Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Way, Way off Topic - Another Passion of Mine - reading

Okay, I know I'm way, way, way off topic with this post, but I just have to do it, anyway.  I am a very, very avid reader, and I'm finally getting around to reading all the books I should have read long ago.  So I'm going to mention just a couple right now and will add more as I have the time -- and if anyone is interested!

I just finished yesterday Leo Tolstoy's "War and Peace," and I couldn't recommend it more!  It was l-o-n-g! (Around 1300 pages).  But, you know what?  I kept checking to see where I was in the book because I wanted to see how much more time I could spend with this amazing author.  I couldn't put it down! 

Well, I must add one thing, though:  I couldn't put it down until I got to the epilog, which I must admit I struggled to get through.  The first 1200-something pages were an amazing story -- and more, much, much more!  The story centered around, both before and after, the War of 1812, fought between Napolean Bonaparte and Russia, which he invaded in his attempt to acquire all of Europe for France.  But it wasn't only about the war and about war in general; it was about the lives of Russian people:  their lives both before, during, and after this horrendous war. 

The epilogue was interesting, but it did require a lot of focus and concentration, something I often don't have for over short periods of time, especially as I read at night before I go to sleep each evening.  It was generally about his analysis of what factors move historical events.  He discusses the importance of rulers, generals, ordinary people, events at the time that may or may not affect the directions historical events take, etc.  I highly recommend the book and would love to hear your comments on it if you've read it already or if you read it after my very, very brief review of it.

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