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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
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
slow-paced
Woww where do I even begin. Definitely one of the longer books I've read, but still not nearly long enough. First of all, I love Russian literature so the story's backdrop being in Russia was just a plus. The crumbling society that Tolstoy depicts Russia as aligns with the crumbling relationships throughout the novel. The book revolves around happiness, and how one truly achieves it (or doesn't) and where it comes from. It's a seemingly simple story about a girl making decisions, but those decisions are extremely impactful. Tolstoy puts a lot of emphasis on honesty throughout the story, in regards to being honest with others, but also yourself. He alludes to religion frequently, depicting death as both a punishment for one's sins, and also a reward to reach heaven. Tolstoy's goal with the book was for readers to discover their own personal morals based on their judgments of the characters' decisions throughout the novel. We learn what we personally value through the way that we interpret certain decisions characters make in difficult situations. Honesty is again tied in since characters seem to evolve and grow when they are leaning towards honesty, and the characters leaning towards deceitfulness tend to experience more pain and torment. The story inspires kindness, forgiveness, and compassion, spreading Tolstoy's views on ways to live a better life and truly be fulfilled and happy.
In the trinity of classic Russian writers, compared to Chekov and Dostoevsky, Tolstoy writes with sublime skill that justifies the reams of praise followed in his wake.
As a small addition to this mountain, his power of portraiture, of people, places and time keep one engrossed even as the scope of the novel continues to sprawl and sprawl. It is a testament to his skill that chapters separated from the core affair, he can keep me interested in the long-wind philosophical musings seemingly inimical to classical Russian literature.
Jests aside, much like its French counterpart in Madame Bovary, the novel struggles in its denouement. At once, you can read Tolstoy’s unraveling prior to his conversion depicted in his self-insert Levin, which serves to dovetail the story of Anna Karenina in a way that makes me question if he really isn’t the central figure of the novel.
We’ll never know, Tolstoy got into a fight with the magazine that the novel was being published in, though I feel in simple detail, he would’ve been content to write until the natural deaths of every character.
Which I wouldn’t necessarily complain about, and is the highest compliment I can give the book.
As a small addition to this mountain, his power of portraiture, of people, places and time keep one engrossed even as the scope of the novel continues to sprawl and sprawl. It is a testament to his skill that chapters separated from the core affair, he can keep me interested in the long-wind philosophical musings seemingly inimical to classical Russian literature.
Jests aside, much like its French counterpart in Madame Bovary, the novel struggles in its denouement. At once, you can read Tolstoy’s unraveling prior to his conversion depicted in his self-insert Levin, which serves to dovetail the story of Anna Karenina in a way that makes me question if he really isn’t the central figure of the novel.
We’ll never know, Tolstoy got into a fight with the magazine that the novel was being published in, though I feel in simple detail, he would’ve been content to write until the natural deaths of every character.
Which I wouldn’t necessarily complain about, and is the highest compliment I can give the book.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
Storytelling and world building are great.
My favourite is obviously Levin, but I totally don't understand Anna or Wroński.
Who knows what will happen in the second book as for me it is (unsatisfactory) finished.
My favourite is obviously Levin, but I totally don't understand Anna or Wroński.
Who knows what will happen in the second book as for me it is (unsatisfactory) finished.
I am finished! gonna have to let it settle awhile before I can give any sort of coherent opinion on it
and it only took me 4 months!
started off thinking I was such a Levin, went through the middle identifying with Kitty, ended with the depressing realization that I am definitely an Anna (but maybe I can aspire to Kitty eventually?)
read w/ brandon taylor’s essay on the social novel, which helped me understand a lot of the digressions
“If the good has a cause, it is no longer the good; if it has a consequence — a reward — it is also not the good. Therefore the good is outside the chain of cause and effect.”
started off thinking I was such a Levin, went through the middle identifying with Kitty, ended with the depressing realization that I am definitely an Anna (but maybe I can aspire to Kitty eventually?)
read w/ brandon taylor’s essay on the social novel, which helped me understand a lot of the digressions
“If the good has a cause, it is no longer the good; if it has a consequence — a reward — it is also not the good. Therefore the good is outside the chain of cause and effect.”
10 years later and I finally finished this book. I guess that’s my review.
Many parallels can be drawn between Anna and Levin’s characters - both have trouble in their romantic relationships, and undergo existentialism in their own ways. Anna is faced with a midlife crisis, unable to bear Russian norms and the status quo, and ultimately forgoesher life of privilege to one where she is castrated evermore. She leaves her life with Karenin for one with Vronsky who as she finally admits toward the end, only ever pursued her for his own pride and ego. Levin struggles with his love for Kitty, and once this is settled, is pained with struggling to understand the meaning of life and what it leads to. Whilst Anna is on a downward spiral, Levin makes peace with himself and is able to find meaning in life that suits him most.
Something to also note is that a lot of emphasis is placed on Levin's character, despite the book being named Anna Karenina. Levin is said to be based on Tolstoy himself, and so reading whilst knowing this is enriching as you begin to understand why the book focuses on Levin so much.
This is all very interesting to read, but like many other readers I found that some chapters were not important to the overall story - namely on farming and religion. However, I understand that at its time of release, Tolstoy’s political and philosophical tangents would have been received with more intrigue and I can imagine, regarded with more importance and revere, so I can appreciate it more from that perspective.
Favourite chapter in the whole book was Part 7 Chapter 22 with Lauder, Karenin and Countess Lydia booting Oblonsky from their house.
Something to also note is that a lot of emphasis is placed on Levin's character, despite the book being named Anna Karenina. Levin is said to be based on Tolstoy himself, and so reading whilst knowing this is enriching as you begin to understand why the book focuses on Levin so much.
This is all very interesting to read, but like many other readers I found that some chapters were not important to the overall story - namely on farming and religion. However, I understand that at its time of release, Tolstoy’s political and philosophical tangents would have been received with more intrigue and I can imagine, regarded with more importance and revere, so I can appreciate it more from that perspective.
Favourite chapter in the whole book was Part 7 Chapter 22 with Lauder, Karenin and Countess Lydia booting Oblonsky from their house.