Literary Summits

So this morning on the train ride in, I finally did it — I finished War & Peace. [Applause]

And although the book goes out with more of a whimper than a bang (the second epilogue is not exactly riveting), I have no regrets.

It’s been a very busy month, and although there wasn’t much time for reading, I found my thoughts returning to War & Peace over and over. Tolstoy had his finger on the pulse when it came to describing conflict at its most intense — what can be more intense than war? — but he also showed a tenderness in the later scenes that was surprising.

So when I’ve been frustrated by bureaucracy at work, I took solace. Hey, it’s not as bad as serving in the Russian army! And when I read the closing scenes where the main characters settle back into the nest and attempt to get “back to normal,” I saw glimpses of the things I love about being at home after a long trip.

Of course, Tolstoy needed an editor — his ramblings on the philosophy of history kept me from finishing for at least a week. Yet the parts that shine are worth the effort.

I’m glad it’s done.

Let’s see… what next?