Search results for: war and peace

Thoughts on: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy — Book 2 Part 1
Latest Posts / April 14, 2012

About: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy is a fictional book first published in 1869. The work is regarded as one of the most important works of world literature. The copy I read was translated by Louise and Aylmer Maude. 1350 pages Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; New edition ISBN: 0199232768 Great price on this book in paper or elec­tronic for­mat through the Man of la Book Affil­i­ate Account More books by Leo Tolstoy Thoughts: This section starts with an excellent narrative about joy. When reading this I felt as if I were part of the party welcoming Nikolai back home. This part was very intense on an emotional level especially the middle part where a father is told that his son is dead. I cannot even imagine anything remote to this happening and Tolstoy manage to squeeze every ounce of sympathy he could manage. I don’t know why, but I hate to see or read about men crying. Whenever my wife watches reality shows (her “chill” hour) I turn away in disgust. In this book there is a heart wrenching scene of the old Prince mourning his son Andrei which I could barley get passed. The unimaginable had happened…

Thoughts on: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy – Book 1 Part 3
Classics , Latest Posts / February 25, 2012

About: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy is a fictional book first published in 1869. The work is regarded as one of the most important works of world literature. The copy I read was translated by Louise and Aylmer Maude. 1350 pages Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; New edition ISBN: 0199232768 Great price on this book in paper or elec­tronic for­mat through the Man of la Book Affil­i­ate Account More books by Leo Tolstoy Thoughts: What stood out in Book 1 Part 3 is the characterization which Tolstoy employs. The physical attraction Pierre feels for the busty Hélène is extremely convincing and Hélène’s descriptions of being a sexual siren are fabulous. One of the techniques that Tolstoy employs in his characterization is not only writing about the “what” and the “how” – but also about the “why”. For example, we know Pierre lacks will or confidence which makes Hélène’s advances at him uncomfortable, but also understandable to how easily Pierre has succumbed to the charms of a woman whose family he considers to be appalling. Tolstoy also creates scenes of uncomfortable comedic brilliance, ones that you cringe when you read as if you were an unwanted fly on the wall….

Thoughts on: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy – Book 1 Part 2
Classics , Fiction , Latest Posts / February 11, 2012

About: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy is a fictional book first published in 1869. The work is regarded as one of the most important works of world literature. The copy I read was translated by Louise and Aylmer Maude. 1350 pages Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; New edition ISBN: 0199232768 Great price on this book in paper or elec­tronic for­mat through the Man of la Book Affil­i­ate Account More books by Leo Tolstoy Thoughts: I liked Book 1 Part 2 of War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy much better than part 1. This part starts with the Austrian campaign where Russia and Austria have formed an alliance to wade off Napoleon’s armies. The campaign is told through the contrasting viewpoints of Andrei and Nikolai. Tolstoy is doing something here which has been done later (probably before but I’m not aware) to great success. Telling the story from the view of the higher-ups (Andrei – adjutant to Commander-in-Chief of the Russian forces) and from the point of view of the men in the trenches (Nkkolain – a cadet). The paths of the two idealistic men parallel along the story. My favorite character in this section was Dolohov. From some…

Thoughts on: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy – Book 1 Part 1
Classics , Latest Posts / January 25, 2012

About: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy is a fictional book first published in 1869. The work is regarded as one of the most important works of world literature. The copy I read was translated by Louise and Aylmer Maude. 1350 pages Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; New edition ISBN: 0199232768 Great price on this book in paper or elec­tronic for­mat through the Man of la Book Affil­i­ate Account More books by Leo Tolstoy Thoughts: I started reading War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy in small increments. To be honest, this first part was a bit too slow and operatic for my taste. However, I understand and appreciate the need for character introduction especially in a complex story such as this. The complex relationship between war and peace is being established almost immediately. Even during peace time, at a fancy soirée the hawks are having their say. The hostess, Anna Palvona, runs the party like a military commander, knowing when to attack and even more importantly, when to withdraw. Tolstoy also sneaks in a few stabs at Russian aristocracy and their hierarchy which resembles that of the military. True to form, Tolstoy doesn’t hold back his thoughts about aristocrats. Marya Dmitrievna describes a…

Guest Post: Red Eagle: The War Within
Latest Posts / March 14, 2018

The publisher is giving away 3 books – please enter through the rafflecopter form at the end of the post Red Eagle: The War Within By Jens Cromer, Chief Editor at Peachill www.peachill.com Buy Red Eagle: The Red Stick War of Alabama from Amazon.com* I’ve always felt like an outsider. Perhaps you’ve felt the same. The poor kid at the rich school, the one who looks different, the one from somewhere else. No outsider has been through travails as tough, however, as those who are of mixed race. Their stories are powerful, often ugly, but above all, their stories are American. When we at Peachill put together our first batch of historical fiction novels, RED EAGLE was a must. Half European, half Muscogee Creek, he was uniquely positioned between the Natives and those of European descent. We remember these sides as mortal enemies—white slaughterers, or savage Indians, to be blunt—but there was also a time when they co-existed in peace. Allow me to state the obvious: it wouldn’t last. This is how Red Eagle came to be. My family history is just the same. Dutch and English citizens, shackled by systemic poverty, were caught stealing, and were banished to the…

Guest Post: My Life As An Over-50 Peace Corps Volunteer by Michael Licwinko
Latest Posts / October 10, 2016

Michael Licwinko wanted to be a Peace Corps Volunteer when he graduated from college, but for reasons spelled out in this book the timing wasn’t right. Ten years later he thought it was, but no. Finally, after thirty years of hanging on to the dream, he realized it. In order to “edutain” his family and friends about the far away country of Kyrgyzstan, Michael blogged and emailed the events, incidences and ordeals of his service during this life-changing experience. Read how he adapted to living in a new country, learned the hard way that you can never be too culturally sensitive, created a social issues radio serial, lived through the overthrow of the Kyrgyz government and so much more. The book is formatted for easy reading. No chapters, just the original emails in chronological order followed by Michael’s fresh commentary, insights, opinions and untold stories that would have been unwise to publish while a volunteer because Big Brother may have been (was likely) reading what he wrote. As the majority of the vibrant baby boomer generation nears retirement and contemplates what to do next, joining the Peace Corps should be on their list of options. This book offers an unfiltered, authentic…

Giveaway (Over): Love and Other Wounds by Jordan Harper
Latest Posts / September 29, 2015

The pub­lisher is giv­ing away one copy of this book –to enter fill out the Raf­fle­copt­ter form at the end of the post. In the hard-edged tradition of Hubert Selby Jr., Daniel Woodrell, and Donald Ray Pollock, and with the fresh, complex humanity of Breaking Bad and Reservoir Dogs, a blistering debut collection that unsparingly confronts the extreme, brutal parts of the human heart. A man runs away from his grave and into a maelstrom of bullets and fire. A Hollywood fixer finds love over the corpse of a dead celebrity. A morbidly obese woman imagines a new life with the jewel thief who is scheming to rob the store where she works. A man earns the name “Mad Dog” and lives to regret it. Denizens of the shadows who live outside the law—from the desolate meth labs of the Ozark Mountains to the dog-fighting rings of Detroit to the lavish Los Angeles mansions of the rich and famous—the characters in Love and Other Wounds all thirst for something seemingly just beyond their reach. Some are on the run, pursued by the law or propelled relentlessly forward by a dangerous past that is disturbingly close. Others are searching for a semblance…

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