ifpoetshadmerch's review against another edition
4.0
Masterful.
It took me a long time to get through this book. This was not due to lack of enjoyment, but rather because I underestimated how daunting of a task it would be to pick up this book and feel the weight of how many pages I had yet to read (my edition had 868 pages of small, single-spaced font). Anna Karenina is a deserving classic. Plot-wise it may seem that it follows the high drama of Anna's affair, but Tolstoy is able to elegantly portray the nuances of marriage, government, religion, and existence. Throughout the course of events, the characters experience deep shame and high passions, and Tolstoy swivels in-and-out of his characters' heads, creating a fantastic array of jealousy and judgment.
Two things stood out to me the most about this novel. Firstly, how honestly Tolstoy was able to portray the female experience in society. His critique felt ahead of its time, Anna's ostracism from society and complete fall from grace contrasted with Vronsky's continued status and frustration as he is unable to comprehend the source of Anna's agitation. Anna's emotionality and jealousy strengthened the sense that her duty to society was only to exist as an exemplary wife, and in her situation, it was impossible to be as liberated as her lover or husband. Secondly, I was impressed by how the environment added so much to the drama of each scene. Moving from train stations to estates to horse races, every conversation that took place and every expression on everyone's faces was shaded by the context of publicity or privacy that magnified the scope of Tolstoy's writing.
It took me a long time to get through this book. This was not due to lack of enjoyment, but rather because I underestimated how daunting of a task it would be to pick up this book and feel the weight of how many pages I had yet to read (my edition had 868 pages of small, single-spaced font). Anna Karenina is a deserving classic. Plot-wise it may seem that it follows the high drama of Anna's affair, but Tolstoy is able to elegantly portray the nuances of marriage, government, religion, and existence. Throughout the course of events, the characters experience deep shame and high passions, and Tolstoy swivels in-and-out of his characters' heads, creating a fantastic array of jealousy and judgment.
Two things stood out to me the most about this novel. Firstly, how honestly Tolstoy was able to portray the female experience in society. His critique felt ahead of its time, Anna's ostracism from society and complete fall from grace contrasted with Vronsky's continued status and frustration as he is unable to comprehend the source of Anna's agitation. Anna's emotionality and jealousy strengthened the sense that her duty to society was only to exist as an exemplary wife, and in her situation, it was impossible to be as liberated as her lover or husband. Secondly, I was impressed by how the environment added so much to the drama of each scene. Moving from train stations to estates to horse races, every conversation that took place and every expression on everyone's faces was shaded by the context of publicity or privacy that magnified the scope of Tolstoy's writing.
biasobreira's review against another edition
5.0
Confesso que achei as partes do Lióvin (com raras exceções) muito chatas, mas o desenvolvimento da Anna é magnífico (MALUCA!!!!). Meu coração se partiu pelo Vrônski, apegou-se à Kitty e sofreu com a Dolly. Uma jornada literária, de fato.
maymunasaloojee's review against another edition
um…. i just finished my first russian lit book!
poplartears's review
3.0
This was a tedious read to begin with but after finding a better translation and putting it on my Kindle things got better. Something about not knowing how much of this massive book I had left made it less daunting. And, although I wouldn't say this is one of the best books ever written, it wasn't the horrible, bring me to tears, drivel of Jane Austen either. I truly think I wouldn't have put the book down if it hadn't gone off into such in depth political and farming tangents. The politics and farming are integral to the story, don't get me wrong, but neither of these things interested me enough to find them enjoyable. I was also disappointed in the ending, I expected to revisit at least her husband and son in conclusion as we had previously been privy to their innermost feelings. I expected reaction of all of Anna's acquaintances to be provided after the tragedy. We knew how each and every person felt about the scandal all the way through the story but her affair ends abruptly we are left to make our own conclusions. Is Vronsky really the only person affected? Does Dolly appreciate her role as a mother and wife more as a result? Does Lidia rejoice and make designs on Karenin? Does Seryozha learn the truth? Does Stiva have any regrets? Although I am happy with Levin's peace of mind and faith in the end I felt like there was so much left to do. Levin's revelations, instead of being inspiring, fell flat because they were followed by the words "the end."
chiel's review against another edition
3.0
I am really divided on this book, it was something I have been putting off to read for a long time.
When the book goes into subtle sarcasm about high society in general and local elections, the book is, in my view, at its best. Tolstoy can really do anything with his brilliant writing style, and that was truly amazing. But although Tolstoy slices through 3 marriages with great finesse, and he can explain as no other how people perceive each other, the book just didn't grab me in the sense that War and Peace did.
When the book goes into subtle sarcasm about high society in general and local elections, the book is, in my view, at its best. Tolstoy can really do anything with his brilliant writing style, and that was truly amazing. But although Tolstoy slices through 3 marriages with great finesse, and he can explain as no other how people perceive each other, the book just didn't grab me in the sense that War and Peace did.
thatjamiea's review
3.0
Overall, I'm unsure how, exactly, to review this book or what I feel about what I read.
There were parts of this book where I fully admit to skimming for pages. I got tired of reading about Russian peasants, farming theories and Levin's searching for the meaning of life. I was actually disappointed that the last 50 or so pages of the book were Levin searching for meaning and in the end, he finds God. Maybe. If he doesn't think too hard about it.
The story is a romance, peppered with a good dose of Russian history; the life of gentry, the struggle away from a feudal system, and the rise of communism.
The story is titled for Anna Kareninia, but she doesn't really get top billing and the story is at least equally split between she and Levin.
Anna is a difficult character for me. At the beginning of the book, she's quite likable. She's vivacious and smart. She counsels Dolly and helps her save her failing marriage. She loves her son. She's lukewarm towards her husband, but seems attentive to him until she meets Vronsky and falls in love.
Vronsky falls in love with Anna and gets her pregnant and her rather stodgy husband becomes unyielding as Anna petitions for divorce. Anna stays with her husband, Karenin, for the duration of her pregnancy and they reconcile briefly after the birth of her daughter, but in the end, Anna leaves her son behind and leaves with Vronsky. That doesn't work out so good actually, because Anna is shunned in society and refuses to ask her husband for a divorce.
Anna wasn't wrong in that choice because when petitioned, her husband refuses to grant the divorce. During the course of the book, Anna goes for a likable character to someone wholly unlikable. It's not that she's depressed. That's not why she's unlikable. She becomes so bitter and mean. She constantly picks fights with Vronsky and totally ignores her daughter. Vronsky is unable to convince Anna that he loves her and won't leave her and that ultimately leads her suicide.
Running alongside the story of Anna is the story of Levin. Levin starts out as a fairly unlikable character and then manages to morph into the most likable character in the story (besides the whole purpose in life craft that made up that last 1/16th of the book. Levin is in love with Kitty. He proposes. Kitty declines because she believes that Vronsky is about to make her an offer. Levin is humiliated and asks accordingly. He withdraws from society and then we have very long extrapolations on farming and peasants. Which was so boring I wanted to cry.
Vronsky never makes Kitty an offer. He's fallen in love with Anna and Kitty nearly dies from embarrassment and heartbreak. Levin never stops loving Kitty and when the opportunity arises, he proposes and she accepts. And they're happy. Vastly different from Vronsky and Anna.
There were parts of this book where I fully admit to skimming for pages. I got tired of reading about Russian peasants, farming theories and Levin's searching for the meaning of life. I was actually disappointed that the last 50 or so pages of the book were Levin searching for meaning and in the end, he finds God. Maybe. If he doesn't think too hard about it.
The story is a romance, peppered with a good dose of Russian history; the life of gentry, the struggle away from a feudal system, and the rise of communism.
The story is titled for Anna Kareninia, but she doesn't really get top billing and the story is at least equally split between she and Levin.
Anna is a difficult character for me. At the beginning of the book, she's quite likable. She's vivacious and smart. She counsels Dolly and helps her save her failing marriage. She loves her son. She's lukewarm towards her husband, but seems attentive to him until she meets Vronsky and falls in love.
Vronsky falls in love with Anna and gets her pregnant and her rather stodgy husband becomes unyielding as Anna petitions for divorce. Anna stays with her husband, Karenin, for the duration of her pregnancy and they reconcile briefly after the birth of her daughter, but in the end, Anna leaves her son behind and leaves with Vronsky. That doesn't work out so good actually, because Anna is shunned in society and refuses to ask her husband for a divorce.
Anna wasn't wrong in that choice because when petitioned, her husband refuses to grant the divorce. During the course of the book, Anna goes for a likable character to someone wholly unlikable. It's not that she's depressed. That's not why she's unlikable. She becomes so bitter and mean. She constantly picks fights with Vronsky and totally ignores her daughter. Vronsky is unable to convince Anna that he loves her and won't leave her and that ultimately leads her suicide.
Running alongside the story of Anna is the story of Levin. Levin starts out as a fairly unlikable character and then manages to morph into the most likable character in the story (besides the whole purpose in life craft that made up that last 1/16th of the book. Levin is in love with Kitty. He proposes. Kitty declines because she believes that Vronsky is about to make her an offer. Levin is humiliated and asks accordingly. He withdraws from society and then we have very long extrapolations on farming and peasants. Which was so boring I wanted to cry.
Vronsky never makes Kitty an offer. He's fallen in love with Anna and Kitty nearly dies from embarrassment and heartbreak. Levin never stops loving Kitty and when the opportunity arises, he proposes and she accepts. And they're happy. Vastly different from Vronsky and Anna.
wordsareweapons's review against another edition
5.0
This is a massive book. I really enjoyed it though. I switched back and forth between the audio and physical book. I liked the audio for the most part. The narrator was a touch annoying after awhile. Levin and Kitty were adorable. I liked how Anna was a catalyst for a lot of the drama yet the book didn't really revolve around her. The quite long section on voting was really confusing for me, but the politics at the time were really messy so that makes sense. I'm glad I stuck this one out and knocked it off my TBR.
maragtzrbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the writing and the first part but this wasn't for me. It took me too long to finish it. Ok it was difficult to hear an audiobook of Russia in British English when my native language is Spanish...but overall I enjoyed a lot of parts of it.
gritvmd's review against another edition
5.0
I know! Another book I should have read in High School. This book deserves all the fame it's achieved- in my mind anyway. I felt so much bittersweet love for all these characters and their heartbreaks. While I was reading it- I swear they more real to me than some of the people I was interacting with. Scary right? But, the deep, soulful love and the period's political, religious and international changes make it such an engrossing novel.