Annotations about Tolstoy + (thoughts about his writing and life)

“I’ve read Anna, as well as most of Tolstoy’s catalog, but purchased my editions based on the availability of hardy hardbacks at the dusty used bookstore.

While I wisely avoided the Hollywood pablum interpretation of this classic tale, after reading this full report, I wonder: who’s translation did I read? And, do I need to read another version? For love, pleasure or academic accuracy?

As an aside, after reading Count Leo’s War and Peace (in Belize while waiting out a drug test) and The Physiology of War (on a beach in Manzanita, Oregon), and Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Confessions, I wrote a series of epistolary literature called Letters from Russia (not to be confused with the much older & authentic book of the same name, ostensibly written by a cobbler with Napoleon’s army going into Russia in 1812). The handmade edition comes equipped with sketches ‘creative’ by the protagonist, Henri. It’s on the internets if any of you Russian and/or French literature geeks have a notion to dig through it. I will also trade you a poem or painting or a joint for a translation into French or Russian.”

h/t Aparna Mukherjee for the article

“More Tolstoy from Brainpickings… this one is his calendar for inspiration. Yup, he was basically blogging analog style. He starts out with his ‘mission statement’:

‘I have to create a circle of reading for myself: Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, Lao-Tzu, Buddha, Pascal, The New Testament. This is also necessary for all people.’

Name checks include a master list of transformational heroes including:

• Henry David Thoreau
• Ralph Waldo Emerson
• Jean Jacques Rousseau
• Immanuel Kant
• Vishnu Purana
• Seneca

A calendar of wisdom and inspiration from a true master. Enjoy!”

“Brainpickings is a lovely example of what makes the internets interesting and important. In this installment from the remarkably prolific channel, Leo Tolstoy shares a thoughtful and complete list of books one should read, arranged by ages.

Oddly, though I’m well-read, much of the list is new to me. To my credit, I’ve read most of Tolstoy’s work (and wrote/drew/assembled a Tolstoy-inspired work called Letters from Russia).

This list is worth a solid look over, even if you don’t read these books—consider the list you’d make for others.”

“Russians have such a wonderful literary history, which has survived through all sorts of ridiculous governments. Haven’t ridden this Metro, but I am intrigued by this idea despite the fact I prefer paper books. #oldskool #weakeyes

Who are your favorite Russian writers?”

“Aside from revolutionizing Russian society, and world literature for that matter, Tolstoy shares a favorite dish of mine: macaroni and cheese. Here’s recipe for Tolstoy’s Mac & Cheese“:

Bring water to a boil, add salt, then add macaroni and leave boiling on light fire until half tender; drain water through a colander, add butter and start putting macaroni back into the pot in layers – layer of macaroni, some grated Parmesan and some vegetable sauce, macaroni again and so on until you run out of macaroni. Put the pot on the edge of the stove, cover with a lid and let it rest in light fire until the macaroni are soft and tender. Shake the pot occasionally to prevent them from burning.

“I read War and Peace on a balcony in Belize while I was escaping a drug test from corporate overlords. I learned so many things from this tome—specifically that patience and time are your greatest allies, and sometimes you have to do something that looks like a loss in order to score the win. In other words, play the long game.

It’s a sweeping soap opera of the Napoleonic foray into Russia, climaxing with his doomed 1812 campaign. You’re familiar with the overture, I’m sure. Indeed, there are dozens of characters who each have at least three names, with various diminutives and nicknames, much like Gandalf in Lord of the Rings :-)

While ‘war’ is the first part of the name, it’s really a discourse on love and the very personal ramifications of war on the individual and relationships, with intimate details of these families’ lives, their loves, and their innermost feelings about self-determination.

Tolstoy is undeniably a master of his craft, and this might not even be his best work, which is a huge compliment, as it’s an undisputed classic throughout history.

I say absolutely read it, but don’t read it on the bus or in a rush. Go into character to read this so you can fully absorb it. Not something to read in short bursts.”