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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
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.
When I first read this for my school lecture, I hate it. When I re-read it because of boredom, I liked it.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The problem with classics: You're supposed to be blown away by them, even when you're not. I liked the social commentary best (but that's just me), but overall, there seemed to be at least two other things going on at the same time. First, there is of course the tragic love story that passes for plot here. Then there's the rather superfluous philosophising at the very end. My problem was that I didn't connect the dots. Maggie Gyllenhaal does a great job in reading the novel, but listening to this strengthened my belief that audiobooks work best for non-fiction. Doubtful that I'll reread this, though...
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Parts of the story are engaging and enjoyable but they are interspersed with very long, very dull passages that do nothing at all to advance the story or develop the characters. Less than half of the book is actually about Anna. It could just as well have been called Levin.