A review by laurenreadsoccasionally
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

It's a classic for a reason and many people have reviewed its literary or cultural merit better than I could, so I'm going to focus on what stuck with me long after I read it: this story is so intimate and you spend so much time with the characters that you really connect with them. To me the fact that a Russian novel from the late 1800s can still feel so relatable in the 2020s in Canada reflects the commonality of the human experience. Everyone is just trying to live the best way they can with what they're given.