copy and after a lot of determination and effort, got hooked.
One of the blogs I follow, dovegreyreader scribbles, has issued an invitation to join her and others in an online book club. Yes, you’ve got it, the book is that very same War and Peace. She writes about it here. My interest is certainly stimulated by the chatter and the challenge, so having searched high and low for the old copy of the book, I’ve ordered a new one online. The Penguin Classic edition, so it is to be hoped I can read the print. (Never mind I get new glasses next week so that should help.) Dovegreyreader helpfully provides a bookmark which can be printed out and laminated, which has details of the main families and characters. Almost essential for me with my memory nowadays.
Do let me know if you fancy trying to join the bookathon, and I would be interested to know how many people have read it.
That is no challenge, but wonderful from start to finish, with some amazing lines throughout. I re-read it last year straight after 1812 by Adam Zamoyski which put all the military information in excellent perspective. Enjoy.
“It is not those who are beautiful whom we love, but those we love who are beautiful.”
I read it too many years ago to count, when I was still in school. And I remember almost nothing, as one might expect from the memory of a 16 or 17 year old. I have it in my Kindle, and I plan to read it once again, but now is not the time for me to do so, as there is so much going on in my life. I hope to settle in this winter, snuggle up on the couch with my dogs and attack it! Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy it. I’ll be reading here at your blog to see. 🙂
Oh dear, it’s been sitting on my shelves – in German and English – for what seems like millennia. I’ve started it many times but never finished it. Before I die, I will, finish it, I mean.
I am not very fond of book clubs, I am not very fond of anything organised; since I left work I please myself. I probably get less done that way, but that’s what freedom from clocks, time tables and somebody else’s agenda is all about.
I wonder if you are going to succeed.
Thanks Everyone! I love the quote, Adrienne, fits in exactly with my view of life, love and relationships. As to whether I succeed – I’ll let you know! So there is a commitment and a target and it’s semi-public.
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