How to Conquer ‘War and ‘Peace’
April 8, 2022 | Dara Marie | @thornfield_lane
If I’ve done my job, my previous post, “War and Peace Quotes that Own my Soul,” has given you a burning desire to read Leo Tolstoy’s masterpiece. Excellent! But, I am perfectly aware of how daunting it seems. Honestly, the first time I held the book, I wasn’t sure I could do it, either. Let me offer you hope by saying I not only lived to tell the tale, I lived to rave about it.
I truly believe everyone should conquer War and Peace once in their life. To help you with this task, here are a few tips; some I used and some I wish I had.
First and foremost: Take it in chunks
War and Peace is notoriously long. Conveniently, it is broken into four sections which are about four-hundred pages each. Treat it as if it’s a book series rather than a single, massive book. Just focus on the section you’re on and don’t try to rush through it.
When I read it, I gave myself a break after finishing each section by reading a different, short book. This allowed my mind to rest while working through it. Your break can be like mine, or it could be a single day free from reading. Do whatever will help you breathe in between sections. Trust me, you’ll need it.
Second: Take notes
This is a suggestion I don’t expect many will take. I didn’t do it as strictly as I could have while reading, but I intend to be more proactive about it when I eventually reread it (I haven’t decided when that will be yet. Probably not for a while). Let me explain the importance of this tip:
There are an estimated over 500 characters named throughout the novel. Needless to say, that’s a lot to keep track of. While some are definitely more important than others, it’ll help keep things straight to note key players and how they are related to each other (The Bezukhovs, Bolkonskys, and Rostovs, in my opinion, are the most important). It also may be useful to keep track of the year. The first chapter starts in 1805 while the last chapter ends in 1820. That might not seem like a very long time, but in Tolstoy’s hands, it’s an eon.
Third: Allow yourself to skim some sections
Some book nerds may consider this a fatal sin, but I believe it’s pardonable if done within reason. In this instance, it’s within reason. It’s over a thousand pages long, for crying out loud! There are sections where I believe Tolstoy just liked the sound of his own pen and ranted about Russian history with limited relevance. I’ll be the first to admit it can be very dry sometimes. It’s OK to skim parts that drag on and on about a mundane topic.
I was in a grammar course while reading it and one day in class, we discussed ‘skimming’ and how it can be helpful. That week in my short response assignment, I commented that I appreciated our discussion because it made me feel better about skimming a part in War and Peace that went on and on and on and on about hunting. My professor commented on my assignment, “Don’t worry, Dara. I skimmed more than a few sections of War and Peace, too.”
So, don’t just take my word for it: it’s professor endorsed.
Fourth: Keep an open mind
Don’t go into it expecting the modern literature you’re used to. You will be severely disappointed and confused. It’s written in a very different syntax than we use now. It was also translated from its original Russian, and not all translations are made the same.
Don’t let that instantly turn you away, though! While we can’t always relate to 19th-century Russian aristocrats, focus on the moments and characters that are unapologetically real and human. Try to find common ground with the characters.
I’m not a countess, but I do have insecurities and passions like Natasha. I haven’t experienced the same tragedies as Prince Andrei, but I have experienced depression like him. I’m not rich, but I’m just as much of a hopeless romantic as Pierre.
Lastly: Take your time!
This goes hand in hand with my first suggestions, but I felt it deserved to be its own point and is a strong one to end on.
Take your time! Don’t rush through it! It took me four months to get through it and that was while reading it consistently. It’s not one you’re going to binge on one or even two sittings and that’s OK! Good things come to those who wait.
Have you read 'War and Peace'? How did you conquer it? I'd love to hear from you! You can connect with me through thornfield.lane@gmail.com or on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter: @thornfield_lane. 