Rating: 
Summary: The War of 1812
Review: Tolstoy set out to tell the story of the Decemberists, a group of soldiers who 'liberated' Paris in 1813 (the French word bistro comes from the Russian word bystro -- meaning fast --, which the Russian soldiers were supposed to have used in Paris when they want their food fast). They returned to Russia with the new ideas, demonstrated, at great cost to their lives, in St. Petersburg a dozen years later, and Russia off on a new path of history. Tolstoy thought that he needed to give a little background before he got to the main event. Well, he never got there. War and Peace, in all its glorious pages, is the background! When you read the book think as much about the word 'and' as you do 'war' and 'peace.' This book is as much about the contrasts between war and peace as it is about either of the nouns. Which is worse? For some of the characters, war is much easier than peace. For some, it is easier to go into battle than say "I love you!" Also, notice how Tolstoy makes the familiar strange. Many of the chapters are written as if the character had never been there before. Natasha at the opera is classic. If you don't feel comfortable with opera, neither dpes Natasha, and the resulting passages are great fun! The novel has a reputation for being long and hard, but it isn't eather! After all, Tolstoy never got to the main point! Just a word about the translation; Ms. Garnett cleaned things up a little, so the text isn't quite as 'rich' as other versions of the book. If you are interested in a fuller, more colorful translation, try another one.
Rating:
Summary: Marterpiece of a novel
Review: It's not so often that I come across such a wonderful novel as 'War and Peace'. The title may give the allusion the it is one of those books that gives meaningless descriptions of wars and battles. Well, on the contary Tolstoy's 'War and Peace' is about humanity. It depicts vividly the lives and conditions of the Russians in the time of Nepoleon's invasion of Russia. In this enormous novel Tolstoy describes every action, thought, emotion of his caracters. The great writer scutinises each and every character starting fron the Tsar and Nepoleon to the poorest of paupers. However, it contains no unnessary details, nothing to bore you with. 'War and Peace' is one of my personal favourites. Believe me you won't regret buying this book!
Rating:
Summary: Perfection
Review: A lot has been said about this novel by other reviewers, and a lot more could indeed be said about this remarkable novel. Read it slowly, read it carefully, but please do read it. After I finished this book, I had trouble reading other classic fiction because I knew I would never again read another novel as close to perfection as Tolstoy's War and Peace. It is an experience you will never forget, with characters who become as real to you as your own relatives.
Rating:
Summary: WAR - WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR?
Review: Although one does wonder if this novel would have been as successful had it been released under its original title "War, what is it good for.....Absolutely nothing!" -It's still a great book. I'll have to read it one day
Rating:
Summary: The Greatest Novel Ever Written
Review: For years I'd meant to read this book, viewing it somewhat as a literary rite of passage. A year ago I made it one of my resolutions for 2000 to finally sit down and read it from cover to cover. On this the 30th day of December, I am proud to say that's one resolution I made come true.Mere praise doesn't do this book justice. This novel, which spans twenty years in the intertwined lives of the Rostov, Bezukhov, and Bolkonsky families through love and death, joy and sorrow, war and peace, is - I believe - a testament to humanity and the importance of embracing spirituality and goodness to others in all our daily lives. It is also a thrilling and insightful account of the Napoleonic wars told from the Russian perspective. A host of historical figures pass through these 1400-odd pages - Napoleon, Emperor Alexander the First, General Kutuzov, etc - and Tolstoy succeeds in making every one of them real. I think many people are daunted by the book's length. (Yes, it is extremely long and the volume is heavy to hold). But the narrative voice is so strong, so compelling, and the reader is so drawn into the lives of these characters, that it actually reads very quickly. The individual chapters are short enough to digest in numerous sittings spread out over time. I found myself actually ploughing through a hundred pages in a single sitting, which is rare for me. Some minor quibbles - while I realize that Natasha Rostov is perhaps the novel's central figure and while I appreciate the transformation she undergoes (from spoiled brat to spiritual earth mother) I feel that, from a modern reader's perspective, Tolstoy's portrayal of her bordered precariously on becoming overly sentimental and treacly. I had this problem with several of the novel's central female protagonists. The last hundred pages or so - once Napoleon has been driven out of Russia and the personal lives of our characters reach their literary conclusions - are bit a slow-going. Nothing much happens. There is much parlor room conversation centering on the political turmoil of post-Napoleonic Moscow and St. Petersburg. It's interesting from a political perspective but this reader found himself once or twice closing the book with a plaintive sigh of "Enough already!" The novel's final section abandons character and plot all together in favor of a dissertation on Tolstoy's views on power and free will. For political theorists I'm sure this is quite compelling reading. I wasn't so enthused. Also, on a more trivial note, while I think this is a fine translation, I was somewhat distracted by the speech patterns rendered in English for the character of Denisov. The way it's translated here, the poor chap sounds like Elmer Fudd when he talks. The battle scenes - Austerlitz, the siege of Smolensk, and Borodino - are enthralling pieces of military history. Pierre's transformation during his captivity during the burning of Moscow is a revelation and are his earlier dabblings in masonry. The melodramatic set pieces are fabulous too - Natasha's first ball, Pierre's duel,and the evacuation of Moscow are some highlights that immediately come to mind. Very few books have made me question my own thoughts on humanity and the way people treat each other - specifically, the way I treat other people. Tolstoy's insight into the human psyche is masterful. The novel is unforgettable and one that I look forward to rereading from cover to cover in the not too distant future.
Rating:
Summary: The best book ever. Period.
Review: Unfortunately there is no grade above 5 stars, but all the same, War and Peace is above any grade. This is not literature, this is above literature. Understand the book, especially the epilogue, and you will have a much better understanding of the way the world works. I have read War and Peace at least 7 times, and each time I discover new treasures. Read it, it's awesome.
Rating:
Summary: Long but Brilliant
Review: War and Peace is the longest novel I have ever read, and it is definitely one, if not the, best. The story can only be called an epic, and the characters are believable people with strengths and weaknesses. There is a theme of death in the book: 9 of the main characters die, but it doesn't grow boring or disappoint and it has something for everybody.
-m-
Rating:
Summary: Multi-facetted brilliance, and mind saturating reading
Review: This was one of the roads on my mission to read the Worlds Top Classics - and a long road it was. However, after getting into the novel and trying not to get too intimidated by the number of characters, I was totally absorbed by the whole experience of reading such a book. The amount of work that Tolstoy put in to write this extremely detailed and great historical novel must have been incredible. The book works on many levels: as a romantic novel - following the lives of various charcters; it is also a historic account of the Napoleonic wars and of social history at that time; it has chapters filled with the "science" of war; Tolstoy also includes his views and the philosophies of life and history: therefore it can be read on many, and every level. I was totally spellbound reading about aspects such as the communication problems there were during this time and the different values of the people. The book deals with many issues, including leadership which has inspired people such as Nelson Mandela (who read it while in prison). The book's chapters are also very short (sometimes 2 pages) - therefore you are also able to read the book in short doses: which I did (it took me nine months to complete the work). However, like a small sponge in a large puddle of water, I was unable to absorb everything that this novel had to offer, and I can certainly see myself returning to re-read this book in few years. Make yourself read this - it's worth it.
Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece in every way.....
Review: It is no small reason why this novel is considered by many the greatest work ever created. It is a long haul, but well worth it. I wasn't bored once while reading this book. Tolstoy's literary genius manifest in the pages of this masterpiece is pure magic. His articulative abilities seem to conjure up the deepest emotions within the human soul and when read, this book leaves the reader more sympathetic, compassionate, and empathetic with one's fellow human being.
Rating: 
Summary: Actually, I give it 5 stars...
Review: People just skim to the 1 star rankings to see what the dissenters have to say. If you don't have time to read this book then read the cliff notes and skip to the last 80 pages of the book. They're all that really matter.
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