Reviews

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

every_morning's review against another edition

Too long. Not enough there to justify the 36 hour length.

otterroo's review

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

3.0

stacikristine's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Wow. What a moving novel. It is extremely bleak for most of the characters most of the time, but it ends well for my favorite character. Also, I wouldn't read a modern book about these topics because there is just SO much bleakness and destructive behaviors. However, as a friend pointed out, there is clearly a sense of "look what can happen when you make these destructive choices" in this novel. The ending is beautiful. 

nananaa's review

challenging emotional funny informative reflective sad tense slow-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

4.5

Loved everything except Lenin’s manifesto about the fields. It surprised me that I could deeply empathize with Anna, Vronsky and Karenin at the same time, truly a wonderful work. 

kaletlashelle's review against another edition

4.0

Likely a 5*, due to the art of this beautifully written piece of literature with important themes which are obviously still relevant more than a century later, however, my attention span coupled with the audio version left me feeling a bit bored at times, never really attached to any of the characters.. I hoped for more emotion, some humor, maybe, and well, just more. Likely a re-read of the written version would be more impactful, maybe. Overall, I am happy to have experienced this book.

eclark93's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-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

4.0

elinakd's review against another edition

4.0

Would love to read this in the original.

bella_zaga's review

emotional reflective sad slow-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

4.0

I was literally so smitten with the first third of this book. That first chapter was such a giddy ride of prose. And then Levin started philosophizing in the fields and I was a little bored but still intrigued. And he was so relatable. Honestly, so relatable. I love Levin. And Kitty. And I was even really into the chapters from Vronsky’s pov. But I was so annoyed with Anna by the end. And the way she dragged on with her paranoia. But honestly, probably just annoyed because it’s holding up a mirror. 

Some parts I really liked:

When Levin hears the people singing after their hard work and is filled with yearning to join in but feels like he can’t move or speak until he’s left alone in their wake. And then it’s too late and he’s sad. 

When Anna reads the letter from Karenin starting with the last line because she has to know how it ends before she reads it back a little bit and then through again. 

I’m so proud of myself for reading this book. Like so damn proud. Don’t we all just want to be loved and belong? 

eforthreads's review against another edition

4.0

this book ran so more books could also run

fjette's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

I liked this a lot more than I expected to! Tolstoy really captures human emotion well in a way that feels timeless. The musings on agriculture and politics went a bit over my head, but the character studies and musings on religion were really interesting. 

All the variety, all the charm, all the beauty of life is made up of light and shadow.