I found it fitting you included a poll! I haven't been as desirous to read ahead, like this, since Andrei’s “absence” after the first war section and my desperate need to know if he was really gone!
I love that I’ve still managed, all this time, to remain in the dark about this story’s plot lines so that I really did not see this one coming!
I tried very hard not to spoil anything in my comment — but honestly if someone’s made it this far to the comments on this post and hasn’t read W&P, they’re asking for it right? 🫣
Definitely, I gave a nod to Dangerous Liaisons in the chapter title. I don't know about a snapshot, perhaps, but it does feel like a story within a story.
I couldn’t stick to the chapter a day! I had to know how it all played out.
We have some ridiculous, cliche-y sayings in Texas that cover what these characters do in this section:
1. Bad boy Anatole getting ready to embark on the massively stupid adventure of elopement (kidnapping!) of Natasha: “Hey, Dolokhov! I have a great idea! Here, hold my beer!!”
2. Natasha looking cold and distant after her narrow escape : “Oh, sorry, I can’t help it. It’s my resting bitch face.”
3. Clueless Count Rostov: “If I don’t ask, they won’t tell me and what I don’t actually know doesn’t really exist.”
4. Marvelous dragon Marya Dmitrievna (all teenage girls should have at least one of these formidable ladies in their lives!): “Natasha, we need to have a little come-to-Jesus talk, and I’m going to break out a can of whup-ass on that rascal Anatole!”
Natasha is lucky to have these people who genuinely care about her. I hope she comes to appreciate her good fortune in having true friends like Sonya, Pierre, and Marya D. They know that she just has a lot of growing up to do, and they want to assure that she has the chance to do it.
I don’t read a chapter a day, rather I read a weeks chapters in one sitting just prior to reading your wonderful musings. I did get behind but have managed to catch up now. I’m loving the journey. Thank you Simon🙏😊
Thank you for another full summary of these cliff hanging chapters. I have just finished reading Love in time of Cholera and it strikes me there was similar treatment of woman by men in Love in the Time of Cholera as in these chapters of War and Peace. Woman treated as objects to be played with, at times too silly to know their own mind, lead on by men with no virtues. War and Peace I feel however puts this across with less shock factor and in a more pleasant way. I feel for Natasha and I understand at her age how easy it coukd be to be taken in by a charming man. I am glad the scheme was foiled and I hope Anatole gets his comeuppance.
I wasn't sure about the maid's allegiance in this chapter. Since Marya D has hijacked the plot and inserted her own characters into it, I wondered whether the maid was another of her substitutions - deliberately drawing Anatole into her trap, by telling him Natasha would be in the porch rather than coming out to meet him. I might be overthinking it - but this is the kind of storyline that calls for overthinking, I reckon. Let's go over the details one more time...
I’m so enjoying the book and this community, thanks Simon and everyone here. ☺️
The book works so well for the ‘slow read’ approach, with short chapters. This week I had to travel with work and didn’t have room in my bag to take it with me, so I read ahead a few chapters on Monday. Oh what drama! I’m glad to be back at the chapter-a-day again, just to have time to take it all in and reflect.
I feel desperately sorry for Natasha here, but also for Marya (my favourite dragon) and Sonya. I wonder what will become of Anatole, and whether he’ll ever come to reflect himself on the harm he’s done to the women in his life?
These past two weeks were quite the contrast to the slow, steady simmer preparing us for the war of 1812. I wondered if my downloaded e-book had been hacked by a fan fiction groupie set on reimagining W&P as a M&B Regency Romance.
But it works. Perhaps our author felt so incensed at the conduct of predatory men, empowered, enriched and protected by men of wealth, power and influence, that he was compelled to leave no room for doubt or ambiguity. No room either for redeeming character traits with the Svengali Anatole. Is Kuragin our first real encounter with genuine evil?
Yes, I like that. I think he parodies the romance novel to undercut Anatole's self belief that he is the hero of his own story. I don't know whether Anatole is evil, but he's definitely crossed some invisible line.
I laughed out loud at "115 years remaining" on the poll but was paralysed by indecision about my response because I have read so far ahead that I read this chapter weeks ago so technically didn't read ahead this week. So you have at least one more reader than your poll numbers suggest 😁
I read to the end Chapter 23 and my head is spinning with the musical chairs of love. I don't know who is more mercurial in matters of the heart, Natasha or Pierre?
Humanity’s Follies ( war, pride, stupidity, dishonesty {towards self and others} …..) on Earth, nestled into a Universe that is much bigger. And is that Something Bigger, God?
At this point, I think W&P is about everything. The breadth and limits of human experience.
I found it fitting you included a poll! I haven't been as desirous to read ahead, like this, since Andrei’s “absence” after the first war section and my desperate need to know if he was really gone!
I love that I’ve still managed, all this time, to remain in the dark about this story’s plot lines so that I really did not see this one coming!
Well done! Let's keep it that way! 🤐
I tried very hard not to spoil anything in my comment — but honestly if someone’s made it this far to the comments on this post and hasn’t read W&P, they’re asking for it right? 🫣
Anatole and Helene and the pursuit of Natasha reminded me of "Dangerous Liaisons". Anyone else?
Also, at this point the novel seems to be more a snapshot of a time and place than a story with a plot. Am I wrong?
It's hard sometimes but holding to a chapter a day has been enjoyable.
Definitely, I gave a nod to Dangerous Liaisons in the chapter title. I don't know about a snapshot, perhaps, but it does feel like a story within a story.
I like the snapshot idea—- many snapshots? an album, perhaps?
Interesting.
I couldn’t stick to the chapter a day! I had to know how it all played out.
We have some ridiculous, cliche-y sayings in Texas that cover what these characters do in this section:
1. Bad boy Anatole getting ready to embark on the massively stupid adventure of elopement (kidnapping!) of Natasha: “Hey, Dolokhov! I have a great idea! Here, hold my beer!!”
2. Natasha looking cold and distant after her narrow escape : “Oh, sorry, I can’t help it. It’s my resting bitch face.”
3. Clueless Count Rostov: “If I don’t ask, they won’t tell me and what I don’t actually know doesn’t really exist.”
4. Marvelous dragon Marya Dmitrievna (all teenage girls should have at least one of these formidable ladies in their lives!): “Natasha, we need to have a little come-to-Jesus talk, and I’m going to break out a can of whup-ass on that rascal Anatole!”
Natasha is lucky to have these people who genuinely care about her. I hope she comes to appreciate her good fortune in having true friends like Sonya, Pierre, and Marya D. They know that she just has a lot of growing up to do, and they want to assure that she has the chance to do it.
I don’t read a chapter a day, rather I read a weeks chapters in one sitting just prior to reading your wonderful musings. I did get behind but have managed to catch up now. I’m loving the journey. Thank you Simon🙏😊
Well done catching up Karrie and finding your rhythm. Halfway through!
Thank you for another full summary of these cliff hanging chapters. I have just finished reading Love in time of Cholera and it strikes me there was similar treatment of woman by men in Love in the Time of Cholera as in these chapters of War and Peace. Woman treated as objects to be played with, at times too silly to know their own mind, lead on by men with no virtues. War and Peace I feel however puts this across with less shock factor and in a more pleasant way. I feel for Natasha and I understand at her age how easy it coukd be to be taken in by a charming man. I am glad the scheme was foiled and I hope Anatole gets his comeuppance.
I wasn't sure about the maid's allegiance in this chapter. Since Marya D has hijacked the plot and inserted her own characters into it, I wondered whether the maid was another of her substitutions - deliberately drawing Anatole into her trap, by telling him Natasha would be in the porch rather than coming out to meet him. I might be overthinking it - but this is the kind of storyline that calls for overthinking, I reckon. Let's go over the details one more time...
I’m so enjoying the book and this community, thanks Simon and everyone here. ☺️
The book works so well for the ‘slow read’ approach, with short chapters. This week I had to travel with work and didn’t have room in my bag to take it with me, so I read ahead a few chapters on Monday. Oh what drama! I’m glad to be back at the chapter-a-day again, just to have time to take it all in and reflect.
I feel desperately sorry for Natasha here, but also for Marya (my favourite dragon) and Sonya. I wonder what will become of Anatole, and whether he’ll ever come to reflect himself on the harm he’s done to the women in his life?
These past two weeks were quite the contrast to the slow, steady simmer preparing us for the war of 1812. I wondered if my downloaded e-book had been hacked by a fan fiction groupie set on reimagining W&P as a M&B Regency Romance.
But it works. Perhaps our author felt so incensed at the conduct of predatory men, empowered, enriched and protected by men of wealth, power and influence, that he was compelled to leave no room for doubt or ambiguity. No room either for redeeming character traits with the Svengali Anatole. Is Kuragin our first real encounter with genuine evil?
Yes, I like that. I think he parodies the romance novel to undercut Anatole's self belief that he is the hero of his own story. I don't know whether Anatole is evil, but he's definitely crossed some invisible line.
This is getting better and better. I’m loving these chapters. LT would have made a great soap scriptwriter today. Brilliant summary as always, Simon.
Thanks Pina.
I laughed out loud at "115 years remaining" on the poll but was paralysed by indecision about my response because I have read so far ahead that I read this chapter weeks ago so technically didn't read ahead this week. So you have at least one more reader than your poll numbers suggest 😁
Ha yes I have no idea what 115 years remaining means! Sounds ominous!
I think it means you should block out 2139 in your diary for a W&P read along right now Simon
Oh my!
I read to the end Chapter 23 and my head is spinning with the musical chairs of love. I don't know who is more mercurial in matters of the heart, Natasha or Pierre?
You asked what we thought W&P was about?
Maybe?
Humanity’s Follies ( war, pride, stupidity, dishonesty {towards self and others} …..) on Earth, nestled into a Universe that is much bigger. And is that Something Bigger, God?
So Anatole is Bonaparte and Natasha is Russia? The uncaring rogue comes for the beautiful young nation who made the mistake of thinking she loved him?