Thursday, March 5, 2009

Tolstoy? Why Yes, I've Heard of Him...

About a year ago I was wandering around in Barnes and Noble looking for something to read. I came to the classics section where I was drawn to the ever famous monstrosity, "War and Peace". I've always thought it would be cool to say I'd read "War and Peace"....it's kind of the nerd equivalent of climbing Mount Everest. At just over 1400 pages, it's three pounds of pure intimidation. Needless to say, I had to have my very own copy.


Now I've read book reviews for "War and Peace" and all of them rave what a delightful, amazing book it is. So far I've read about 130 pages (I started two weeks ago) and not much has happened. I was really hoping it would be the kind of book I couldn't put down. I set a goal to get through at least one chapter a day. If I can stay awake long enough, sometimes I'll read two. I'm going to read this whole book even if it kills me.


I plan to follow up later on this enormous goal of mine. I'm hoping I won't embarass myself by quitting or finally finishing it when my as yet non-existent children graduate from college. Although, if I keep up with the current rate I'm at, you should hear back from me around my birthday (which is July 23rd in case you wanted to get me anything).

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good luck! I'll be cheering for you! ;-)

It's Me said...

Wow! 1400 pages!!! Let me know how it goes!

Anonymous said...

Rachel:
You're SO CUTE! I hope you do keep us posted; I'm eager to find out if your as-yet non-existent kids WILL be done with college when "War and Peace" is over for you. For myself, it's likely that the non-existent kids of MY kids will probably be teaching GRAD students before I finish! I hate to admit it, but it's true. I started, too,... but also found that not much was happening. I'm cheered that you are a braver woman that I!!! PLEASE DO tell us all that you get from it so I can expand my knowledge through your brave efforts and not my own!!
(I do love to read and even love Tolstoy; I just couldn't tackle that baby!)

But the cutest part was telling us your birthday so we could get you something! What would you like? Another book of some kind?

Anonymous said...

Karen,
I MEANT KAREN!!!

KAREN KAREN KAREN!

I know your name is Karen and I meant that KAREN is cute. I've never told Rachel that she's cute. Maybe she is. I wouldn't know.

The problem is, my brain has learned that the way to begin a blog comment is with the words... Rachel.

Please, please forgive me! I WILL get you a birthday present, and address it to KAREN, if forgiveness is mine!

Love, heidi

p.s. I'm hoping that bloggers, in their seeming "omnipotence," have the power to alter blog-comments? If you are able, please fix my embarrassing error so that no one will ever know. Not even you.

Rachel said...

That is a delight. Let me know how it works for you. I'm kind of tempted to jump on the bandwagon with you.

Also, the man on the cover is super hawt. Is that Tolstoy?

Also, lol about Heidi's comment.

Kathleen said...

Hi Karen! This is a practice comment.

Kathleen said...

I loved your comments on Tolstoy's
War and piece. I have never even started on it but if you get through it maybe I will try if you find out you like it .

Love, Dad Hanson