ex(PR)essed

Starting tonight, Jeff and I are embarking on a great adventure together. Having each finished our Christmas Break reads (him: Tony Dungy’s book; me: “The Little Friend” by Donna Tartt), we are both going to read Leo Tolstoy’s mammoth novel “War and Peace.” We’ve been talking about doing this for a few months. I think we’d both like to add this classic to our “Already read that” list, but we’re a bit intimidated by the sheer number of pages–1200!–involved in finishing this book. So, perhaps if we can discuss the book together, we’ll each be motivated to keep plowing…er, I mean reading.

Actually, I’m a fan of Russian literature. In AP English in high school, I loved “Crime and Punishment,” my first introduction to Russian authors. I will never forget the thrill of being asked to read my essay about Polenka, a minor character in the story, aloud to the entire class. I read “The Brothers Karamazov” while home during Christmas break from college, and I enjoyed “Anna Karenina” when I read it a few years ago. (I read it before Oprah recommended it, thank you very much.) So, I’m fully prepared to like “War and Peace.” (Re-reading this paragraph, I’m wondering how many of you think I’m a total dork. Reading huge novels during Christmas break? Well, I did stuff with friends too. Really. Geez.)

So, wish us luck (and patience as we sort out all the names) as we crack the covers on “War and Peace” tonight!