I will soon be a graduate of the class of 2025 and to everyone even considering it…do it! I think so much of this journey, for me, was learning that I didn’t need to correct to continue. Like many readers, if I fall behind, I need to “catch up.” This experience has been my greatest life lesson in that continuing, without catching up, teaches me more than I will ever learn by quitting because of the few that I missed.
I talk a lot about it on my “real” substack…I signed up accidentally with a new account 🤣
I’m also graduating 2025 W&P, also not ready to part with it, still savouring the very last bits of the epilogue! This is just to commend the audiobook - Thandiwe Newton reading the Maude translation. I am going to confess that I have done it all with that - it is so easy to follow all the characters, her voice is wonderful. I clear 15 mins of focused quality time to listen every day, just as I would to read. A super resource, on its own or with the book. So, do use that if you are worried about keeping up with the reading. I simply can’t get over how insightful, relatable, just stunning W&P is. May do it again sometime, but for now, excited for Midnights Children …. I can no longer live without my fix of Simon’s voice & wisdom! You can’t ever leave us, Simon! (no pressure!)
Thank you for this post . This will be very helpful . I work long weekends with a long commute. I can listen in the car … I’ve been a little worried about falling behind on the weekends and having to drop out. I want to start out strong!! LOL 🙏❤️
If you fall behind, truly, don’t get bogged down with having to “catch up.” Doing something perfectly will keep you from doing it at all. And it’s a wonderful experience I’d hate to have missed out on because of the few times I wasn’t sure how I’d catch up.
We can’t begrudge you that, secure in the knowledge that your work honestly is so life enhancing for so many people. W&P & your insights have been an oasis of calm at times of life overwhelm. Stunning! A key highlight of 2025! Thank you!
I just against all odds trudged my Russian copy across half the world back home in upstate NY and I think I am going to take the plunge, defying my long-aged high school preconceived notions. Let it be a great experience. I know that thanks to Simon, we can defy all prior reading odds!
I have to be absolutely honest - no, excerpts only. i am a translator as well, not of literature though, so i was interested to read some standout pieces in a foreign language interpretation - Volkhonsky and Pevear are outstanding I would say, but I think it is also what calls the reader and acts as conduit for the spirit if the book. I just downloaded the Maude translation and will try to compare to the original in today’s chapter. Most readers have access to that and I am curious how it stands up to Tolstoy’s text … To be continued…
I’ve read it twice. The summer I was 13 and age 26 when I was playing Anna Karenina in a theatre piece. And of course it was different both times. So it would be interesting to try it 20 years later and see what kind of book I find.
Looking forward to reading W&P again Simon. My first time was the 2024 slow read and it was such an experience! I’m going to see how reading it in Spanish goes this time.
Thank you, Simon! I just finished Chapter 1 and, so far, reading about the machinations of the rich and powerful doesn't seem too much different from reading the headlines today (in the U.S. anyway). I have the first two characters on lock, I think. Keeping track of the cast of characters is usually my biggest challenge with long, complicated novels so thank you for helping with that. Very much appreciated. Also, I am reading Pevear's translation and, for some reason, I am enjoying the parts of the conversation in French. I'm testing myself to see if I can get the gist before I look at the footnotes. Ready for Chapter 2!
Hello from NE Ohio! My coworkers and I were discussing reading classic novels we always wanted to read but had yet to read, and then I found your Substack. I am having them join me for this 2026 slow read, so we can discuss the book in person as well (I'm not very experienced with chat threads but will try!). Thank you for providing this forum!
Excellent! The chat threads like everything else are optional. I try to create different ways to engage with the books and the community, and I love it when people read together and create their own real world book groups. Welcome!
I am extremely excited, with a touch of apprehension, to begin the W&P slow read 🤩.
As I read a lot, I am looking for books that compliment well the year-long journey through W&P. I’m trying to think of some good fiction and non-fiction reads that can accompany the W&P reading but would love some help / recommendations on this. Do you have any suggestions?
Hey Madeleine. There are obviously loads of books you could read, but one I always recommend is Andrew Kauffman's Give War and Peace A Chance. Great essays and insight into the novel.
I signed up and I wasn’t even drunk when I did. When do we begin to access the online content? Is there anything I should be doing now other than deeply regretting my decision?
Ha! Nothing to be done, as long as you've turned on W&P notifications in your settings. Read-along starts on 1 Jan, but you can already access everything on the website.
I will soon be a graduate of the class of 2025 and to everyone even considering it…do it! I think so much of this journey, for me, was learning that I didn’t need to correct to continue. Like many readers, if I fall behind, I need to “catch up.” This experience has been my greatest life lesson in that continuing, without catching up, teaches me more than I will ever learn by quitting because of the few that I missed.
I talk a lot about it on my “real” substack…I signed up accidentally with a new account 🤣
I’m also graduating 2025 W&P, also not ready to part with it, still savouring the very last bits of the epilogue! This is just to commend the audiobook - Thandiwe Newton reading the Maude translation. I am going to confess that I have done it all with that - it is so easy to follow all the characters, her voice is wonderful. I clear 15 mins of focused quality time to listen every day, just as I would to read. A super resource, on its own or with the book. So, do use that if you are worried about keeping up with the reading. I simply can’t get over how insightful, relatable, just stunning W&P is. May do it again sometime, but for now, excited for Midnights Children …. I can no longer live without my fix of Simon’s voice & wisdom! You can’t ever leave us, Simon! (no pressure!)
Haha oh no, I need a holiday! That's why I've scheduled no new books for August next year. My first proper break in two years! Thanks, Catherine!
Thank you for this post . This will be very helpful . I work long weekends with a long commute. I can listen in the car … I’ve been a little worried about falling behind on the weekends and having to drop out. I want to start out strong!! LOL 🙏❤️
If you fall behind, truly, don’t get bogged down with having to “catch up.” Doing something perfectly will keep you from doing it at all. And it’s a wonderful experience I’d hate to have missed out on because of the few times I wasn’t sure how I’d catch up.
Well said.
Don’t drop out! Do stick with it! Just a brilliant experience!
💪💪💪
We can’t begrudge you that, secure in the knowledge that your work honestly is so life enhancing for so many people. W&P & your insights have been an oasis of calm at times of life overwhelm. Stunning! A key highlight of 2025! Thank you!
Oasis of calm is definitely what I'm aiming at!
This is exactly exactly what I’ve been looking for and I’m so excited and glad this exists
Fantastic!
I just against all odds trudged my Russian copy across half the world back home in upstate NY and I think I am going to take the plunge, defying my long-aged high school preconceived notions. Let it be a great experience. I know that thanks to Simon, we can defy all prior reading odds!
Fabulous, Vera!
The effort will keep me honest :)
Have you ever read it in English? Would you recommend a translation?
I have to be absolutely honest - no, excerpts only. i am a translator as well, not of literature though, so i was interested to read some standout pieces in a foreign language interpretation - Volkhonsky and Pevear are outstanding I would say, but I think it is also what calls the reader and acts as conduit for the spirit if the book. I just downloaded the Maude translation and will try to compare to the original in today’s chapter. Most readers have access to that and I am curious how it stands up to Tolstoy’s text … To be continued…
I started with you in 2025 and life got in the way. Decided that instead of feeling behind, I just have a jump start on our 2026 slow read!!!
Fantastic!
Going to try this again as I overestimated my slow read ability and joined too many in 2025. I'm committed to this one for 2026 and ready to rumble!
Fantastic! I know a lot of people overcommitted in all the excitement!
I’ve read it twice. The summer I was 13 and age 26 when I was playing Anna Karenina in a theatre piece. And of course it was different both times. So it would be interesting to try it 20 years later and see what kind of book I find.
It's fascinating how these books change as we move through our lives.
I envy all the readers who get to meet the characters of W&P for the first time
Looking forward to reading W&P again Simon. My first time was the 2024 slow read and it was such an experience! I’m going to see how reading it in Spanish goes this time.
Excellent idea!
Can’t wait for this 😊
🙌🙌
Thank you, Simon! I just finished Chapter 1 and, so far, reading about the machinations of the rich and powerful doesn't seem too much different from reading the headlines today (in the U.S. anyway). I have the first two characters on lock, I think. Keeping track of the cast of characters is usually my biggest challenge with long, complicated novels so thank you for helping with that. Very much appreciated. Also, I am reading Pevear's translation and, for some reason, I am enjoying the parts of the conversation in French. I'm testing myself to see if I can get the gist before I look at the footnotes. Ready for Chapter 2!
Hello from NE Ohio! My coworkers and I were discussing reading classic novels we always wanted to read but had yet to read, and then I found your Substack. I am having them join me for this 2026 slow read, so we can discuss the book in person as well (I'm not very experienced with chat threads but will try!). Thank you for providing this forum!
Excellent! The chat threads like everything else are optional. I try to create different ways to engage with the books and the community, and I love it when people read together and create their own real world book groups. Welcome!
I am extremely excited, with a touch of apprehension, to begin the W&P slow read 🤩.
As I read a lot, I am looking for books that compliment well the year-long journey through W&P. I’m trying to think of some good fiction and non-fiction reads that can accompany the W&P reading but would love some help / recommendations on this. Do you have any suggestions?
Hey Madeleine. There are obviously loads of books you could read, but one I always recommend is Andrew Kauffman's Give War and Peace A Chance. Great essays and insight into the novel.
2026 is going to be my War & Peace year. Finally! V excited.
Good luck!
Just subscribed and ordered Brigg's translation- very excited for this as a long project for 2026!
Welcome! Thank you for subscribing!
I signed up and I wasn’t even drunk when I did. When do we begin to access the online content? Is there anything I should be doing now other than deeply regretting my decision?
Ha! Nothing to be done, as long as you've turned on W&P notifications in your settings. Read-along starts on 1 Jan, but you can already access everything on the website.
Damn, I just read it last year.
We read it every year at Footnotes & Tangents!