Penguin edition - Briggs translation - Black cover w/ chandelier:
Volume 2, Part V, pp 588-663, chapters 1-22
This concludes Volume 2.
Signet edition - Dunnigan translation - tan cover w/ flag:
Book 2, Part V, pp 618-695, chapters 1-22
This concludes Book 2.
Modern Library - Garnett translation - Olive cover w/ gold stripe:
Part Eight, pp 819-924, chapters 1-22
This concludes Part Eight.
Amazon edition - Maude translation - light blue cover:
Book Eight (1811-12), 870-976, chapters 1-22
This concludes Book Eight.
Last paragraph (basically, Pierre sees the Great Comet of 1812):
It was clear and frosty. Above the dirty, ill-lit streets, above the black roofs, stretched the dark starry sky. Only looking up at the sky did Pierre cease to feel how sordid and humiliating were all mundane things compared with the heights to which his soul had just been raised. At the entrance to the ArbĆ”t Square an immense expanse of dark starry sky presented itself to his eyes. Almost in the center of it, above the PrechĆstenka Boulevard, surrounded and sprinkled on all sides by stars but distinguished from them all by its nearness to the earth, its white light, and its long uplifted tail, shone the enormous and brilliant comet of 1812āthe comet which was said to portend all kinds of woes and the end of the world. In Pierre, however, that comet with its long luminous tail aroused no feeling of fear. On the contrary he gazed joyfully, his eyes moist with tears, at this bright comet which, having traveled in its orbit with inconceivable velocity through immeasurable space, seemed suddenlyālike an arrow piercing the earthāto remain fixed in a chosen spot, vigorously holding its tail erect, shining and displaying its white light amid countless other scintillating stars. It seemed to Pierre that this comet fully responded to what was passing in his own softened and uplifted soul, now blossoming into a new life.
Your favorite female character is in all kinds of disaster. And the comet makes an appearanceāwhat do you suppose that forebodes?
And Pierre? Is he really gonna go there?
Since this is the week everyone should be reading this section Iām hesitant to be more specific.
At the halfway mark in the book - what an entertaining classic soap opera. I am still trying to figure out if there is a female character for whom to cheer. Princess Marya continues to be a martyr or doormat for Daddy-dearestās abuse. Helene is a well-heeled tramp. Natasha is flighty and takes immature drama-queen to an all new annoying high in this section. (I was glad to see her fickleness had some consequences.). Women like Mademoiselle Bourienne, Anna Pavlovna, or Marya Dmitriyevna are either too manipulating or pious. So, I am leaning towards āTeam Sonyaā as Sonya seemingly comes across as the most level-headed human of them all. To that end, I hope we see her character further developed. Thoughts?
As for the Comet of 1812 (which actually showed up first in 1811), I hope for Pierreās sake it does portend to happiness! However, this is a Russian classic so the odds are kind of against the happy ending.
So true about the women @Gabi_J. I am tentatively thinking itās a product of the times and we simply may not get a strong, well-intentioned, respectable woman.
I might also be more inclined to think the comet portends ill. I find it a bit hard to think that Pierre is ever going to settle into any kind of lasting happiness. I mean, he had it, right? Wealth, house, wifeā¦and threw it all away for no particularly good reason. Well, I guess he still has some of it but he could have reacted in a more adult manner. We were told pretty specifically right from the beginning who he was and Iām inclined to believe it with maybe a dash of hope for something better. [eternal optimist am I]
Someone mentioned earlier that Natasha did not seem her age - 20 at this point? I agree. Her flightiness seems much younger - 14 maybe? It will be interesting to see if this is the result of a very pampered life without consequences or her essential nature. Is she a parallel character to Pierre? Heedlessly jumping into situations then having to live with the consequences ?
Pierre and Tasha are definitely both flighty when it comes to their commitment to a decision or life choice. I do think one difference between Pierre and Tasha is that he seems to consider things more albeit perhaps with convoluted nonsensical reasoning. Also, he doesnāt seem to be as self-centered as Natasha.
I donāt know what direction the story will take but I canāt imagine Andrei would have been happy being married to Natasha based simply on how he treated his first wife. Canāt wait to see how things unfold.
Now that weāve reached the halfway point who here is surprised by how invested you are in the story/characters/history of W&P?
I have been walking around telling all my bookish friends how enjoyable this door stopper is. Despite the vast cast in the beginning, the main players have become easily recognizable and I canāt believe how many times Iāve gone searching for historical explanation and perspective.
I agree @Anne_Glasgow - I am really surprised how engaged I am in the various charactersā lives. Ditto being grateful for being encouraged to give W&P a chance, @kim.kovacs! Matter of fact, I am lining up the other classic clunkers that I have been hesitant to start. Bring āem on!!!
Iād be game to join you for Anna Karenina and possibly a Dickens. Iāve read most of your others. MIddlemarch only seems intimidating, itās really a pretty easy period drama. Les Mis is a monster but it is a great story.
I have a Teddy Roosevelt series, a Wilson book, and some FDR related books. If I get really ambitious I might try tackling Caroās series on LBJ.
Haha, Iāve had it in the back of my mind to see if yāall want to tackle something else once we finish W&P. Re Dickens, have you ever read Bleak House? Thatās one of my favorites, and I think youād like it. The only ones you list that I wouldnāt be interested in, @Gabi_J, is Don Quixote. I read it several years ago, and it was a struggle. I also have no desire to ever reread The Divine Comedy or Moby Dick.
The challenge with Dickens will be to agree on a title. Iāve read quite a few because heās probably my favorite classic author. Bleak House isā¦bleakā¦but itās also a great tale. @kim.kovacs I think we need to challenge/delight you with something youāve not read before.
I agree that Cervantes is somewhat of a slog interlaced with humor and sadness. Although I love the story of Don Quixote I prefer the stage version to the book. I finished it but it took me a very long time.
Moby Dick is the one book from a college syllabus many years ago that I faked finishing to pass the course. I know people who love it and reread it every few years. I donāt have much interest but I would not totally vote it down.
The one I will never again consider would be Confederacy of Dunces which was not my cuppa.
I know people who love it and reread it every few years. I donāt have much interest but I would not totally vote it down.
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