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challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-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
The development of Anna, Vronksky, Kitty and Levin is very interesting, and shows a real in-depth understanding of the human psyche. While some of their struggles are particular to the time it is set, others are still relatable. It shows an accurate perception of dealing (or not dealing) with one’s troubles with mental health. Supporting characters are also well developed, giving a sense of familiarity, although the length of the book could be reduced somewhat by slightly less development of lesser characters. Personally less interested in the religious complexities but it does give good context to the time and situation in Russia.
Listened on Audible to understand the emotions felt by characters better than reading extended descriptions and thankful for it.
Listened on Audible to understand the emotions felt by characters better than reading extended descriptions and thankful for it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy
Minor: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity
challenging
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It took a month and a half, but I made it through this famous chunker. I am glad I finally read it, and I loved Lewin and his storyline, but a lot of the rest of the book was either anger-inducing (almost all the Anna parts) or a struggle to read (the politics, religion, philosophy bits). So I feel accomplished about finishing it, and I enjoyed parts of it for sure, but I am also glad it’s done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt
challenging
funny
reflective
relaxing
sad
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
I have finally finished this tome! I found it to be surprisingly easy to read, full of drama and scandal, with richly developed characters and interpersonal relationships. I loved being able to see how the characters, their worldview and their relationships with the other characters changed over the course of the novel, in such a vivid manner that you could feel impending disaster just from the way they spoke. All the main characters were weirdly loveable despite their actions, and it was especially interesting to see Tolstoy’s own life mirrored in the story of Levin.
Having said this, I did find the interspersed verbiage about a collection of political, religious, and societal issues of the time to be somewhat tedious, and they often killed the momentum. It did give opportunities to delve deeper into each character’s psyche, but I was ultimately not engrossed.
When significant events occurred, the writing was enthralling, humorous and utterly enjoyable.
I would say this is definitely worth the read, not only to say you’ve read it, but as a whole experience.
Having said this, I did find the interspersed verbiage about a collection of political, religious, and societal issues of the time to be somewhat tedious, and they often killed the momentum. It did give opportunities to delve deeper into each character’s psyche, but I was ultimately not engrossed.
When significant events occurred, the writing was enthralling, humorous and utterly enjoyable.
I would say this is definitely worth the read, not only to say you’ve read it, but as a whole experience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt
Minor: Racism, War
emotional
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:
Yes
An excellent book occasionally spoiled by Tolsoy's tendency towards the driest didacticism .
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Grief, Pregnancy
Minor: Animal death, Racial slurs, Racism, Antisemitism
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Jeg føler ikke, at jeg kan endeligt lande på et antal stjerner til denne bog. Den er så lang, så trist, men også så helt igennem fascinerende. Jeg er glad for at have læst den, men ønsker ikke umiddelbart at gøre det igen. Det er bare en af de bøger, der er en hel oplevelse i sig selv.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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: Death, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Rating: 4/5 stars
One of the quintessential classics of Russian Literature, Anna Karenina is a sweeping and tragic story of love, infidelity, religion, philosophy, and family set in 1870s Russia.
Overall, I really enjoyed the novel, but it definitely struggles from pacing issues in certain parts—while I generally dislike abridged works, there are entire sections here that could be trimmed or cut without impacting the overall story or enjoyability of the book. Fortunately, I read this one as a February buddy read with one of my best friends, who also has a true gift for scheduling reads—without that structure I’m not sure I would have made it through, and it certainly would have taken me much longer!
That said, the good parts of this book are GREAT, and there are plenty of them! Like any good classic, there is plenty of fodder for deep literary analysis (and it’s very worthy of that) but it is also quite readable and enjoyable just as a casual read, particularly in this translation (pro tip, if you read any Russian work that Pevear/Volokhonsky have translated, PLEASE read their translation—it is invariably unmatched). I’m very glad I took the time to read this one!
Recommended for anyone, but especially those who like: Russian literature; classic novels; long books.
CW: Suicide/suicidal thoughts
One of the quintessential classics of Russian Literature, Anna Karenina is a sweeping and tragic story of love, infidelity, religion, philosophy, and family set in 1870s Russia.
Overall, I really enjoyed the novel, but it definitely struggles from pacing issues in certain parts—while I generally dislike abridged works, there are entire sections here that could be trimmed or cut without impacting the overall story or enjoyability of the book. Fortunately, I read this one as a February buddy read with one of my best friends, who also has a true gift for scheduling reads—without that structure I’m not sure I would have made it through, and it certainly would have taken me much longer!
That said, the good parts of this book are GREAT, and there are plenty of them! Like any good classic, there is plenty of fodder for deep literary analysis (and it’s very worthy of that) but it is also quite readable and enjoyable just as a casual read, particularly in this translation (pro tip, if you read any Russian work that Pevear/Volokhonsky have translated, PLEASE read their translation—it is invariably unmatched). I’m very glad I took the time to read this one!
Recommended for anyone, but especially those who like: Russian literature; classic novels; long books.
CW: Suicide/suicidal thoughts
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m not sure I could’ve appreciated that ending the way I did a year or two ago. Anna Karenina is one of the most complex, provocative, reflective, moving and vibrant books that I have ever read. The characterization was spectacular- Dolly, Stiva, Levin, literally felt like they were buzzing off the page. It was a beautiful, insightful book, one that I am so glad I can now say I have read. I can’t believe the accuracy of my instinct that this would be one of my favorites, because it is, without a doubt, in my top three and already, it has shaped my vision of the book beginning in me, no matter how small the idea is right now.
One thing kept going through my head as I read those last remaining pages- how true this post (https://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/9hws4r/i_read_anna_karenina_in_5_days_and_now_i_think_my/) rang. This book is the peak for me- the writing, the story, the insights, the characterization, the personal significance of the story, the timelessness of its moral lessons even now- all of it enthralled me. It swept me up and took me with it and just like that Redditor, I will dearly miss the characters.
The only two gripes I have with it is that I wish there had been more study of Vronsky and Kitty’s characters and how dissatisfied I was with the ending. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the ending with Levin. It was one of my favorite parts of the book but I didn’t like that it was literally the last page or how none of the characters’ reactions toAnna’s death were explored. I wanted more closure, more insight into how Dolly, Levin, Kitty, Stiva, Alexei, etc. would’ve reacted. I wanted to know how the high society which so poorly treated her received the rocking news. I wanted to read about Vronsky being told, running to the station and dropping to his knees with heaving sobs. I wanted to hear that Alexei, wracked with guilt, ran to his son and grabbed him close, sobbing into Seyrhoza’s unsure chest. I wanted to read the various measures with which everyone who loved and didn’t love her responded to this horrifying news. But I didn’t get that. Instead, I got hardly a glimpse of Vronksy’s despair. It was dissatisfying and even more so, because her death didn’t feel justified enough. I needed a more concrete reason other than her sudden descent into paranoia-induced madness. The expectations I carried into this book and even up until the halfway mark was that this was simply a story of her trying to leave Alexandrovich and him refusing, forcing her only resort to become her death at the train station. To read how they dragged on for months, in resentment and restlessness, instead of the grand romance I had expected was extremely disappointing and anti-climactic. Especially that her suicide was over some fickle feeling she’d contrived in her head. Maybe if the expectations of society and the weight of what she would do after he left her were more prominent, it would have felt more justified.
Regardless, I cannot say enough good things about this book and think that everyone should, given the chance, immerse themselves in it.
The only two gripes I have with it is that I wish there had been more study of Vronsky and Kitty’s characters and how dissatisfied I was with the ending. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the ending with Levin. It was one of my favorite parts of the book but I didn’t like that it was literally the last page or how none of the characters’ reactions to
Regardless, I cannot say enough good things about this book and think that everyone should, given the chance, immerse themselves in it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt
Minor: Racism, Antisemitism
emotional
inspiring
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide