Question by bichonfrisemommy: How difficult is Tolstoy to read?
Answers and Views:
Answer by Billy Jack
After reading Faulkner, Tolstoy is a piece of cake…lol
Read all the answers in the comments.
Know better? Leave your own answer!
Russian Life & People Digest
Loob says
Not difficult at all really, just make sure you buy a decent translation (Larissa Volokhonsky and Richard Pevear are the best I've encountered), and choose an edition with a character list.
Amanda says
As an above poster said, it depends on the kind of reader you are/what stories you like. But it also depends on how old you are, whether you're reading it on your own or in the context of the class, and how long you expect it to take.
For the record, I read War and Peace when I was about eight or nine years old (as a challenge to myself, and because my dad promised me a hundred dollars if I could get all the way through it :P). I would say that I am an unusually strong reader and was, then, as well, but even though I could understand Tolstoy's language, I was frustrated by my lack of historical and political understanding. Anna Karenina is a good choice for people new to Tolstoy, but for a younger person attempting War and Peace, I would recommend brushing up on your European history first, if you haven't already done so. Otherwise, you may find yourself puzzled by the context of many of the conversations.
It is easier, frankly, to read Tolstoy in the context of a class or discussion group, where you can ask questions and be guided through it. But don't worry! If you're really determined to read Tolstoy on your own, it can be done. Just don't expect to zip through it in an evening or two– it isn't that kind of book. Plan on reading thirty or forty pages a night, at most, and be sure to keep a journal where you can jot down character names– there are a TON of characters and plot events in Tolstoyan novels, and it can be very easy to lose track. Keeping little post-it notes or a sheet of paper with a summary can be very helpful.
bluebell says
It depends on what you like reading. People who love a story with a lot of characters and details, will not have any problem. If you don't like to read every detail in a period of someones life, you'll have difficulties. I'm now reading Anna Karenina and I find that it progresses very slowly, not because the plot isn't good, but because there are so much characters and plot lines.