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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
There’s a reason this is a classic and I love it so much, but wow Levin needs to chill
Read for Memoria College class. Really interesting to read this book while I was going through a divorce. I had a lot of "So it's not just me" moments while reading about Karenin's inner thoughts.
tolstoy can YAP.
i'm just going to come to terms that i have no desire to finish this one after about 20 hours of listening.
i'm just going to come to terms that i have no desire to finish this one after about 20 hours of listening.
I have tried reading Tolstoy in the past with no success. I thought the first 150 pages of War and Peace (the only ones I managed to read back in high school) were slow, unimportant and honestly quite boring.
I don't know if I were too young back then or if I simply liked Anna Karenina more, but I have to say - I adored Tolstoy's writing this time! I had to read only a few chapters and I was hooked. The writing was exquisite and the way we got to see what's going on inside each character's head was fantastic. I don't think anyone can read this book and not recognize themselves in at least some aspect of the characters. I felt that Tolstoy was an excellent psychologist and showed us thoughts and emotions we didn't even realize we've experienced. That to me was the best part of the book.
I have to say, I wasn't completely invested in Anna's story, but there were enough side characters that were interesting enough. I do wish there was a bit more action in the story, but hey, that's just me. I also failed to realize why the book carries Anna's name, when she was in no way the main subject of this book.
All in all, I think I just have to give War and Peace another try. I won't be able to go too long without more of Tolstoy's writing.
I don't know if I were too young back then or if I simply liked Anna Karenina more, but I have to say - I adored Tolstoy's writing this time! I had to read only a few chapters and I was hooked. The writing was exquisite and the way we got to see what's going on inside each character's head was fantastic. I don't think anyone can read this book and not recognize themselves in at least some aspect of the characters. I felt that Tolstoy was an excellent psychologist and showed us thoughts and emotions we didn't even realize we've experienced. That to me was the best part of the book.
I have to say, I wasn't completely invested in Anna's story, but there were enough side characters that were interesting enough. I do wish there was a bit more action in the story, but hey, that's just me. I also failed to realize why the book carries Anna's name, when she was in no way the main subject of this book.
All in all, I think I just have to give War and Peace another try. I won't be able to go too long without more of Tolstoy's writing.
reflective
Update May 9, 2021: Rereading this 14 years later, I tuned into so many different plot lines and details than I did the first tine around. Perspectives obviously shift over a lifetime and this is definitely one of those books that will mean different things to you at different points in your life.
challenging
emotional
tense
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
challenging
sad
slow-paced
I’m glad I finally read it. I enjoyed the translation. I felt it was easily attainable. This had been on my shelf for awhile. I bought the audio version on Libby. I appreciate that the introduction was moved to the end of the audiobook due to spoilers.
Anna Karenina is a silly, spoiled woman who feels sorry for herself because her husband won't give her a divorce so she can marry her lover. She abandons her son for her lover, but can't love the daughter she has with him. Kitty and Levin's story is so much better. Tolstoy enjoys going off on tangents that aren't central to the story, which makes it difficult to want to finish the book.