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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow, this book is epic in scope but surprisingly very accessible to the modern reader. I like the focus on the family and found the lengthy expositions on the greater context (socioeconomic, political, cultural, artistic, religious) at times fascinating and at other times a bit tedious. There were many many gorgeous scenes that will stick with me for a very long time (e.g. Levin in the hayfield, the ice skating scene, and more). There is a also a great deal of humor. It's no question that this is a great all-encompassing story!
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
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
Random thoughts while reading this book...
(1) It's chapter 17 and nobody named Anna Karenina has made an appearance. Am I reading the right book?
(2) Oh, Anna finally appears! But barely. This other character, Levin, takes center stage thus far.
(3) I'm 20% in and underwhelmed. When will the moment come when I realize this IS the great piece of literature I have heard all my life that it is?
(4) This is not a bad book, far from it, but it is awfully...plain. And it's definitely not really about Anna Karenina. It's about her but also, so far almost equally, about Levin and Kitty. (I'm 30%, or 10 hours, in to the story at this point of random thought.)
(5) Now I'm 60% in and still underwhelmed. I'm going to finish the book because it's not awful and I'm already so far in but *shrug*.
(6) I'm much more taken with the story of Levin and Kitty than I am of the title character. And with just 12% left of the book at this point, I maintain my assertion that the book is equally about other characters as it is about Anna Karenina. So I'm curious why Tolstoy chose to title it after her. I'm no joke going to read some cliff notes etc about this book to try and get some academic holding on this book and its supposed greatness.
(7) Um. Okay? *shrug* That was kind of a waste of my time. My aforementioned intent to read some "cliff notes" on the book to try and get an academic holding on the book and source its greatness also alluded me. I got done reading summaries of the book etc and was still rather underwhelmed.
Moving on from random thoughts.
Here's the thing about "classics." They made an impact in the time they were written and published for a reason. Perhaps it was an author's way of providing commentary on the political atmosphere of the time. Maybe the author had a particular moral standpoint he or she wanted to advocate for. There are many reasons an author is compelled to put pen to paper. But just because it was impactful at the time doesn't mean it will be for ALL time. What is scandalous to society in 1877 is underwhelming and nowhere near scandalous in 2021. (And hasn't been for many years prior to 2021.)
So I'm left scratching my head and a bit boggled as to the enthusiastic fan base this title still has. There's no doubt Tolstoy knows how to write a story and develop a character. This is not a criticism of his talent. It's just...I don't get why this title retains "greatest piece of literature" status. It's nothing special. Of course, that's just my uneducated opinion. To each their own. If you love this book and consider it the greatest piece of literature ever written then I am glad for you, I just happen to politely disagree.
(1) It's chapter 17 and nobody named Anna Karenina has made an appearance. Am I reading the right book?
(2) Oh, Anna finally appears! But barely. This other character, Levin, takes center stage thus far.
(3) I'm 20% in and underwhelmed. When will the moment come when I realize this IS the great piece of literature I have heard all my life that it is?
(4) This is not a bad book, far from it, but it is awfully...plain. And it's definitely not really about Anna Karenina. It's about her but also, so far almost equally, about Levin and Kitty. (I'm 30%, or 10 hours, in to the story at this point of random thought.)
(5) Now I'm 60% in and still underwhelmed. I'm going to finish the book because it's not awful and I'm already so far in but *shrug*.
(6) I'm much more taken with the story of Levin and Kitty than I am of the title character. And with just 12% left of the book at this point, I maintain my assertion that the book is equally about other characters as it is about Anna Karenina. So I'm curious why Tolstoy chose to title it after her. I'm no joke going to read some cliff notes etc about this book to try and get some academic holding on this book and its supposed greatness.
(7) Um. Okay? *shrug* That was kind of a waste of my time. My aforementioned intent to read some "cliff notes" on the book to try and get an academic holding on the book and source its greatness also alluded me. I got done reading summaries of the book etc and was still rather underwhelmed.
Moving on from random thoughts.
Here's the thing about "classics." They made an impact in the time they were written and published for a reason. Perhaps it was an author's way of providing commentary on the political atmosphere of the time. Maybe the author had a particular moral standpoint he or she wanted to advocate for. There are many reasons an author is compelled to put pen to paper. But just because it was impactful at the time doesn't mean it will be for ALL time. What is scandalous to society in 1877 is underwhelming and nowhere near scandalous in 2021. (And hasn't been for many years prior to 2021.)
So I'm left scratching my head and a bit boggled as to the enthusiastic fan base this title still has. There's no doubt Tolstoy knows how to write a story and develop a character. This is not a criticism of his talent. It's just...I don't get why this title retains "greatest piece of literature" status. It's nothing special. Of course, that's just my uneducated opinion. To each their own. If you love this book and consider it the greatest piece of literature ever written then I am glad for you, I just happen to politely disagree.
challenging
dark
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
This is easily the most incredible feat of reading I’ve done outside of academia. Obviously, this novel is incredible and incredibly written. However, since I rate based on personal enjoyment and not on merit (I am not a book critic) I did take half a star off, only for Tolstoy’s tendency to drone. I loved this and would recommend anyone give it a try, the message is powerful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: War, Classism
Minor: Xenophobia, Antisemitism
Then end of part VII will haunt me forever. Tolstoy was a master of illustrating the distress caused by love and sin.
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Very much enjoyed this one, although I think I liked Anna's storyline more than Levin's. The time dedicated to Russian politics/voting from Levin's point of view grew a little tiresome for me. Since I listened to this as an audiobook, I must say...I don't know how to spell very many of their names! However, in a few years I plan on taking a second look at this one...in printed form. The writing was quite beautiful and I'd like to read it so I have the chance to highlight and note those phrases I found particularly poignant or beautiful.
Oddly, nothing exceptionally crazy happened in this book, but I was engrossed from the get-go. There was no thriller/suspense/mystery (unless you consider the end a "twist"). Overall, it's just kind of a look into Russian society-the customs, etc. The novel starts with Anna visiting her sister-in-law to convince her not to get a divorce from her (Anna's) brother. She meets Dolly's sister Kitty who is in love with Count Vronsky...but Levin is in love with her. Levin's proposal of marriage is denied as Kitty believes Vronsky loves her. However, Vronksy and Anna have a spark that cannot be denied after a night of dancing. From then on the stage is set. Anna and Vronksy begin an affair. Levin and Kitty are mortified and heartbroken (but spoiler alert...do eventually find their way back to one another). What follows is a (realisitic...I think) account of Russian society in the 1800s.
Levin and Kitty are miserable but find each other eventually. They get married. Have a child. Are relatively happy. Anna and Vronsky begin happy but when her husband won't grant a divorce/let her see her son she is shunned from society. She begins to withdraw from Vronsky. She doesn't even seem to care for the child she shares with him. Her spiral into depression/loneliness/isolation is evident as her inner monologues get more and more frenzied (oddly, I related to these very well...not sure what that says about my mental state). What was once happy is plunged into darkness when Anna chooses to end her own life by stepping in front of a train...out of, from what I can gather, pure spite...to teach Vronsky a lesson.
There is no storybook ending...only life...
If you like classics, this is probably one of my favorites. The politics stuff gets a little tired after awhile (like I said) but I enjoyed it and regret that I cannot read it in the original Russian. Seriously, if I had to choose a superpower I think it would be to be able to read and write every language fluently...I'm missing out on so much by only knowing English :(
Oddly, nothing exceptionally crazy happened in this book, but I was engrossed from the get-go. There was no thriller/suspense/mystery (unless you consider the end a "twist"). Overall, it's just kind of a look into Russian society-the customs, etc. The novel starts with Anna visiting her sister-in-law to convince her not to get a divorce from her (Anna's) brother. She meets Dolly's sister Kitty who is in love with Count Vronsky...but Levin is in love with her. Levin's proposal of marriage is denied as Kitty believes Vronsky loves her. However, Vronksy and Anna have a spark that cannot be denied after a night of dancing. From then on the stage is set. Anna and Vronksy begin an affair. Levin and Kitty are mortified and heartbroken (but spoiler alert...do eventually find their way back to one another). What follows is a (realisitic...I think) account of Russian society in the 1800s.
Levin and Kitty are miserable but find each other eventually. They get married. Have a child. Are relatively happy. Anna and Vronsky begin happy but when her husband won't grant a divorce/let her see her son she is shunned from society. She begins to withdraw from Vronsky. She doesn't even seem to care for the child she shares with him. Her spiral into depression/loneliness/isolation is evident as her inner monologues get more and more frenzied (oddly, I related to these very well...not sure what that says about my mental state). What was once happy is plunged into darkness when Anna chooses to end her own life by stepping in front of a train...out of, from what I can gather, pure spite...to teach Vronsky a lesson.
There is no storybook ending...only life...
If you like classics, this is probably one of my favorites. The politics stuff gets a little tired after awhile (like I said) but I enjoyed it and regret that I cannot read it in the original Russian. Seriously, if I had to choose a superpower I think it would be to be able to read and write every language fluently...I'm missing out on so much by only knowing English :(