A review by cpcabaniss
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

3.0

“But that had been grief - this was joy. Yet that grief and this joy were alike outside all the ordinary conditions of life; they were loopholes, as it were, in that ordinary life through which there came glimpses of something sublime. And in the contemplation of this sublime something the soul was exalted to inconceivable heights of which it had before had no conception, while reason lagged behind, unable to keep up with it.”

Tolstoy is a genius with presenting real characters, who are neither completely likable or unlikable. They have the complexity of real humans and each angle is explored, so you understand where they are coming from even if you don't agree with their decisions.

Levin was my favorite character. I enjoyed following as he tried to make himself a better person, struggling with his beliefs and occupation and feelings. Karenin was the other character I could relate with the most, as I often find myself feeling that detachment from real life that he described.

There was a lot of social commentary here that I appreciated. While I could understand where Anna was coming from, I never liked her as a character. I understand that she felt trapped in her life, but there are still consequences for the decisions that people make. Also, her relationship with Vronksy was not real love, but long lasting lust.

Not an immediate favorite, but one I am sure I will visit again in the future. I actually read a translation by Constance Garnett (I find translations to flow better than others I've tried), but could not find it here on goodreads.