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Originally Posted by Katsunami
Thanks for the suggestion, but do you also have any insights on why I should try that book first, apart from the fact that it is (probably) shorter?
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Sorry, let me backtrack a bit. You can't go wrong with either. W&P was written first, so if you care about reading chronologically, then go with W&P. Ditto if you have an interest in history, specifically the Napoleonic wars. AK deals more with family and society. You may even say it's soap opera. Certainly the movie adaptations tend to treat it as a love story. But really, it's about what constitutes a meaningful life.
Despite the length, Tolstoy is actually very readable. He's not difficult, although he does into long discursions about various subjects. Do read the introduction (or find one on the web) to give you a bit of background on the period and a handle on what those long Russian names are about.
Read the classics. You'll find yourself thinking "you know what, this is pretty damn great. I guess that's why it's a classic."