19 Comments
Mar 24Liked by Simon Haisell

As always, the Sunday summary is enriching! Loved the videos and the artwork.

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Honestly I think Pierre possibly becoming a Freemason is the biggest twist of this book. I think it really falls outside of my expectations for the scope of the book, and I’m so curious to see how Tolstoy uses it to develop Pierre’s character.

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The book constantly confounds expectations! Hey, you know why I don't think this should be too much of a surprise? This has all been about the search for meaning and happiness. Andrei and Nikolai looked for it in war, didn't find it. Pierre has looked for it in marriage, and now why not give religion a go? Religious conversion is so part of life, it would be strange if it didn't play a role in this story.

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Mar 24Liked by Simon Haisell

All the weeks are great weeks, the conversation always enthralling, your interventions always thoughtful. I'm concerned for Pierre's next steps, but also aware there's a long way to go!

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Ooh, the Offenbach video — what a treat! I’m always eager to see the artwork and videos that are part of the weekly summary.

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Another great week... thankyou

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Mar 25Liked by Simon Haisell

Thank you for all the extra material ( graphics, music/dance videos, info on the partition of Poland). Your scholarship helps round out our reading. But the drawing/etching? of Osip Alekseyevich Pozdeev really made me laugh!!!! My eyes saw Richard Nixon the infamous 37th president of the United States 😳— hard for me to hang on to my Bazdeev as fool/angel metaphor, but I will stubbornly try for now.

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Someone else noticed that!

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These summaries are so great. It helps to keep who’s who straight!

I got behind early I’m the year but caught up! Looking forward to participating in the chat…

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Fabulous! Congrats on catching up.

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Mar 25Liked by Simon Haisell

Listening to the Sunday recaps is the highlight of my day. Thank you, Simon! It was another great review of the week, and I can’t wait to see what’s ahead for us in Week 13

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Thank you!

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Mar 24Liked by Simon Haisell

What a deeply satisfying summary of the week! Bravo Simon!

I really enjoy the analysis as well as videos and art. I found the link on Poland’s partition just fascinating - a lot more complex than my history knowledge allowed for!

I also really appreciated the epiphanies analysis - such different characters in different circumstances but having a similar revelation. I’m really amazed at LT’s analysis and psychology of male characters, he must’ve been really introspective despite it not helping him avoid tricky decisions like in gambling. It makes me realise though that we haven’t seen that for female characters yet, which I hope will come in later chapters as that would further enrich an already brilliant work of literature.

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Thanks Julia. With the exception of Natasha and Marya (and Sonya to some extent) we don't get a strong POV from a female character. We get rich layered female characters, but it is fair to say the crux of the novel is around these three men: Pierre, Nikolai and Andrei. This can bother some readers, although I find the life insights transcend gender (as they transcend so many other differences). I find myself relating to Marya, and then Natasha, and then Countess Rostova! Such a brilliant work of literature.

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Mar 25Liked by Simon Haisell

ah that's a shame - imagine what Tolstoy's genius could've done for female characters!

I'm not bothered that this will primaraly focus on three men (I do find the psychological examination of these different figures really fascinating and rich!), though I do think it's a missed opportunity, however we are talking about a 19th century novel so I don't think male writers at the time gave much thought to women in their writing apart from their relationship to them or other male figures (love/sex interest, wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt etc), so it would be unfair to judge it with today's eye:). I agree, it is a brilliant work of literature! So many different styles of prose and feeling, just amazing!

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Well, I think Tolstoy does do an amazing job with his female characters: he understands (most) of them very perceptively. I don't think he just understands them in relation to the male characters. I think he went as deep as he could, but he was committed to telling the truth about his characters and life, and if he couldn't go quite as deep with some of his female characters, I'd like to think it is more a recognition of his own limitations. It's not for want of trying!

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Mar 25Liked by Simon Haisell

yes I agree that he perhaps recognised his own limitations, also it is clearly a book that has a lot of his experiences and thinking so it's only natural that he put that into his main male characters. I do think it's kind of amazing to have that level of introspection as a male in the 19th century, and then being able to put that into writing. Respect to Leo!

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Thank you Simon for another excellent round up. Once again I very much enjoy delving deeper into the book and the additional pictures and videos that come with it.

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