Reviews with content warning for Suicide - Anna Karenina

Probably my favourite Tolstoy to date, and personally an easier read than War and Peace (which I liked, but not enough for me to go back to it). I could connect with all the characters and their inner strife. Tolstoy framed this in a way that you would side with anybody, but at the same time remain a neutral, because nobody was particularly good or bad.

I enjoyed the inner monologues of the characters and their tension with each other. It was the perfect period piece, and I devoured every single bit of it. Although to my chagrin, it took me a whole 2 months to finish the book, I wouldn't have had it any other way because this time, I wasn't speed reading. Rather, I took it one sentence at a time - in fact, this was the first book I've ever annotated properly. Every sentence just felt like gold and I didn't want any of it slipping through the crevices of my brain. I appreciated the conversations on the greater good, one's morality, farmers' struggles, the importance of agriculture etc. This text was so rich with discourse.

Also, usually, reading Tolstoy leaves me with a feeling of dread when I'm done but my soul just feels more nourished. Not sure if I'm making any sense. But wow, an easy 5 stars.

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knenigans's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I did not love the story or the overarching message but I did very much enjoy the writing and it is clear why this remains so popular.

I wish I had read this novel when I was 15, I think that would've been the perfect age for me to fully appreciate it.

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sarahrose_a's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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chloecortez's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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helenaj_420's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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reginahafner_'s review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

such an interesting character study! genuinely a book written so early on where there are conflicts and traits going on with every character, which i like. no one is plain. really easy to understand too. i find some classics to be confusing. even though this book is intimidating it’s easy to be absorbed into the story. i’m glad this was my first entry into russian lit, i will be going down it’s windy path. also kitty is my favorite <3

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minnaohrner's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I very much loved the ending, maybe because it was from
Levin’s perspective. To be honest, Anna and Vronsky were probably my least favorite characters, like why should I root for them? But I enjoyed the book nonethelesss and Levin and Kitty will always be in my heart.

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molly_greenshields's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

She's only gone and completed one of her biggest literary goals of the year! After all, isn't Anna Karenina one of the greatest works of literature of all time? And although I went into this 800+ page beast... slightly daunted to say the least, I actually ended up having a lot of fun! I was living for the sheer drama and scandal of Russian Society (fair warning: Anna Karenina is just the tip of the iceberg), and Tolstoy's prose was just stunning (it's true that he actually had me laughing aloud from time to time) Loved, loved, loved.

I will readily admit, however, that I did skim over Levin's musings on scythes and agriculture...

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