Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
challenging
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
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
One of the best books ever
reflective
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Gaslighting
I have a lot of thoughts about this exceedingly long book. I kind of wish I could give 1.5 stars, but I'll round up.
Tolstoy is an amazing writer in that he very accurately paints characters according to the human condition. By that I mean that the motivation, self-image, flaws, and inner monologues of each character (as well as a great deal of the conversation topics and nuances in relationships) are all exceedingly true to life. My guess is that this fact is why this book (along with other Tolstoy works, though this is my first) is considered so impressive and labeled as classic. The characters each feel realistic - and in a book of this colossal length, there is ample time to provide a good look at each of them and to allow for character arcs that bring new growth (or greater deterioration).
If you were to ask me what this book is about, I'd hesitate, because there's not necessarily a cohesive, overarching plot. It's more of a novel wherein the general goings-on of the lives of the main characters serve as not merely the backdrop of a streamlined plot, but are themselves the purpose for the book. True "slice of life," even if the lives are somewhat unusual. I often enjoy that, but this one ended up almost feeling *so* true to life that there was no point in the (very, very long) read.
I have heard it said that if our friends could hear what we were thinking at all times, we wouldn't have any friends. We are all hideously critical, unkind, selfish, and simply ugly within ourselves. Such is the human condition. Tolstoy captures this truth well and sheds light on the ugly parts of each character in the book. Ironically, this meant that for me, every character described well enough to allow for the forming of any opinion of them was then described so faithfully and realistically that, having seen into their depths, I found them all at best offensive and often even deplorable, each for unique reasons. For this strange reason, I cannot say I really liked any of the characters.
What saved this book from a one-star rating from me was that the contrast between Levin's growth and Anna's unravelling in the end was so striking and somehow caught me by surprise in an odd way. Anna spent the entirety of the book constantly grasping at fickle human passions (and calling it love) to make her feel secure and valuable and happy. She utterly destroyed her life, and ruined the lives of many others who truly cared for her, and snuffed out her own light - which everyone had thought to be so bright and unique initially. By contrast, in the end (and after Anna's suicide), Levin's final realization comes: the purpose of life is to live for God, for one's soul, and for good. He finds this is something he's always known but couldn't quite acknowledge, and, in finally acknowledging it, he finds a peaceful, settled joy and a deeper love for everyone and everything, even though he knows he's not suddenly perfect because of the faith he now has in God and goodness. I won't say this section was worth reading the whole book, but it at least made me see that Tolstoy had a reason for writing the book in it all drawing to this conclusion.
In short: This was (similar to my view of Jane Eyre) a beautifully written book which had no characters I can really say I loved despite wonderfully realistic descriptions of people, and which did not have a particularly enjoyable plot to me either. If you want to read it for intellectual reasons or for discussion with other readers, it may feel valuable for you. The view at the end was nice, but it wasn't worth the long hike there. If you're hoping to find an enjoyable read, this one is probably a good one to cross off the list without actually reading.
Tolstoy is an amazing writer in that he very accurately paints characters according to the human condition. By that I mean that the motivation, self-image, flaws, and inner monologues of each character (as well as a great deal of the conversation topics and nuances in relationships) are all exceedingly true to life. My guess is that this fact is why this book (along with other Tolstoy works, though this is my first) is considered so impressive and labeled as classic. The characters each feel realistic - and in a book of this colossal length, there is ample time to provide a good look at each of them and to allow for character arcs that bring new growth (or greater deterioration).
If you were to ask me what this book is about, I'd hesitate, because there's not necessarily a cohesive, overarching plot. It's more of a novel wherein the general goings-on of the lives of the main characters serve as not merely the backdrop of a streamlined plot, but are themselves the purpose for the book. True "slice of life," even if the lives are somewhat unusual. I often enjoy that, but this one ended up almost feeling *so* true to life that there was no point in the (very, very long) read.
I have heard it said that if our friends could hear what we were thinking at all times, we wouldn't have any friends. We are all hideously critical, unkind, selfish, and simply ugly within ourselves. Such is the human condition. Tolstoy captures this truth well and sheds light on the ugly parts of each character in the book. Ironically, this meant that for me, every character described well enough to allow for the forming of any opinion of them was then described so faithfully and realistically that, having seen into their depths, I found them all at best offensive and often even deplorable, each for unique reasons. For this strange reason, I cannot say I really liked any of the characters.
What saved this book from a one-star rating from me was that the contrast between Levin's growth and Anna's unravelling in the end was so striking and somehow caught me by surprise in an odd way. Anna spent the entirety of the book constantly grasping at fickle human passions (and calling it love) to make her feel secure and valuable and happy. She utterly destroyed her life, and ruined the lives of many others who truly cared for her, and snuffed out her own light - which everyone had thought to be so bright and unique initially. By contrast, in the end (and after Anna's suicide), Levin's final realization comes: the purpose of life is to live for God, for one's soul, and for good. He finds this is something he's always known but couldn't quite acknowledge, and, in finally acknowledging it, he finds a peaceful, settled joy and a deeper love for everyone and everything, even though he knows he's not suddenly perfect because of the faith he now has in God and goodness. I won't say this section was worth reading the whole book, but it at least made me see that Tolstoy had a reason for writing the book in it all drawing to this conclusion.
In short: This was (similar to my view of Jane Eyre) a beautifully written book which had no characters I can really say I loved despite wonderfully realistic descriptions of people, and which did not have a particularly enjoyable plot to me either. If you want to read it for intellectual reasons or for discussion with other readers, it may feel valuable for you. The view at the end was nice, but it wasn't worth the long hike there. If you're hoping to find an enjoyable read, this one is probably a good one to cross off the list without actually reading.
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
Kitty is cool Levin is cool everyone else sucks.
Tolstoy unlocks Christian Universalism
Tolstoy unlocks Christian Universalism
challenging
emotional
sad
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
slow-paced
Just finished! What a beast of a book! I've been reading this since the beginning of December.
I enjoyed the stories of Levin, Kitty and Anna. I liked the love stories of these characters. I found myself really bored with the talk of the soul and Russian politics. Those chapters continued to drag on and on for me. I wish that there had been more discussion of the end of Anna and the effects on Vronsky and Karenin. Did he even care? I was severely disappointed with the ending. But after spending so much time with any well developed characters like those found here, I am always a little sad to leave them.
Passing this on to Marie who was supposed to read it with me but had some crazy problems with her library copy.
I enjoyed the stories of Levin, Kitty and Anna. I liked the love stories of these characters. I found myself really bored with the talk of the soul and Russian politics. Those chapters continued to drag on and on for me. I wish that there had been more discussion of the end of Anna and the effects on Vronsky and Karenin. Did he even care? I was severely disappointed with the ending. But after spending so much time with any well developed characters like those found here, I am always a little sad to leave them.
Passing this on to Marie who was supposed to read it with me but had some crazy problems with her library copy.