Reviews tagging 'Suicide attempt'

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

65 reviews

cowboyariel's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Justice for anna. I hate men
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lachiemorris's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

My favourite Tolstoy work so far. Insightful in its reflective nature on life and love, while also giving a pretty decent plot to get invested in. Characters were well fleshed out, even the small side characters. I particularly enjoyed the last two parts, in comparison to the rest. 

A small gripe I had was that I found it odd that the title was Anna Karenina, when the book was much more than that. Often times it would divulge into a 100-page chunk where the titular character wasn't mentioned or seen. But again it's a minute gripe.

For my dislikes, I found it rather annoying when Tolstoy decides to spend 8 chapters on a character mowing with a scythe, or when he finds it imperative to the plot to explain things that in no way shape or form should be mentioned. Along with this, I find at times he halts the plot to explain his own views on things through his characters. When its intriguing I don't mind, but when its not its painstakingly obvious and at times a slog.  And for this reason I found the first half to be often times slow, as characters are being shown to the reader through their views. For these reasons it isn't a 5 star. 

With Anna's death, I found this part to be the strongest part of the novel. Throughout the book her emotions are palpable and honest for someone with her clear mental illnesses. Her depression is written insanely well, and her 'insanity' is done rather strikingly. I must commend Tolstoy for this in particular.


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hjb_128'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? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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jeanned_arc's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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elihrus's review against another edition

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challenging emotional 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? It's complicated

3.75

This book is a tough one. A lot of philosophy about God and blame... And a lot of pseudo-communism and agriculture. I guess I wouldn't read the 870 pages again.
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charleyyyyy's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.75

I can't believe I've finally finished this book. It was worth it though, I think this is a very rewarding read, and I enjoyed it.
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catleuumlivro's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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carolinebl's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I can’t believe the cover is of a train track; that’s out of line. Poor Anna.
Tolstoy’s characters are remarkably complex. For nearly 900 pages we are absorbed into the inner workings of their lives, the mundane and the scandalous.
I appreciate the note of hope after such a depressing ending for others. I do wish we could have seen more of other perspectives, though Levin’s brought the story to a firm conclusion.
I see why this is lauded as the great work of realist fiction; I won’t forget this story. Unhappy families are still unhappy, but I’m glad we have more choices now.
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shawdo's review against another edition

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emotional reflective 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

5.0

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georgiabritton'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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