Welcome to Litsy!

From @Lunakay

Dear Littens, I think we all have some classics we would like to read, but somehow new amazing books are released all the time, then some of these classics are, well, a bit on the chunky side and therefore a bit intimidating and in general there is too much to read and too little time!
So, who would be interested in joining in on a quarterly challenge?

Let's tackle those oldies!

Let her know..
#classicschallenge

Dear Littens, I think we all have some classics we would like to read, but somehow new amazing books are released all the time, then some of these classics are, well, a bit on the chunky side and therefore a bit intimidating and in general there is too much to read and too little time!

So, who would be interested in joining in on a quarterly challenge?

Let's tackle those oldies!😊

#classicschallenge

My reading time has been consumed reading War and Peace for the past few months. Wonderful book. It‘s proof we just keep making the same mistakes about war century after century!
#historical #literary #fiction #classics

"The conversation seemed to be interesting and he remained there, waiting for an opportunity to express his own ideas, as young people are so fond of doing." - Book I, Chapter 2

Each year I try to read a huge classic..a masterpiece! This year it‘s War and Peace, and I‘m only 200 pages in and reading about war which is not usually something I enjoy. But I love Tolstoys writing. I love learning about Russian history. I‘m alternating reading and sewing my latest project❤️
#chunkster #literature #classics #tolstoy

#wondrouswednesday @Eggs 😊
Thanks for the tag @Yuki_Onna 💕

1) Tricky. So many to choose from. I love a golden age crime novel, but also Victoriana, gothic novels, Tudor settings, and medieval fantasy!

2) The Five by Hallie Rubenhold

3) I'd guess War & Peace

Nights like these

I found this pristine, used copy of War and Peace online. It came yesterday. I am getting ready for 2024. The goal is to take my time and read a little every month and finish by this time next year.

@dabbe You inspired me to finally tackle this chunkster.

❤️📖❤️

I think I‘m all caught up after this 🤣 #wintergames #snowflakesquad #decemberdreams #holidayromance #memories #peace I stretched a bit on that memory one, but it has good memories for me and the ending has to do with memory 🤷🏻‍♀️

#DecemberDreams #Peace

In honor of @dabbe for sticking to it 💞🩶🤍

#DecemberDreams @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs
#Peace

This one is on my list for 2024.

Drum roll, please. 🥁 Started: January 8th. Finished: November 23rd. 😳 How to describe this tome? Epic. Philosophical. Historical. Multifaceted. Sweeping. Character-driven. Profound. Realistic. Timeless. Masterpiece. Intricate. Sociopolitical. Reflective. Ponderous. Intimate. Symbolic. Richly descriptive. Challenging. Humanistic. Moralistic. Cinematic. Intellectual. Turbulent. Elegiac. Redemptive. Spiritual. Unpredictable. Universal. It's LIFE.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Its rich cast of characters develop naturally with the tide of events, & Tolstoy does portray so well the events of Russia‘s fight with Napoleon & his army. Tolstoy inserts essays of a sort throughout the narrative, his theory on what drives history. Pierre, Natasha, Prince Andrei, Nikolai, Marya, & their changes: these persons & their ideas are what I won‘t forget. The story matched the legend of this big book.

When I picked up the Amazon box, I couldn‘t think what was inside, it was so heavy. #itsjusttolstoy #chunkster

#BookNotes
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Book: WAR AND PEACE
Song: “Billy Don't Be a Hero“ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RvG5bJsu5Q

C'mon and play on a Sunday! @TheLudicReader @Cuilin @IndoorDame @The_Penniless_Author @BkLover and anyone else!

I'll continue to add to our #BookNotes Spotify Playlist as well! Here's the link:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0BweE8nr34nXd8ooqLtjey

Just wow… okay I read/listened/researched the first book now. It took a while! So the first book is 28 chapters. I started in Serial reader (which I‘m moving back to now that I‘ve finished my other two classics), then audible read with a library copy. We have lots of characters that we are getting to know and their positions in society. Once I finished with the first book I went to YouTube for insight on what I just read as well as Cliffnotes😮‍💨

#withantonymns #temptingtitles @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

#TemptingTitles #withantonyms
I remember feeling pleased with myself that I enjoyed this.

#Chunkster2023 @Amiable #slowlybutsurely

First goal is to start a new book that I need to have read by 3/10 for my book club here in Phoenix; the title is PERFECTLY ORDINARY PEOPLE.

Main goal (the TBR > 5 year list) is to keep plugging away at WAR AND PEACE. I will finish. Someday. 🤣
@LitsyLove #LitsyLove
@StayCurious
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

#InQuotes @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs
#Time

Last minute joining the #whiskyandperseverance read along of War and Peace. Hopefully, I‘ll be caught up by the end of the week.

I‘ve always wanted to read this Russian classic, and a chapter a day is the perfect way. Plus I have a whiskey cast, so it‘s almost the law I join in!

#whiskeyandperseverance #whiskyandperseverance #Tolstoy #leotolstoy #russianliterature #russianliteratureclassic #warandpeace2023 #warandpeace

Just started the war part. Definitely a chugging-along chunkster.
#ChunksterChallenge2023 @Amiable

According to Goodreads, this is one of the books that has been on my tbr list the longest. Probably due to the length!

#littenswanttoknow @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

“When an apple ripens and falls— what makes it fall? Is it that it is attracted to the ground, is it that the stem withers, is it that the sun has dried it up, that it has grown heavier, that the wind shakes it, that the boy standing underneath wants to eat it?

No one thing is the cause. All this is only a coincidence of conditions under every organic, elemental event of life is accomplished.”

#SimplicityDay 💪🏻 ☮️ #JulyJam 🪷🌱🌹

#BookNerd 🤓📚💙

“I‘m alive and it‘s not my fault, which means I must somehow go on living the best I can, without bothering anybody, until I die.”

#FirstLineFriday #warandpeace #tolstoy #canonlit #classiclit

The fascination Tolstoy has in describing all of his female characters with “beautiful faces and tiny mustaches” is kind of beyond me. Things no one tells you about War and Peace…. #tolstoy #warandpeace #classiclit #canonlit #catsandbooks #cats #catsoflitsy

Started today. How long will this epic take me?

16 May-20 Jun 22 (audiobook)
A true epic at 60 hours. Continuing to listen to intimidatingly long books I read when I was young and cannot see myself returning to in print.
Thandiwe Newtown‘s narration is amazing - her ability to voice dozens of characters is astounding. She could not make the long treatise about the nature of war interesting though. I far prefer his story writing and character arcs to his rants about history and war.

Congratulations, Helen! Great job persevering to the end. (I agree with your assessment: the peace parts were better than the war parts, ;) )

#ChunksterChallenge2022
@squirrelbrain

#chunksterchallenge

Its certainly a chunkster and, unfortunately, I found it rather a challenge!

I can‘t say I enjoyed much of it, but at least I can now say I‘ve read it! (All 1440 pages of small writing)

I didn‘t mind the ‘peace‘ bits so much, and some of the ‘war‘ bits were OK too, but a lot of the war stuff was a bit tedious.

Thanks for the push to get it finished! @Caroline2

The strongest of all warriors are these two — Time and Patience.

Way to go, Caroline! I love that you used Serial Reader to help you conquer this chunkster. Well done! :)

#ChunksterChallenge2022
@Caroline2

I‘ve finally finished! A soft pick. I loved some of it, other parts felt like a slog. I defo prefer Anna Karenina. But sooo glad to have finished at last! #chunksterchallenge #buddyread

Slowly chipping away at this masterpiece. 🇷🇺

No comment
photo credit Lev Shevchenko, Ukraine

Woo hoo! I‘ve finally reached the halfway mark! 💪🏼 #chunksterchallenge

Well, I‘ve finally decided I‘m going to commit to reading War and Peace for #chunksterchallenge2022.

Did you know there are 361 chapters in this book?! 😱 Some of them are as short as 4 pages though - phew!

I‘ve made a spreadsheet for 1 chapter a day but hope to read ahead so that if I miss a few days it won‘t matter.

I‘m also hoping to read A Suitable Boy as well this year - I‘ll have room on my shelves for so many more books!

Finished reading War and Peace one chapter a day in 2021. I especially enjoyed this edition of Tolstoy's masterpiece. I liked the translation and the historical notes that were included. There is also a glossary of people and places. War and Peace is in my top 5 all time novels.

Long time, no update. But finally finishing War and Peace couldn't go without comment!! #TolstoyTogether

Cheers to a happy new year, Littens! 🎉🎆

Three cheers for @Crinoline_Laphroaig for completing her personal #Ayearofwarandpeace challenge and the #chunksterchallenge2021! Good job sticking with it for the entire year! An impressive and inspirational accomplishment. 👍 👍

And I'm finished ‼ @Amiable

Switched between Print and Audible. Occasionally taking a break and then catching up. In November Audible released a new Free to Members Edition narrated by Thandiwe Newton. She has such a beautiful voice and really brought the story to life. After that I stuck with audio. Except today when I sat and read the last Chapter.
#chunksterchallenge2021
#ayearofwarandpeace
#myyearinbooks
⬇️

5⭐️ This novel looks super intimidating given its size, but it‘s worth the effort. I like the war part better, especially the battle of Borodino. The peace part is interesting as Tolstoy shares a glimpse of the life of Russian aristocrats. It‘s the one book that I‘d bring with me if I were to be alone on an island. I can see myself rereading this again and again 🤘🏻

I'm back to listening to War and Peace and everytime Borodino is mentioned I think of this scene from What A Girl Wants.
https://youtu.be/MPu6DXTG2ps

#ayearofwarandpeace

Progress report. Out of the battle of Borodino, I‘m now inside the abandoned Moscow.

I just passed the 1000 page mark, and I think it‘s amazing that I have not encountered one boring part in this novel. This is the best $22 I‘ve spent on a book!

I‘m inside the Battle of Borodino now 🙀 I can literally hear the poof poof and the boom boom of the cannons. God bless us all, let there be no more wars on this earth!

How to even pronounce this?! 😆