I read War and Peace when we lived in the jungle and were the only two people who spoke English for many rainforest miles. Every 6 weeks or so we would travel to the capital and exchange one 5 gallon bucket of books for a new pile. I read what was left on the shelves by other Peace Corps Volunteers. W + P was a good pick because it was so darn fat.
Reader, I skipped all the war parts. Kutuzov, Anatole, Denisov, Little Petya, Pierre and his fancy clothes, the potato, ANDRE. Even Bonaparte and his cold. I skipped it all.
In late 2022 I mentioned to my family the idea of reading War + Peace in a year. I think I first heard of this idea from Laura Vanderkam who has completed other year long reading goals—all of Austin and Shakespeare. No one at my house was all that interested. Until January 1.
That’s when my son asked where to find a copy of War + Peace. What? I was completely unprepared. But within a week we had copies. We read in three different translations which was a wonderful boon. Pretty early in the year I found the work of Simon from Footnotes and Tangents. I’m not sure how far we would have made it without his guidance to keep us on track.
It’s not an exaggeration to say that the slow read changed the way I read. Usually I read very quickly. I love nothing more than falling into the world of the book and almost disappearing. But the slow read worked differently. These characters felt like a part of our lives, this story arced over our own. I read the final scene with Andre and Natasha at sunset alone in Boston. Those tear-soaked scenes will always be linked with that place.
In 2024 we read The Brothers Karamazov and The Divine Comedy. Again, we read in different translations. But still at a very measured pace. This year we are reading Les Miserables. Last night we watched the first installment of the gorgeous 1934 version. Fie on your musicals.
So what about you? It’s not too late to join in the War + Peace read along. You will not regret the time you spend with Tolstoy.
I am contemplating a re-read of Dante with Genius & Ink. I feel like if I read the Commedia again, I’d really have a solidify my sense of it. Subscribing to Vashik’s work is worth it just for the stunning images that will show up in your notes.
I’m also looking forward to new books by Nancy Reddy, Michael McGregor, and Eowyn Ivey. I plan to spend time under the tutelage of Carolyn Forche, Dorianne Laux, Marie Howe, and Jane Hirshfield.
What are your reading plans?
You convinced me. I joined the Dante read along. I was planning on re-reading the Divine Comedy this year anyway because it is on my 40 Formative Books for my 40th year list and this will help me to jump in.
I try to read toooo much most years. My habit of common placing after reading helps me to slow down and savor instead of binge reading all the time. I am also slowly reading through Malory’s Morte d’Arthur in Middle English.
Your War and Peace story is enjoyable. I tend to the opposite behavior. I read ALL of the appendices in the proper order because I am that much of a completionist. I have only recently learned to set certain books aside. I still error on the side of perseverance with classics though. I love Dickens, but the year I made myself finish Martin Chizzlewitt was tough. I later found out that one almost sunk him and he didn’t like it much. 🤣
My husband and I are doing the W+P slow read with Footnotes and Tangents-- also in different translations. We each selected our translation, wrapped up the other's and put it under the Christmas tree. Cheesy, but fun!
Last year I decided I would increase my consumption of poetry by reading a poem (nearly) every day, and it's fair to say that it's become a wonderful habit by now, one that's enriched my writing as well as my reading.
Other than that, I'll continue my usual approach of reading at whim. I am expecting a baby in the spring; the arrival of my previous babies have kicked off some of my best reading years because of all of those hours spent nursing on the bed. Stocking my e-reader and TBR stack is my favorite part of nesting.