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Reflections-Claire Milne's avatar

I find it interesting how you came to War and Peace and the impact it has had on you, essentially I guess that snake bite lead you to Footnotes and Tangents (an apt name). I am amazed that I myself am looking to re-read it next year again as part of the slow read, but there is so much to it, it has to be done.

When you ask what we have learned from animals, we have a few animals but my biggest lessons are always from my chestnut mare. Humans talk about "breaking in" horses and I have always hated this term. Why would you want to break the spirit of another creature when it is so much more fulfilling and enduring to work with them and learn from them. Poppy does not tolerate anything that causes her upset or pain and I respect her for that. She picks up when I am in-tolerate, stressed, anxious and makes me pay attention to myself by only fully engaging when I have settled my mind and offer her calm and patience and time.

Pierre's grounding in these chapters had been literal in respect of his feet fully engaging with the earth, and metaphorical in respect of his mind settling. I can understand why you came to befriend him and I do think we can befriend characters in books, from childhood onwards these are the characters that stay always with us.

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Notes On Useful Beauty's avatar

I found it very hard to read the war chapters, since I kept thinking about Ukraine, so I haven't kept up. I will sign up for the next round. I have enjoyed reading all the commentary!

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