Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"If a string isn't tight and you try to break it, it's very hard to do. But tighten it to the utmost and put just the weight of your finger on it, and it will break."
A literary exploration of Russian society, the trials and tribulations of marriage, and the pivotal theme of the fallen woman.
The central story in this book is Anna, a flawed and complex, yet beautiful and emotional woman. The pages delve into her life, her love, her lack of. Tolstoy is heavy on getting the reader to formulate their own perspective on Anna, and I think the way in which you see her heavily impacts the way that the book unfolds. Do you see her as a foolish woman who threw away social stability for a fleeting emotion, for a man that even the reader can’t truly understand the emotional side of? Or does she present herself to you as a flawed and complex woman, caught in the tidal wave of a society that longs for scandal, and a mould that she never seemed to fit?
Regardless, you experience her downfall, her punishment, with words capable of evoking a sadness for her plight, a deep resonating with her marginalisation, and even a frustration. Your respite is the other characters, the stories that weave alongside Anna’s. Levin and Kitty, Stepan and Dolly, and of course, the titular Vronksy himself. Amidst the themes of loss, dissatisfaction and upheaval, do you ever feel respite at all? Maybe in the moments where love is shown to prevail, where marriage isn’t just for validation. Tolstoy has a worthwhile way of contrasting the two, and crafting meaningful relationships between characters, ones a reader would root for- just as much as he does dismantling them.
Tolstoy tackles so many elements that comprise the backdrop of high Russian society, the judging, prying eyes that fall on almost every character, the ones that they themselves bear for others. Politics, people, the philosophy that resides in Levin, they all collide in a way that makes the novel work, that makes the pace feel just drawn out enough, the story a powerful one.
The character of Anna is one I’ll find almost haunting, in a sense. The book overall, is one I’m glad to have read.
A literary exploration of Russian society, the trials and tribulations of marriage, and the pivotal theme of the fallen woman.
The central story in this book is Anna, a flawed and complex, yet beautiful and emotional woman. The pages delve into her life, her love, her lack of. Tolstoy is heavy on getting the reader to formulate their own perspective on Anna, and I think the way in which you see her heavily impacts the way that the book unfolds. Do you see her as a foolish woman who threw away social stability for a fleeting emotion, for a man that even the reader can’t truly understand the emotional side of? Or does she present herself to you as a flawed and complex woman, caught in the tidal wave of a society that longs for scandal, and a mould that she never seemed to fit?
Regardless, you experience her downfall, her punishment, with words capable of evoking a sadness for her plight, a deep resonating with her marginalisation, and even a frustration. Your respite is the other characters, the stories that weave alongside Anna’s. Levin and Kitty, Stepan and Dolly, and of course, the titular Vronksy himself. Amidst the themes of loss, dissatisfaction and upheaval, do you ever feel respite at all? Maybe in the moments where love is shown to prevail, where marriage isn’t just for validation. Tolstoy has a worthwhile way of contrasting the two, and crafting meaningful relationships between characters, ones a reader would root for- just as much as he does dismantling them.
Tolstoy tackles so many elements that comprise the backdrop of high Russian society, the judging, prying eyes that fall on almost every character, the ones that they themselves bear for others. Politics, people, the philosophy that resides in Levin, they all collide in a way that makes the novel work, that makes the pace feel just drawn out enough, the story a powerful one.
The character of Anna is one I’ll find almost haunting, in a sense. The book overall, is one I’m glad to have read.
I was captivated by the rich historical context and intricate storytelling of "Anna Karenina," which shed light on the lives of individuals during the time it was written. However, I found myself deeply frustrated by the flawed and complex characters that populate the novel. In a way, this paradoxical mix of admiration and annoyance towards the characters speaks to Tolstoy's skill as a writer in crafting realistic and multifaceted personalities. While I may have conflicting feelings about the characters, this only serves to enhance the depth and complexity of the novel, making it a truly unforgettable and thought-provoking literary masterpiece. The three stars I gave, only reflect how enjoyable the book was for me, but I truly appreciate its literary merits and would have rated it 5 stars in that sense.
challenging
dark
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
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-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
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-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
challenging
dark
funny
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow, 32 hour audiobook. It was... a lot.
I can see why this is a classic. I loved the way the author explored the character's emotions...honestly and without judgment or conclusion. He leaves the reader to decide for themselves whether or not certain actions and decisions were right. I found many of the characters' rapidly changing emotions and opinions, the passionate personalities that sway violently in a moment, to be relatable and compelling. 'Twas interesting to "observe" such passion from the outside and to reflect on how emotions so color reality for each of us, constantly.
On the other hand, I could've done without the endless descriptions of politics and political events for which I have no reference. And I found the number of lengthy scenes which have almost nothing to do with the rest of the story to be frustrating.
The ending was...bittersweet. It was sad, and somewhat redemptive, and just real. I appreciated how the author didn't attempt to tie a nice pretty bow on everything and left the reader struggling with some of the loose endings. That's how life is too.
I'm very glad to have read (listened to) this classic. I'm also very glad to be done with it. It was long and heavy and rather depressing. It was also enlightening and a cause for introspection. One can't help but see oneself in one of more of the characters, which is good reason to re-examine the kind of person you wish to be.
I can see why this is a classic. I loved the way the author explored the character's emotions...honestly and without judgment or conclusion. He leaves the reader to decide for themselves whether or not certain actions and decisions were right. I found many of the characters' rapidly changing emotions and opinions, the passionate personalities that sway violently in a moment, to be relatable and compelling. 'Twas interesting to "observe" such passion from the outside and to reflect on how emotions so color reality for each of us, constantly.
On the other hand, I could've done without the endless descriptions of politics and political events for which I have no reference. And I found the number of lengthy scenes which have almost nothing to do with the rest of the story to be frustrating.
The ending was...bittersweet. It was sad, and somewhat redemptive, and just real. I appreciated how the author didn't attempt to tie a nice pretty bow on everything and left the reader struggling with some of the loose endings. That's how life is too.
I'm very glad to have read (listened to) this classic. I'm also very glad to be done with it. It was long and heavy and rather depressing. It was also enlightening and a cause for introspection. One can't help but see oneself in one of more of the characters, which is good reason to re-examine the kind of person you wish to be.
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Mi primera lectura para este año, Ana Karenina y su introducción perfecta: "Todas las familias dichosas se parecen, pero las infelices lo son cada una a su manera". Es una obra repleta de personajes, que no llegan a ser perfectos, pero que sus imperfecciones los hace aun más reales, pues hay capítulos en los que los puedes amar, y otros en los que los odias. No hay personajes totalmente buenos o malos, son simplemente personas a las que se les ve evolucionar y asi mismo, como sus decisiones marcan su destino.
"Hay ... tantas clases de amor como corazones"
"Hay ... tantas clases de amor como corazones"