Cami D. reviewed on 3/13/2010 + 20 more book reviews

I found this book annoying. I understand that Tolstoy was a very important figure in Russia especially during this time, but I found the characters very unlikeable. Bulgakov was the only character who seemed to have a backbone and any thoughts of his own. The hangers-on in this story seemed to me like obsessed groupies who hung on Tolstoy's every word and were just waiting for him to die. At the beginning of the story I found his wife Sonya to be the only one who was somewhat normal, but that quickly changed once she transformed into a needy, desperate and all-around annoying wife who was emotionally unstable and extremely insecure. I hate to say it but the only reason I kept reading the story was to find out when he was going to die. It was a relief when he finally did. In the same style as 'The Killer Angels' and 'Gods and Generals', which were both amazing books, the author did a great job tying in the journals and writings of Tolstoy and of those people who were a part of his life, but I still didn't care about the people in it. I have been unable to get through a Tolstoy novel up until now and have tried numerous times. I find the self importance and focus on ones 'Station' aggravating and exhausting!

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