Tolstoy Together: 85 Days of War and Peace with Yiyun Li

by Yiyun Li

“You know how, very occasionally in your life, there’s a ‘before and after’ reading experience? Well, reading War and Peace with Tolstoy Together has been that for me—a milestone not just in reading but in living.”—Michael LanganFrom the acclaimed author of Dear Friend, from My Life I Write to You in Your Life, a book about the art of reading. In Tolstoy 85 Days of War and Peace, Yiyun Li invites you to travel with her through Tolstoy’s novel—and with fellow readers around the world who joined her for an online book club and an epic journey during a pandemic year.“I’ve found that the more uncertain life is,” Yiyun Li writes, “the more solidity and structure War and Peace provides.” Tolstoy Together expands the epic novel into a rich conversation about literature and ways of reading, with contributions from Garth Greenwell, Elliott Holt, Carl Phillips, Tom Drury, Sara Majka, Alexandra Schwartz, and hundreds of fellow readers.Along with Yiyun Li’s daily reading journal and a communal journal with readers’ reflections—with commentary on craft and technique, historical context, and character studies, Tolstoy 85 Days of War and Peace includes a schedule and framework, providing a daily motivating companion for Tolstoy’s novel and a reading practice for future books.

Genres: Nonfiction, Classics, Books About Books, Literary Criticism, Criticism, Literature, Russian Literature

251 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 14, 2021

About the author

Yiyun Li is the author of seven books, including Where Reasons End, which received the PEN/Jean Stein Book Award; the essay collection Dear Friend, from My Life I Write to You in Your Life; and the novels The Vagrants and Must I Go. She is the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship, Guggenheim Fellowship, and Windham-Campbell Prize, among other honors. A contributing editor to A Public Space, she teaches at Princeton University.

Reviews

[Leonard Gaya · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘What is the use of a book,’ thought Alice, ‘without pictures or conversations?’

And so, for want of a War and Peace reading partner or book club, this little volume is possibly the next best thing. It is not a guide or an academic companion to Tolstoy’s masterpiece. Just the collected conversations, in book form, of a small group of readers travelling together, during Covid lockdown, through that massive novel and sharing comments over the internet. And Chinese author Yiyun Li as shepherdess.

There is nothing ground-breaking in there, just a collective reading journal and a lovely way to motivate and pace oneself on the group’s schedule (20 pages/day, slow and steady) while eavesdropping on the discussion.

No pictures to speak of but yeah, some conversations. For a review of the actual novel, see here.

[Mary Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I kept this book by my side as I traveled through Tolstoy's War and Peace for the past five months. It is a companion book to Tolstoy's masterpiece, created from the comments of hundreds of people all over the world, who read the book at the same time during the darkest days of COVID. All started reading the book on March 20, 2020, and all read 10 to 15 pages a day as prescribed by their guide, author Yiyun Li.

I am not totally sure how it worked, but I believe that all the readers met on email or on a website and typed in comments every day.

All readers completed the book on the same day having read for 85 days. Li combined her own comments with selected reader comments from each day and created "Tolstoy Together".

A little over two years later, I started War and Peace and attempted to keep up with Li's group.

Though it took me longer than 85 days, I loved reading all the insights from Li and her readers. My only regret is that Li's project was over, and I did not have a chance to express my own thoughts to all the other readers.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

During the spring of 2020, in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Yiyun Li led a small project with A Public Space: read a few pages of War and Peace each day. Li and A Public Space (a literary magazine) would soon find out, an open and unstructured read-along was exactly what the reading world needed. A community formed around the project. Everyday, Li's reactions to a few pages of the book would be published and people felt welcomed her refreshing, unpretentious thoughts. People discovered that War and Peace is just another book. It is a masterpiece, but it is also just another book. Many are intimidated by books that are considered so very important, and Li gave them permission to just read it. And it just happened to be a book that many aspire to complete before they shuffle off this mortal coil. Delightedly, most simply could not believe that they were reading War and Peace and said so in so many ways on social media.

Tolstoy Together successfully captures that moment in time and presents it in a way that future readers of War and Peace can carry a small community of readers with them.

[scarr · Rating 3 out of 5]

flew through this. Tolstoy Together is not what I was expecting it to be: it is a collection of notes about a group reading the book at the start of the COVID pandemic. I'm glad I read it and it did provide some insights I hadn't considered. I'm at the stage of my War and Peace reading where I want to consume content about reading War and Peace (lol)

[Helen - Great Reads & Tea Leaves · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing.

My readalong chats on Substack were far better.

[Kristin Boldon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great reading companion and I recommend it to anyone seeking to tackle War and Peace. It will provide a structure and community of support even if you're reading solo!

[Buy Verified]

24 Hours Reply/Contact Us

📞 Telegram : @pvausasmmbiz
📞 WhatsApp : ‪+1 (908) 463-5234‬
📞 Skype :pvausasmmbiz

https://pvausasmmbiz.com/product/buy-...

#usabuyverifiedskrillaccounts #pvausasmmbiz
Secure Payment Styles icing Safe Deals Across Borders
In the digital age, where online deals are a diurnal circumstance, icing the safety and security of your fiscal dealings is consummate. When copping vindicated Skrill accounts, especially from different regions similar as the EU, USA, and UK, it’s pivotal to borrow secure payment styles. This not only protects your fiscal information but also ensures that your deals are smooth and without any terms.

The first step in securing your payment is to choose an estimable platform or seller. Websites like pvausasmmbiz.com offer vindicated Skrill accounts at reasonable prices and have erected a character for trustability. Still, always conduct thorough exploration and read reviews before committing to a purchase.

Using translated payment gateways is another essential measure. conclude for payment styles that offer a fresh subcaste of security, similar as PayPal or credit cards with fraud protection. These services generally offer buyer protection, which can be inestimable if any controversies arise.

Also, consider using two- factor authentication( 2FA) for your payment accounts. This adds a redundant step to the login process, making it harder for unauthorized druggies to pierce your fiscal information. By combining these strategies, you can ensure that your deals are as secure as possible.

Buying A Verified Skrill Account
a verified Skrill account can be a smart move. It saves time and avoids the hassle of verification. A verified account allows you to transact without limitations.

Where To Buy
There are many places where you can buy a verified Skrill account. The most popular options include:

Online Marketplaces: Websites (pvausasmmbiz.com) like {http://pvausasmmbiz.com/} Bay and Craigslist.
Specialized Websites: Sites PvaUsaSmmBiz.com that focus on selling verified accounts.
Forums: Online forums where people buy and sell accounts.
Always check the seller’s reputation. Read reviews and ratings before making a purchase.

Things To Consider
When buying a verified Skrill account, consider the following:

Criteria Details
Price Prices can vary. Ensure it is reasonable.
Bank Verification Card Verification
Account History Ensure the account has no negative history.
Reputation Check if the seller has good reviews.
pvausasmmbiz.com Best Place to : Cash App , Paxful , Coinbase , Skrill,
Payoneer , PayPal , Wise . Accounts sell.

Double-check all details before buying. This ensures you get a good and safe deal.

Skrill Account Setup A Step- by- Step companion to Getting Started
Setting up a Skrill account is a straightforward process that allows you to manage your online deals efficiently. Whether you are copping accounts from the EU, USA, or UK, the original setup way remains harmonious. Then is a comprehensive companion to help you get started.

Begin by visiting the Skrill website and clicking on the’ Register’ button. You will be urged to enter your particular information, including your name, dispatch address, and favored currency. ensure that the information you give is accurate, as it’ll be used for verification purposes.

Once you’ve entered your details, you will need to produce a strong word. It’s judicious to use a combination of letters, figures, and special characters to enhance security. After setting your word, you will admit an evidence dispatch. Click the link handed to corroborate your dispatch address and spark your account.

The coming step involves linking a payment system to your Skrill account. You can choose from colorful options, including bank transfers, credit cards, and other online payment systems. Follow the instructions handed to complete the linking process.

Eventually, familiarize yourself with Skrill’s interface and features. Explore the dashboard to understand how to shoot and admit plutocrats, manage your account settings, and access client support. By taking the time to set up your account rightly, you will be well- prepared to handle your online deals seamlessly.

Does Skrill Ask Id?
Yes, Skrill does ask for ID when you sign up for an account. This is to help prevent fraud and keep your account safe. You will need to provide some personal information, such as your name, address, and date of birth.

You may also be asked to provide a photo ID, such as a passport or driver’s license.

Can Skrill Be Used Without Verification?
Skrill can be used without verification, but there are limits on how much you can deposit and withdraw. If you want to use Skrill without verification, you will need to create a new account and select the ‘unverified’ option when prompted. You will then be able to deposit funds into your account using a variety of methods, but the maximum amount you can deposit is €2,000.

Withdrawals are not possible without verification.

Manage Skrill Accounts Effective Strategies for Organization and Efficiency
Once you’ve acquired multiple Skrill accounts, managing them efficiently becomes pivotal. Whether you are using these accounts for particular or business purposes, association is crucial to icing smooth operations. Then are some strategies to help you manage your Skrill accounts effectively.

originally, keep a detailed record of each account, including login credentials, linked payment styles, and sale history. This information should be stored securely, rather in a translated digital format, to help unauthorized access.

Consider using account operation software to streamline your operations. These tools can help you track deals, cover account balances, and induce reports, saving you time and trouble. numerous of these programs also offer integration with other fiscal tools, enhancing your overall fiscal operation capabilities.

Regularly review your account exertion to identify any disagreement or unusual deals. This visionary approach allows you to address implicit issues instantly and maintain the integrity of your accounts.

Eventually, ensure that each account complies with Skrill’s terms and conditions. This includes clinging to sales limits and maintaining accurate account information. By following these strategies, you can manage your Skrill accounts efficiently and concentrate on growing your online presence.

What Are Verified Skrill Accounts and Why Do You Need One?
Discover what verified Skrill accounts are, their benefits, and why you need one for secure online transactions and hassle-free money management.

Why Buy Verified Skrill Accounts from pvausasmmbiz.com?
What is a Verified Skrill Account?

A Verified Skrill Account ensures smooth and unrestricted online transactions. Verification adds credibility and removes limits, enabling users to send and receive significant sums with ease. This makes it an excellent choice for global trade, freelancing, and secure online shopping.

[bookmonster2023]

I got Tolstoy Together from the library believing it was a guide for people to read through 85 days of War and Peace.

In reality, it's more of a historical artifact -- the text from an online book club held in the early days of 2020 pandemic. The novelist Yiyun Li led the group, and the book is half her daily commentary, half comments from the people reading along.

This would be fine, but two things kind of spoiled it for me:

First, Li's commentary preemptively stifled potential criticisms of the book, both by beginning the group with an essay about all the things people might not like about War and Peace and shutting those lines of critique down, and by beginning at least one difficult section (the beginning of a boring war segment) by saying something like "you may want to skip the 'war' segments, but this is basically like hiding from life." As a result, the comments from the readers were rarely critical, even when the book potentially merited criticism.

Second, the time-stamp of early pandemic is LOUD in this text, to the point where it's more like a time capsule than something you want to naturally "read along" with. People are continually comparing the events of War and Peace to the events of early 2020. (There's even a hilarious pull-quote on the back saying "This book club is a great idea, join it and then 90 days later you'll have read War and Peace and the pandemic will be over!"). There's nothing wrong with any of the commenters, or with their fears and awe for the historical moment they were living in, but it's sort of emotionally challenging in 2023 to sit with 2020's feelings about itself.

Anyway, I do recommend it as a strange time capsule, like maybe if you're reading this in 2045? But if you need a traveling companion now, I suggest checking out the subreddit and related podcast r/yearofwarandpeace.

[Gregor Gross · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's actually a fantastic book to read right after Tolstoys War and Peave. Doubled up on some of my own observations and thoughts and gave me plenty of new ideas and point of views and insights. I learned a lot and enjoyed going back through my immediate reading memories.

Now, seeing what I feel this reading group gave each other in terms of structure and ideas, I would love to be a part of such a reading group, even to reread Tolstoys War and Peace. Or to reread Proust (In Search of Lost Time). Or to read for the first time, and together, Robert Musil (The Man without qualities) or James Joyce (Ulysses). Now can anyone point me to such a reading group?

[David Ivany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Greatly appreciated the insights of Yiyun Li and the folks reading along at the time. There were sections of War and Peace that I really didn't get much out of, but took a lot from the insights in this companion. A few times the generational divide became clear in the commentary (did not really relate to some of the bootstrap-ier commentary), but it vastly improved my understanding and enjoyment of W&P. Would recommend for first time readers like myself or people diving in again.

[Bill Schocke · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only way I could have read War and Peace all the way through

Many years ago, I got about halfway through Anna Karenina, but I put it down for some reason. War and Peace is more challenging than Anna, so I knew I'd need a plan. This book gave me that, as well as a number of companions to read along with me. I couldn't have tackled it without them.

[Jessiejet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tolstoy Together is a wonderful guide through a large book like War and Peace. It was encouraging knowing that others had gone on this journey before me, and reading their notes added new layers to the book and pointed out things to look for while reading. I wish all long classic books had something like this.

[Nathaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never studied literature in a formal setting, and reading this along with War and Peace felt a little what I imagine being in a graduate seminar might feel like. I loved getting to hear thoughts from various writers and readers. I learned a lot about how to read and understand a book like this, but also learned a lot about how other people can perceive the same work differently.

[mark]

There is nothing like War and Peace. And there is no one like Yiyun Li to shepherd us through it. And a huge shout out to apublicspace.org for making this and so many other great new reads for me available.

[Jimbo · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay.

I started the book after rereading War and Peace, so I was following it with the reading schedule.

But overall, the limitations from Twitter produce responses that are far less engaging than I prefer when I read.

[John Kenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yiyun Li’s observations are really powerful, but the organization of the book, divided into 80 days, made not accidentally reading ahead and encountering spoilers really hard, so towards the end of my War and Peace read I would avoid, and then her observations were not so timely.

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun read alongside War and Peace.

[Lowell White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, fun, insightful companion to Tolstoy's War & Peace.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent companion to War and Peace.

[Kathryn Pritchett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvelous companion to an epic read. What a memorable way to march through a pandemic-twice!

[Gabrielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth reading for Yiyun Li's comments, and the little factoids that the other commentators brought were interesting. It bothered me that most people had no love for Sonya, who I liked.

[James Wall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great companion piece to War and Peace. Curated by Yiyun Li with a schedule to read War & Peace, and with thoughts and comments from many contributors along the way

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great companion book to read along with War & Peace.

[Zhen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks Yiyun. If covid has left any good legacy to us, this is the one.

[PK Lawton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book as a companion to my War and Peace read this summer. While it has its flaws, the sense of sharing the experience as part of a group read made it worthwhile.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a useful companion to read alongside War and Peace, with many insightful comments that help the reader to deepen understanding of the epic. Yiyun Li was profoundly affected by War and Peace and her passion with the book – perhaps obsession – comes over in page after page.

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The poet Yiyun Li began this project during the pandemic, dividing War and Peace into five-chapter nuggets. She would read, then post her reaction and comprehension of each passage. She opened the experience online. Readers followed her five-chapter segments and posted their own responses. This book is the paper version of that experience. We read Li's thoughts and the comments of those original readers. What is striking is how fresh the pandemic is on the hearts of everyone, the tragedy of battlefield death right there in front of us all, the bodies of our beloved family and church and work lost to Covid and gun massacres. It's a rich way to tackle the book, although my one regret is that we didn't have more of Li's words. She is a marvel.

[Derek · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book a lot of fun. It’s wonderful to read the novelist’s thoughts about War and Peace in what felt like real time. It’s even better to see dozens of readers commenting on specific passages in the book, or on each other’s observations on those passages. I haven’t read War and Peace in 30 years but this book brought back a lot of the book’s magic. I’m not sure if this wiki literary criticism is something that should be applied to other novels, or whether repeating the experiment would quickly tire readers, like a seventeenth season of Real World.