9.58k reviews for:

Anna Karenina

Leo Tolstoy

3.97 AVERAGE

sad slow-paced

Anna's story is tragic while Levin's is enlightening. Such contrast entwined into the same story line a beautiful masterpiece. There are parts that are long, interesting but hard and deep but over all a great story. A story that can change your view and thinking.
adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I got spoiled the “ending”. And with that said it was definitely not what i expected it to be. 

It felt more of the story of Levin than Anna’s and that was disappointing. 

Not much to say about it to be honest, everyone already knows about this book, it’s a classic for a reason, i’m not putting that to question. It deals with very deep and important topics for the age it was written and even for now i feel it can resonate a lot with all of us. But since it’s called Anna Karenina i thought it would have more of Anna in it. 

I weep that I can't write a novel this beautiful. If you haven't read it, do yourself a favor and read it. I think many people avoid it because of its length, but I promise you the reward on the other end is worth it.
challenging emotional informative 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

I’m not equipped to judge whether or not this is “the greatest novel ever written”, as has been alleged. But it did make me think a lot. It covers just about every human emotion in its pages, and many social, religious, and philosophical ideas as well. I’m glad I read it, but won’t be rereading it again anytime soon!

Sigh.

We all have those books that we build up with the loftiest of expectations, only to be left underwhelmed and winded. Sorry, "AK" doesn't do it for me. I know, I know; I'm sorry. If coaxed into reading a chronicle of an adulterous female, I'd rather pick "Madame Bovary," because at least it focuses more on the central woman.
challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

The worst thing about this book is that everything read after it pales (and I mean PALES) in comparison. Yes, the Levin chapters are hard to get through - I found myself groaning every time Levin spoke, actually - but the payoff is 100% worth it.

Contains the world entire, without succumbing to pedantry or plotlessness.