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A review by phoenix2
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
3.0
Anna Karenina is a tough book, and that's not only due to its length. The main character and some philosophical passages are the chief factors that don't make this book a smooth sail.
That said, Leo Tolstoy is one of the top writers of all time for a reason. His writing is masterful, simple, without heavy descriptions to tire up the reader, and yet he can transport them into his settings, into the very rooms where the action is taking place. His presentation of the characters, in addition, is on point, giving them the freedom and space to grow, change, justify their actions and get compared to.
On that note, Anna Karenina, the main character of the book, is not introduced straight away into the narration. Rather, Tolstoy allows the reader to get comfortable in the setting and time, and to get to know Anna through her people and her surroundings. That is why, more often than not, the main action is pushed aside and the discussions between the characters are the main source of information about the progress of their relationships. But that's mostly on the first part of the book. And yet, Anna is being compared to everyone throughout it, from her most obvious opposition, Kitty, to the people on the street that she goes by.
And truthfully, Anna is not a likable character, at least for me. She is childish, capricious, acts on her feelings without thinking of the consequences on her and others is too full of herself, and enjoys using her charms to use others. The passages where she kept loathing her husband, Karenin, all of a sudden, were probably when I started getting annoyed by her. But maybe she was written to be annoying and dislikable, as an example of a person who throws away everything for love.
Actually, I loved how Tolstoy didn't leave the love story on the happy note 'and they lived happily ever after'. Rather, he gives a full account of the effects of that decision on others, the progress of the relationship as it will be based on the characters and their personalities, and how it changes due to time and events.
Back on the characters, Vronsky, the main love interest was not that appealing. A playboy of his time, materialistic and superficial was just a plain character who struggled to survive his choices.
On the opposite side, Kitty and Levin are what kept me reading. Kitty was not an appealing character in the first part, rather spoiled, naive, and almost like the characters in Love and Peace. But, just like in LaP, Kitty undergoes a smooth character development, matures, and gains a stronger personality. On the other hand, Levin gives a good impression right from the start. He is simple, a thinker, a philosopher who most of the time selves as a vehicle to serve Tolstoy's ideas, is likable, and even, sometimes, relatable, when he questions his society and even his own existence. In addition, Kitty's and Levin's love story is more enjoyable, romantic, sweet, dramatic, and yet realistic, as it often falls into the traps of their own passions and faults.
Finally, the passages used to express ideas and philosophies were interesting, yes, but sometimes too long, stopped the action and the smooth narration and it often got tiring.
So, overall, Anna Karenina's story was not as enjoyable as I would have imagined, but the rest were pretty intriguing, Tolstoy's writing magnificent and the whole setting beautiful.
That said, Leo Tolstoy is one of the top writers of all time for a reason. His writing is masterful, simple, without heavy descriptions to tire up the reader, and yet he can transport them into his settings, into the very rooms where the action is taking place. His presentation of the characters, in addition, is on point, giving them the freedom and space to grow, change, justify their actions and get compared to.
On that note, Anna Karenina, the main character of the book, is not introduced straight away into the narration. Rather, Tolstoy allows the reader to get comfortable in the setting and time, and to get to know Anna through her people and her surroundings. That is why, more often than not, the main action is pushed aside and the discussions between the characters are the main source of information about the progress of their relationships. But that's mostly on the first part of the book. And yet, Anna is being compared to everyone throughout it, from her most obvious opposition, Kitty, to the people on the street that she goes by.
And truthfully, Anna is not a likable character, at least for me. She is childish, capricious, acts on her feelings without thinking of the consequences on her and others is too full of herself, and enjoys using her charms to use others. The passages where she kept loathing her husband, Karenin, all of a sudden, were probably when I started getting annoyed by her. But maybe she was written to be annoying and dislikable, as an example of a person who throws away everything for love.
Actually, I loved how Tolstoy didn't leave the love story on the happy note 'and they lived happily ever after'. Rather, he gives a full account of the effects of that decision on others, the progress of the relationship as it will be based on the characters and their personalities, and how it changes due to time and events.
Back on the characters, Vronsky, the main love interest was not that appealing. A playboy of his time, materialistic and superficial was just a plain character who struggled to survive his choices.
On the opposite side, Kitty and Levin are what kept me reading. Kitty was not an appealing character in the first part, rather spoiled, naive, and almost like the characters in Love and Peace. But, just like in LaP, Kitty undergoes a smooth character development, matures, and gains a stronger personality. On the other hand, Levin gives a good impression right from the start. He is simple, a thinker, a philosopher who most of the time selves as a vehicle to serve Tolstoy's ideas, is likable, and even, sometimes, relatable, when he questions his society and even his own existence. In addition, Kitty's and Levin's love story is more enjoyable, romantic, sweet, dramatic, and yet realistic, as it often falls into the traps of their own passions and faults.
Finally, the passages used to express ideas and philosophies were interesting, yes, but sometimes too long, stopped the action and the smooth narration and it often got tiring.
So, overall, Anna Karenina's story was not as enjoyable as I would have imagined, but the rest were pretty intriguing, Tolstoy's writing magnificent and the whole setting beautiful.