Reviews

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

morgainlafeye's review against another edition

2.0

Beautifully written and thoroughly engrossing. I struggled with this book, though, because I feel it wasn't about Anna, I felt it was Levin who had the best story arc. I felt that it was Levin who had his dreams punctured and who ended up as a real human being, while Anna never really developed. Her reactions feel forced and shallow.

daphnevisser93's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

The writer cannot write women 

guerre7's review

slow-paced

5.0

Anna is very interesting 

shards23's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

My favorite book of all time.  Nobody can write emotions that feel as familiar as Tolstoy's depictions of his characters' innermost thoughts.  A towering literary genius, unmatched to this day in my opinion.

rsimizon's review against another edition

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

5.0

jess_mango's review against another edition

4.0

The COVID-19 self-isolation finally gave me an opportunity to read Anna Karenina, which has been sitting unread on my shelf for probably close to a decade. I am glad that I finally got a chance to read it. I enjoyed the story but felt it was probably a couple of hundred pages too long.

19th century Russia. Anna is in a loveless marriage and enters into an affair. There is a lot of discussion of politics and philosophizing. If the story had been a bit more focused I probably would have enjoyed it more.

killu's review against another edition

challenging emotional tense

4.75

millermn19's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny reflective 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

4.75

katizwitchy's review against another edition

emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Ending feels a bit like "it was all a dream" which was kind of a bummer but hey still a banger novel

miacrystal2's review against another edition

DNF’d at page 31

It’s not that I disliked it, I just don’t have the attention span to commit to reading this book right now. I do look forward to when I can pick it back up and actually dedicate the time it deserves to read.