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A review by diaryofdifference
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
slow-paced
3.0
“All happy families resemble one another, but each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”
Reading Anna Karenina was a very memorable experience. This book has always been inadvertently part of my life, and I am glad I finally read it. It’s also the first Tolstoy book I’ve read, although, thinking of it now, it’s quite surprising, as Russian literature was extremely popular during my childhood and education.
My Thoughts:
Anna Karenina is a story about Anna, and her life. How one moment, meeting one man, changes her life very significantly, and how she manoeuvres through this, whilst under everyone’s scrutiny. Apart from Anna, we also have a few other characters and families. We follow their lives, their struggles and their family drama. The fact that this book is set in the late 19th century in Moscow makes such a difference. We get to see inside the four walls of some families in a very different time. Society, culture, entertainment, even the act of courting is so different to the present day.
And this is only one of the reasons I enjoyed the book. The other reason is Tolstoy’s writing. When he is writing about a character, I can understand why they are doing a certain thing, but I can also get a very close inspection inside their mind, thoughts and feelings. And when he is writing about a place, object, or even a political view, I am so intrigued and can continue reading forever.
“In all likelihood he would have been considered quite a suitable match. But Levin was in love, and therefore Kitty seemed to him so perfect in every respect, so transcending everything earthly, and he seemed to himself so very earthly and insignificant a creature, that the possibility of his being considered worthy of her by others or by herself was to him unimaginable.”
Diving into the book, I had a lot of mixed feelings. And I will be honest from the start, I could never warm up to Anna. I could understand her initial unhappiness and her love for her son, but very short after her first visit, she couldn’t evoke any emotions out of me. I felt for Kitty, and the experience that was stolen from her. And then I thought it actually turned out for the best and that is what was meant to happen. Honestly, I felt for Vronsky in the end, although, I did not like him at all at the beginning. I always liked Levin, but that man knows how to hold a grudge.
“A few more steps brought him to the skating lake, and among all the skaters he at once recognized her. He knew she was there by the joy and terror that took possession of his heart.”
I can’t say this book is action-packed.
“There is nothing for me to grieve for or seek comfort about. I have enough pride never to let myself love a man who does not love me.”
If it was a modern story, I think I would find it boring. The difference in society made me appreciate for the historical value it has, but it didn’t blow my mind. The things that happened in the book to create the whole drama would be shrugged off in today’s world as normal. Although, I would never think it normal, when I remember how much such decisions affect people in the family. Especially innocent children who can’t understand what is going on.
“I always loved you, and if one loves, one loves the whole person as he or she is, and not as one might wish them to be.”
Regardless, in that time, what Anna did was considered a big scandal, and a huge reputation hit. I hoped we had a scene where she understands the pain she is causing to others, instead of focusing on her own pain. But this is what made the book intriguing. And I am very glad I can now add Anna Karenina to my list of completed classics. It was definitely worth the read.
Reading Anna Karenina was a very memorable experience. This book has always been inadvertently part of my life, and I am glad I finally read it. It’s also the first Tolstoy book I’ve read, although, thinking of it now, it’s quite surprising, as Russian literature was extremely popular during my childhood and education.
My Thoughts:
Anna Karenina is a story about Anna, and her life. How one moment, meeting one man, changes her life very significantly, and how she manoeuvres through this, whilst under everyone’s scrutiny. Apart from Anna, we also have a few other characters and families. We follow their lives, their struggles and their family drama. The fact that this book is set in the late 19th century in Moscow makes such a difference. We get to see inside the four walls of some families in a very different time. Society, culture, entertainment, even the act of courting is so different to the present day.
And this is only one of the reasons I enjoyed the book. The other reason is Tolstoy’s writing. When he is writing about a character, I can understand why they are doing a certain thing, but I can also get a very close inspection inside their mind, thoughts and feelings. And when he is writing about a place, object, or even a political view, I am so intrigued and can continue reading forever.
“In all likelihood he would have been considered quite a suitable match. But Levin was in love, and therefore Kitty seemed to him so perfect in every respect, so transcending everything earthly, and he seemed to himself so very earthly and insignificant a creature, that the possibility of his being considered worthy of her by others or by herself was to him unimaginable.”
Diving into the book, I had a lot of mixed feelings. And I will be honest from the start, I could never warm up to Anna. I could understand her initial unhappiness and her love for her son, but very short after her first visit, she couldn’t evoke any emotions out of me. I felt for Kitty, and the experience that was stolen from her. And then I thought it actually turned out for the best and that is what was meant to happen. Honestly, I felt for Vronsky in the end, although, I did not like him at all at the beginning. I always liked Levin, but that man knows how to hold a grudge.
“A few more steps brought him to the skating lake, and among all the skaters he at once recognized her. He knew she was there by the joy and terror that took possession of his heart.”
I can’t say this book is action-packed.
“There is nothing for me to grieve for or seek comfort about. I have enough pride never to let myself love a man who does not love me.”
If it was a modern story, I think I would find it boring. The difference in society made me appreciate for the historical value it has, but it didn’t blow my mind. The things that happened in the book to create the whole drama would be shrugged off in today’s world as normal. Although, I would never think it normal, when I remember how much such decisions affect people in the family. Especially innocent children who can’t understand what is going on.
“I always loved you, and if one loves, one loves the whole person as he or she is, and not as one might wish them to be.”
Regardless, in that time, what Anna did was considered a big scandal, and a huge reputation hit. I hoped we had a scene where she understands the pain she is causing to others, instead of focusing on her own pain. But this is what made the book intriguing. And I am very glad I can now add Anna Karenina to my list of completed classics. It was definitely worth the read.