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

" I felt like there was lack of character development, especially of Sophia. And what was the point of all the different names for the same person? I did learn some about Tolstoy so not all was wasted. The author did a good job writing and telling the story. I guess it just wasn't that interesting to me as I don't care much for family squabbles. "

" This book wasn't extremely exciting, in fact it moved rather slowly at times, but it was still a really interesting look at the last year of Leo Tolstoy's life. What made it most intesting is the fact that it's told from multiple points of view, not just one, so you get an idea what everyone around Tolstoy was going through during that time period. I learned a lot about Tolstoy from reading this novel. "

" At first, the novel is a compelling read, detailing the titanic struggle over the loyalty and life work of Leo Tolstoy, pitting his wife of 48 years against Tolstoy's ideological best friend, who wants all of the novelist's copyrights to become public so everyone will have free access to the master's words. The narrative works well for 150 pages or so, told in the separate viewpoints of Tolstoy's wife, his friend, his secretary, his daughter, his doctor, and Tolstoy's own diaries (which, unfortunately, are not all that distinguishable in voice). However, it's his wife's constant hysterics and the protracted battle that inevitably become tedious and irritating without advancing the story quickly enough in the second half of the book as it heads toward the final crisis. "

" I found most of the book to be dull. "

" Gorgeous! I adored this book :) "

" This fictional treatment of Tolstoy's last days and his tempestuous family relationships is told from various points of view. My sympathies shifted as the viewpoint changed so I think the author did a good job of getting inside his characters and portraying the particularity of this "unhappy family." "

" A good prep/background for the movie, which I'd love to see soon. "

" Really interesting historical fiction about Tolstoy's months alive. Having known nothing about him before, this book definitely sparked my interest. "

" Learned a lot about Tolstoy, but this felt more like a biography than a novel. "

" I enjoyed this book, in fact i was so intrigued by the book that I researched the Tolstoy's lives, then went on to read Anna Karenina. "

" A remarkable portrait of two very strong people, Tolstoy the dreamer/romantic and his wife who wants to be sure their children receive a legacy from Tolstoy. Can't wait to see the movie! "

" The excellent film makes a wonderful companion piece to this more in-depth novel upon which it's based. In the book, the story is told from multiple characters' perspectives and it's fascinating to learn in what esteem Tolstoy was held by his fellow Russians and thinkers around the world "

" Really more of a 1.5. This was odd, and made me rather dislike Tolstoy. "

" Interesting story based on the final year of Leo Tolstoy's wife with most of the point-of-view coming from his wife who he became estranged from. "

" Written as & from the journals/letters of the characters with some of the writer's own imagination linking it all together. Works well for me. "

" Very nice story! almost cry in the end...! "

" If this novel is accurate, Leo Tolstoy was surrounded by a cast of truly irritating people. "

" I thought maybe this book will convince me to check out some Tolstoy's books, but it really didn't. I love this one, though - beautiful writing style. "

" I enjoyed the writing, and was happy to learn more about Tolstoy, but routinely became frustrated by the immense distrust and dislike among the characters. "

" A quiet love story, or four (really, these other loves are not exactly romantic), atop an uneasy dying. The world Parini creates around Tolstoy, his family, and his followers is tangible. The reverence for Tolstoy's work is admirable. "

" Parini did a good job of creating the factions surrounding Tolstoy - to the point where reading sometimes left me stressed and agitated. What a strange man was Tolstoy. "

" A fast and enjoyable read. Can hardly wait for the movie adaptation starring Christopher Plummer (L.Tolstoy) and Helen Mirren (Sofiya) "

" This novel is based on the last year of Leo Tolstoy's life. By combining fact an fiction, Jay Parini provides both an interesting novel and an interpretation of a fascinating man. I doubt that I'll watch the movie: Mr Parini's imagery is all the visual interpretation I need. "

" Adding to my Russian literature excursion. "

" An interesting Tolstoyan experience and a pleasant read. "

" muito bom, sobretudo para quem, como eu, leu Ana Karenina e Guerra e Paz, este livro é notável. Vou ter que ler novamente Guerra e Paz. "

" I found most of the book to be dull. "

" Adding to my Russian literature excursion. "

" Gorgeous! I adored this book :) "

" I enjoyed the writing, and was happy to learn more about Tolstoy, but routinely became frustrated by the immense distrust and dislike among the characters. "

" Jay Parini tells the story of Leo Tolstoy's final year from multiple points of view in The Last Station. This style of writing--and the fact that he's sympathetic to all viewpoints--gives this short book a sense of depth. "

" Parini did a good job of creating the factions surrounding Tolstoy - to the point where reading sometimes left me stressed and agitated. What a strange man was Tolstoy. "