jeffthink's review against another edition
3.0
It's a classic for a reason. I enjoyed getting caught up in the nuanced life of the various characters. I'll suggest that those looking for a driving plot look elsewhere, but for those who enjoy taking the time to let a story seep into them, give it a try.
carlq's review against another edition
4.0
“If you look for perfection, you'll never be content.”
― Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina
Anna Karenina is a long book, but despite its length manages to perfectly balance every character and their ongoing storylines without ever feeling like a drag. You truly feel that, when reading Anna Karenina you have been on a long journey with these characters you have known for many years. Following them as they live their lives and seeing how they change and adapt to the world around them.
Anna Karenina is a visually well crafted story that really puts the reader in another time and place however its greatest strength lies within its characters, ever character is well crafted with a unique and realistic feeling personality. The characters in this story feel real and the troubles that they are experiencing, the difficulties and the doubts that they are feeling are emotions that every person continues to feel at times to this day, making these characters set in Russia in 1873 continue to feel relatable to a modern audience in ways that many authors even today are unable to achieve.
Overall, a long read but one well worth experiencing at least once.
― Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina
Anna Karenina is a long book, but despite its length manages to perfectly balance every character and their ongoing storylines without ever feeling like a drag. You truly feel that, when reading Anna Karenina you have been on a long journey with these characters you have known for many years. Following them as they live their lives and seeing how they change and adapt to the world around them.
Anna Karenina is a visually well crafted story that really puts the reader in another time and place however its greatest strength lies within its characters, ever character is well crafted with a unique and realistic feeling personality. The characters in this story feel real and the troubles that they are experiencing, the difficulties and the doubts that they are feeling are emotions that every person continues to feel at times to this day, making these characters set in Russia in 1873 continue to feel relatable to a modern audience in ways that many authors even today are unable to achieve.
Overall, a long read but one well worth experiencing at least once.
caitgiam's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to give this a one star because it was absolutely one of the most boring books I have ever read, but it was not a bad story and I feel like one stars are reserved for the worst of the worst. The premise was good and I found myself reading to the end because I really did want to know where each character would end up, but overall this was not an enjoyable read. Anna is completely unlikeable. Even in her moments of confusion or despair, I just couldn't feel for her or find much of an interest in what was happening in her life after a certain point. Dolly, Kitty, and Levin were the three characters that continued to make this story worth it for me. Kitty's character arc was a consistent bright spot throughout the story.
I can recognize the things that make this a classic and a well-loved book, but it just wasn't for me. There was far too much extraneous information to keep the story moving. I have read many books where the details and side stories really add to the book, but in this case it just felt like overkill. This is definitely a complicated one for me because while I didn't like it, I also wouldn't question someone who found this to be their favorite book.
Glad I read it, but definitely never picking it up again.
I can recognize the things that make this a classic and a well-loved book, but it just wasn't for me. There was far too much extraneous information to keep the story moving. I have read many books where the details and side stories really add to the book, but in this case it just felt like overkill. This is definitely a complicated one for me because while I didn't like it, I also wouldn't question someone who found this to be their favorite book.
Glad I read it, but definitely never picking it up again.
ppprmntptty's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
ella2352's review
5.0
„All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.“
Ich habe Anna Karenina vor genau einer Woche beendet. Seitdem habe ich viel und oft darüber nachgedacht, so gehaltvoll war die Lektüre. Und zwischen den Beschreibungen der Salons, zwischen Moskau, St. Petersburg und der Provinz, zwischen den vielen Facetten dieses umfangreichen Romans werden mir vor allem die Figuren in Erinnerung bleiben, deren Leben ich auf den Seiten begleitet habe.
Schon nach den ersten Kapiteln hat mich die präzise Persönlichkeitsbildung sprachlos gemacht. Die Menschen waren so komplex, so echt, so zutreffend beschrieben, dass es mir unmöglich schien, dass sie der Vorstellungskraft eines einzelnen Menschen entsprungen waren.
Ich habe mit Anna, Vronsky, Kitty und Levin gelebt, und ich habe auch jetzt noch das Gefühl, dass sie um mich herum weiterleben. Das Buch war zugleich schön, herzlich und schmerzhaft, tragisch und menschlich. Alles in allem war es unglaublich eindrucksvoll und ich habe mich immer noch nicht ganz davon erholt.
Ich habe Anna Karenina vor genau einer Woche beendet. Seitdem habe ich viel und oft darüber nachgedacht, so gehaltvoll war die Lektüre. Und zwischen den Beschreibungen der Salons, zwischen Moskau, St. Petersburg und der Provinz, zwischen den vielen Facetten dieses umfangreichen Romans werden mir vor allem die Figuren in Erinnerung bleiben, deren Leben ich auf den Seiten begleitet habe.
Schon nach den ersten Kapiteln hat mich die präzise Persönlichkeitsbildung sprachlos gemacht. Die Menschen waren so komplex, so echt, so zutreffend beschrieben, dass es mir unmöglich schien, dass sie der Vorstellungskraft eines einzelnen Menschen entsprungen waren.
Ich habe mit Anna, Vronsky, Kitty und Levin gelebt, und ich habe auch jetzt noch das Gefühl, dass sie um mich herum weiterleben. Das Buch war zugleich schön, herzlich und schmerzhaft, tragisch und menschlich. Alles in allem war es unglaublich eindrucksvoll und ich habe mich immer noch nicht ganz davon erholt.
maris's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
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
balladyna's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
spriteluver's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
timeless but also of its time. so many small parts just show how universal the human experience is, even almost 200 years later. it took me a month to finish this book, but i fell in love with it while taking my time. im obsessed!!! the only downfalls are anna and kitty and darya not being as developed as their male counterparts, but yknow...their parts were seriously the best! and anna's ending is so sad :( she deserved the revelation levin has in part eight...but i really do adore this book and all of its tiny details on life <333
blindferret's review against another edition
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
plastic_spider's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75