I finished War and Peace! Last night was the end of a 964 page marathon which lasted many years. I've forgotten when I started but it must be at least 5 years ago because the book was a new paperback and now the paper is yellowing round the edges.
There are two Epilogues in which Tolstoy follows his characters into a future where the surviving couples are happily married with children underfoot and life is peaceful for a while. Of course with hindsight we know that those aristocrat lifestyles didn't last. Tolstoy finished W&P in 1869, fifty years after the Napoleonic invasion of Russia and nearly fifty years before the 1917 revolution.
One thing stood out to me throughout the book and that was how little seems to have changed with the warmongers of our society. Tolstoy gives detailed accounts of the way campaigns are bungled and battles lost or won by stupid mistakes, and misunderstood instructions given by inept, lazy or preoccupied commanders with their own agendas.
I'm pleased I read the whole book and am ready to tackle another classic author now. Not sure what yet.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
The Wedding Party
I'm really happy with the cover of my next book, it's so pretty and so romantic, exactly as a wedding themed book cover should be. The Wedding Party was inspired by niece's wedding in beautiful Narooma one summer day several year's ago. Her groom had two Best Men which was rather unusual and the celebrant made it a very personal and loving ceremony.
I was so impressed by the way she spoke I asked her afterwards was she a friend of the couple. She said, "No, I do all my weddings that way. I interview the couple and get them to fill out a questionnaire, secretly, about the other person. It makes it very personal and a surprise for everyone." This girl clearly loved weddings---I had my heroine.
At the reception one of the two Best Men declared he was the last of the trio of best friends to remain single and had no intention of following his mates down that aisle. He crewed on a charter yacht in the Med and loved his unfettered lifestyle. I had my hero.
To find out how I managed to wrangle these two into submission, overcome their totally opposite views on marriage and fall in love forever, snap up a copy of The Wedding Party when it comes out in June.
Keep an eye on my website and blog for a chance to win a copy because closer to the release date I'll be doing a giveaway.
I was so impressed by the way she spoke I asked her afterwards was she a friend of the couple. She said, "No, I do all my weddings that way. I interview the couple and get them to fill out a questionnaire, secretly, about the other person. It makes it very personal and a surprise for everyone." This girl clearly loved weddings---I had my heroine.
At the reception one of the two Best Men declared he was the last of the trio of best friends to remain single and had no intention of following his mates down that aisle. He crewed on a charter yacht in the Med and loved his unfettered lifestyle. I had my hero.
To find out how I managed to wrangle these two into submission, overcome their totally opposite views on marriage and fall in love forever, snap up a copy of The Wedding Party when it comes out in June.
Keep an eye on my website and blog for a chance to win a copy because closer to the release date I'll be doing a giveaway.
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