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challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Brilliant piece of work here. Definitely worth the effort, given the sheer size of the novel.
Anna has blatantly got borderline personality disorder - Tolstoy may not have known to call it that, but it oozes out of her every pore.
I didn't find many of the characters likeable. Oblonsky was fun enough. Kitty was harmless. Levin on the other hand - ergh! What a sop! Me, me ,me... my place in the world, philosophy blah blah blah.
Tolstoy could have snipped off 100 pages and it would have been a perfect 5 star outing. He went on a bit too long about fields, harvesting and peasants for me though.
Anna has blatantly got borderline personality disorder - Tolstoy may not have known to call it that, but it oozes out of her every pore.
I didn't find many of the characters likeable. Oblonsky was fun enough. Kitty was harmless. Levin on the other hand - ergh! What a sop! Me, me ,me... my place in the world, philosophy blah blah blah.
Tolstoy could have snipped off 100 pages and it would have been a perfect 5 star outing. He went on a bit too long about fields, harvesting and peasants for me though.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness
Minor: Miscarriage, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy
emotional
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
FINALLY!!!
This books was insufferable. No need to say anything else, just INSUFFERABLE
This books was insufferable. No need to say anything else, just INSUFFERABLE
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship
Minor: War
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was incredibly surprising to me. I found that the pacing, despite the length of the book, was fairly fast and the romantic plotline was contemporary and relatable. I really enjoyed some of the philosophical reflections of the character Levin, as well as the overall social commentary on upper class society and marriage. However, I do think that some of the commentary- especially on Russia in this specific era- was lost on me, and many of the political discussions were extremely confusing. I think that some of the flaws of this book are to be found in its sheer length and its tangents. While some of the reflections are important and thoughtful, many are repetitive and could be cut out for a more enjoyable read. I also feel that some of the internal monologues detracted from the plotline and character development and seemed to be there for the personal reflection of Tolstoy- rather than the education of the reader. Overall- a deserved classic, with some obvious flaws.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexism, Xenophobia
Minor: Racism, War
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It’s hard for me to pay very close attention when I listen to an audiobook, so I’m sure I missed some stuff.
Anna’s affair was really well-written, especiallythe toxicity and insecurity in the relationship . I’ve experienced something similar (in a very minor way) and it felt very familiar.
Levin’s story was a bit hit or miss with me. Often nothing was really happening, but I do like his complicated character, andthe ending was very sweet and wholesome with him finding God and seeing the world through new eyes .
Very very slow, pace yourself, but an interesting journey into people’s psychology.
Anna’s affair was really well-written, especially
Levin’s story was a bit hit or miss with me. Often nothing was really happening, but I do like his complicated character, and
Very very slow, pace yourself, but an interesting journey into people’s psychology.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Infidelity, Suicide, Terminal illness, Grief, Pregnancy
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have been meaning to read this for a long time and I am glad I finally have and that I gave myself the time to enjoy it. Right up my street with a tightly woven story involving so much of my favourite things.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“If you look for perfection, you'll never be content.”
I finally finished this chonk of a classic! I started this several years ago and hit a wall when I got to the farming section in Part 3. Thanks to a book club I finally braved picking it up again and had a much better time this go round.
When Tolstoy hits, he hits. All of the drama and heartache surrounding Anna and Vronksy…perfection. I just wish we saw more of the titular character throughout the book!! Nothing hit me harder than the tragedy at the end of Part 7. Tolstoy’s depiction of a deadly thought spiral was so realistic it gave me chills.
Levin, on the other hand, exhausted the hell out of me. The only time I enjoyed him was in Part 7, when he’s trying to overcome his anxiety in Society and makes a few comedic blunders. Other than that, his constant moodiness and inner monologues about his faith crisis were just so uninteresting to me. Kitty is a saint for tolerating him, honestly.
Overall though, I’m glad I read this. It doesn’t need to be 800+ pages, but I enjoyed the writing when it was about Russian society and family drama and Anna’s turmoil. Less so the minutiae of farming techniques or provincial elections.
I finally finished this chonk of a classic! I started this several years ago and hit a wall when I got to the farming section in Part 3. Thanks to a book club I finally braved picking it up again and had a much better time this go round.
When Tolstoy hits, he hits. All of the drama and heartache surrounding Anna and Vronksy…perfection. I just wish we saw more of the titular character throughout the book!! Nothing hit me harder than the tragedy at the end of Part 7. Tolstoy’s depiction of a deadly thought spiral was so realistic it gave me chills.
Levin, on the other hand, exhausted the hell out of me. The only time I enjoyed him was in Part 7, when he’s trying to overcome his anxiety in Society and makes a few comedic blunders. Other than that, his constant moodiness and inner monologues about his faith crisis were just so uninteresting to me. Kitty is a saint for tolerating him, honestly.
Overall though, I’m glad I read this. It doesn’t need to be 800+ pages, but I enjoyed the writing when it was about Russian society and family drama and Anna’s turmoil. Less so the minutiae of farming techniques or provincial elections.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
anna's narrative slapped but levin was so boring, and worse, a landlord.........the peasants should've killed him the way the serfs did fyodor dostoevsky's dad :/
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide
Moderate: Drug use, Pregnancy, Classism
Minor: Child death, Racism, Sexual content, Antisemitism, War
challenging
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, War
Minor: Alcohol