Reviews with content warning for Suicide - Anna Karenina

Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

276 reviews

cdstokes97's review against another edition

4.25

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

henasaro's review against another edition

4.75

challenging emotional sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

picking_back_up's review against another edition

5.0

challenging reflective sad tense medium-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

New favourite. The amount of feelings that I have felt with this book solidified it.

Content Warnings

cerilouisereads's review against another edition

3.0

slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

thenerdybird_susie's review against another edition

4.25

challenging reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I raced through the first 10%, the middle 10% and the last 10%, but in between it did drag a little bit. I looked forward most to chapters from the perspective of Kitty, Levin and Dolly, whereas I find Anna frustrating and unlikeable, though perhaps her flaws make her most relatable- and perhaps not wanting to confront the ways that I am also irrational and self-centred is the chief reason I dislike being in her head.

The love story of Kitty and Levin held the book together in my eyes, as I disliked both Anna and Vronsky. I often couldn’t understand why they were doing things- bc they weren’t rational, but acting on their emotions. But unfortunately this meant that I cared surprisingly little about Anna’s death, as their relationship seemed so twisted from the start. My favourite character was Kitty - I felt like I was right there with her in that ball scene early on when Vronsky favours Anna over her.

My favourite parts of the book were when Levin was wrestling with his faith - his questioning felt so honest and genuine, rather than a lofty pretended intrigue to appear intellectual, and I think his final conclusion in the final chapters is very satisfying and pleasing for this reason.

Content Warnings

lailaology's review against another edition

3.75

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Whilst I have greatly enjoyed "Anna Karenina" [1878], with Tolstoy's expertise of societal structures, complex relationships, and political exploration being some of the most intriguing features of the novel, there were still some glaring issues which caused much discontentment in my reading process; most noticeably, the novel's editing (or lack thereof). Throughout the course of the eight-part novel [Part Five being my personal favourite], I realised there were many chapters that could have been removed and nothing significant would have changed. Many of the more meandering scenes that either detailed an arguably unneeded philosophical debate or contemporary [19th Century Russian] social issues/historical events, that whilst truly interesting to read, became so overdone. So much so that certain sections of the novel (most often Levin's Farm) felt more like a trial than a treat!

Overall, I think I have learnt more about Russian Agriculture than I would have ever imagined...

Content Warnings

charlotte_goddard's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

laurenpinette's review against another edition

3.0

challenging dark hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Character development was slow and surprisingly I found the title book character Anna Karenina unbearable at times but I also pitied her; she is a strong-minded woman but also very insecure. My favorite characters to read about in the book were Konstantin Levin and Kitty. I loved their development and the pinnacle point when they are finally brave enough to move forward with the love they have for each other.

Content Warnings