The Last Station: A Novel of Tolstoy's Final Year

by Jay Parini | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 9781841959672 Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingcanongatebookswing on 11/3/2007
Buy from one of these Booksellers:
Amazon.com | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT | Bol.com
This book is in the wild! This Book is Currently in the Wild!
3 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingcanongatebookswing on Saturday, November 3, 2007

Journal Entry 2 by Apechild from York, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Saturday, November 3, 2007
I picked this up from the post office today - thank you very much! I had to fill in the book details as well as I'm not sure if it's fiction or biography... so I've put it down as fiction! Will get it numbered up later as requested.

Looks good - I like the photo on the front cover. I've never read anything by Tolstoy (one of the many, many books & writers I MEAN to read at some point - too many books, not enough time), so I hope that won't spoil the book for me in anyway!

Journal Entry 3 by Apechild from York, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, November 20, 2007
This is a fictionalised account of the last year of Tolstoy's life, told from the perspective of various characters who were close to him: his wife, agent, secretary, doctor and children. It's based on biographies, diaries etc, but obviously this is Parini's interpretation of all of that.

I know essentially nothing about Tolstoy. The closest I've got to his books is watching the Audrey Hepburn film War and Peace. So in some ways I probably missed a lot in this book. Maybe people who know their stuff think it's a fantastic representation of Tolstoy's last year and the relationships with the people around him. I can just look at this as historical fiction, showing life in Russia at the turn of the century for the more affluent, as well as a compelling story of the complexity of human relationships.

Every character has a different take on the events, but heck, how a lot of them had it in for his wife! And to be fair, she was paranoid, hysterical and annoying, but I think they looked at her too harshly and didn't take into account the rest of her life. Plus they idolised Tolstoy like a god, so anyone who didn't - such as his wife who saw his faults oh so very clearly - was clearly just mad and bad.

I think the most levelled and unbiased account of the events was from the secretary. He was originally sent in as a spy for the agent, Chertkov, but I think he knew his own mind and did attempt to see both sides of the situation. And I feel like I want to know more about what went on with that will and Chertkov - he did come across as a conniving little so and so.

It's interesting to compare Tolstoy's and his wife's jealousys. When she was younger, she was great friends with a pianist (male) who was helping her develope her talent. But Tolstoy was so paranoid and jealous that she had to give up her friend and her talent and devote herself to the family. Now, in his late years, he has a very similar close relationship with his agent, Chertkov, which in turn makes his wife, Sofya, irrationally jealous and demanding... and yet people scold her for it and Tolstoy refuses to give in to her. Doesn't seem entirely fair.

Really interesting read. I'll probably take this to the next York book meet and pass it on.

Thank you very much Canongate books for offering these copies up for us to read! =)

Journal Entry 4 by Apechild at The Golden Lion in York, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Friday, November 23, 2007

Released 16 yrs ago (11/27/2007 UTC) at The Golden Lion in York, North Yorkshire United Kingdom

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Getting sorted out in advance! Will release this at the York book meet this coming Tuesday.

Journal Entry 5 by TheGreenMan from York, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Monday, December 3, 2007
Picked up as a 'leftover' from the York Meet.

It sounds interesting (I have read and enjoyed Tolstoy's 'The Resurrection'), but I simply have too much else to read to seriously consider this, I'm afraid.

Will either take back to the York Meet (to give it another go at finding a reader) or take it to a future Leeds Meet. I'll let you know.

Journal Entry 6 by TheGreenMan at The Golden Lion in York, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Monday, December 17, 2007

Released 16 yrs ago (12/18/2007 UTC) at The Golden Lion in York, North Yorkshire United Kingdom

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

taking back to the York Meet (to give it another go at finding a reader)...

Are you sure you want to delete this item? It cannot be undone.