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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Definitely not a book to be read in a single sitting.
Even though I truly admired Tolstoy's neat characterizations and the comprehensive and comprehendible description of each persona's frame of mind, I have to admit that the lengthy details dedicated to certain subjects such as agriculture bored me out of my mind.
PS: I really hated that Levin guy's guts.
Even though I truly admired Tolstoy's neat characterizations and the comprehensive and comprehendible description of each persona's frame of mind, I have to admit that the lengthy details dedicated to certain subjects such as agriculture bored me out of my mind.
PS: I really hated that Levin guy's guts.
I feel I have no justification in rating this book—it extends beyond the reach of my classification system (largely based on my pleasure in reading, often failing to account for the value of a work as separate from one’s enjoyment in experiencing it). As such, I’ll leave a few reflections.
I did not enjoy large swaths of this book. Like a lot of the Russian literature I’ve read, AK is steeped in historicism and period-specific culture that I just… don’t care all that much about. I see how it served the plot in adding a certain depth to the stories presented here, but it just wasn’t fun to read. I would have to put it down past 10pm because, otherwise, I’d be going right to sleep.
Still, though, I can recognize Tolstoy’s intention in writing to this depth. The grueling expression of the lives lived here—from days in a bureaucratic office to the doldrums of a country-life, time spent in trains and carriages, seasons of work with field-laborers and soirées with high-society women—enable such a beauty to arise in each character’s story. They feel real. Lived in.
In total, AK left me with a sense of the ways by which life, age, and the contexts from which we are borne, may alter us in ways we know and very-often do not. A juxtaposition arises in spirit and turmoil, it being the forces of faith, family, love, politics, and the greater intricacies of being that drive and hinder us.
This book encompasses so much, so many lives, and I’m simply in awe of it all.
I did not enjoy large swaths of this book. Like a lot of the Russian literature I’ve read, AK is steeped in historicism and period-specific culture that I just… don’t care all that much about. I see how it served the plot in adding a certain depth to the stories presented here, but it just wasn’t fun to read. I would have to put it down past 10pm because, otherwise, I’d be going right to sleep.
Still, though, I can recognize Tolstoy’s intention in writing to this depth. The grueling expression of the lives lived here—from days in a bureaucratic office to the doldrums of a country-life, time spent in trains and carriages, seasons of work with field-laborers and soirées with high-society women—enable such a beauty to arise in each character’s story. They feel real. Lived in.
In total, AK left me with a sense of the ways by which life, age, and the contexts from which we are borne, may alter us in ways we know and very-often do not. A juxtaposition arises in spirit and turmoil, it being the forces of faith, family, love, politics, and the greater intricacies of being that drive and hinder us.
This book encompasses so much, so many lives, and I’m simply in awe of it all.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
relaxing
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
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-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
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
I hated every single character in the book. I'm not sure if it's because we live in different times and have different views on the world, or because they are just that unlikeable, but I hate them all.
Despite this, Anna Karenina put a spell on me. I'm not sure what it was about this novel but I'm absolutely in love with it and I cannot figure out why. The story itself is nothing thrilling, the characters aren't great, and sometimes there's a lot of unnecessary information added in. Yet, Tolstoy has some magical way of forcing you to call in love with his story, needing to know what happens next, and I will probably reread this 10 more times just to fully absorb every sentence.
Despite this, Anna Karenina put a spell on me. I'm not sure what it was about this novel but I'm absolutely in love with it and I cannot figure out why. The story itself is nothing thrilling, the characters aren't great, and sometimes there's a lot of unnecessary information added in. Yet, Tolstoy has some magical way of forcing you to call in love with his story, needing to know what happens next, and I will probably reread this 10 more times just to fully absorb every sentence.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
I really wanted to like this book, but I found it extremely difficult to get through. I ended up finishing it on audiobook because I was having such a hard time with the physical copy.
I don't have a great explanation why. I've read long books before and quite enjoyed them.
That's not particularly helpful as far as a review goes, but this book was really hyped up for me with some people claiming it was one of their favorites and I just did not share that experience.
I don't have a great explanation why. I've read long books before and quite enjoyed them.
That's not particularly helpful as far as a review goes, but this book was really hyped up for me with some people claiming it was one of their favorites and I just did not share that experience.