messyreader's review against another edition
3.75
[…] Bij de gedachte, dat ik mij geen toestand man voorstellen, waarin het leven geen kwelling zou zijn, dat we allen geschapen zijn om te lijden en dat wij ons dit allen bewust zijn en middelen bedenken om onszelf te bedriegen. Maar wat moet je doen, wanneer je de waarheid eenmaal hebt ingezien?
- De mens heeft zijn verstand gekregen om zich te bevrijden van wat hem verontrust, zei […]
- De mens heeft zijn verstand gekregen om zich te bevrijden van wat hem verontrust, zei […]
afox98's review against another edition
4.0
I gave the book a rating over a month ago, and have been pondering what I wanted to say about it. I think I'm finally ready.
Tolstoy has a gift for making characters feel alive. These felt like real people. Their thoughts were inconsistent, open, warm, scathing, vulnerable, and realistic. The way he lets us into their minds was so incredibly well-done and you feel what they are feeling right alongside them. There were so many characters, but he made them mostly distinct through their words, thoughts, and actions, and his abilities there helped me keep them apart and further cemented their widespread connections to and among each other.
It's hard to talk too much about the story without giving plot points away. In general, there were two major characters - Anna, the married, self-destructive woman having an affair, and Levin, the Russian farmer who ponders agricultural innovation and faith. There are many characters swirling around these two, but they provide the bulk of the plot. About 3/4 of the way through, I questioned why there was so much about this Levin character in the book titled after Anna, but then I read another review that noted that Levin was based loosely on Tolstoy himself, so that made more sense.
The book was long. Very long. Might be the longest novel I've read (600+ pages). But it rarely felt dull or tedious, even through the long ponderings of Levin about the farming system. That's a testament to Tolstoy's writing skill if even that kept me interested. I also learned a lot about Russian politics and way of life during that time. Fascinating book.
Tolstoy has a gift for making characters feel alive. These felt like real people. Their thoughts were inconsistent, open, warm, scathing, vulnerable, and realistic. The way he lets us into their minds was so incredibly well-done and you feel what they are feeling right alongside them. There were so many characters, but he made them mostly distinct through their words, thoughts, and actions, and his abilities there helped me keep them apart and further cemented their widespread connections to and among each other.
It's hard to talk too much about the story without giving plot points away. In general, there were two major characters - Anna, the married, self-destructive woman having an affair, and Levin, the Russian farmer who ponders agricultural innovation and faith. There are many characters swirling around these two, but they provide the bulk of the plot. About 3/4 of the way through, I questioned why there was so much about this Levin character in the book titled after Anna, but then I read another review that noted that Levin was based loosely on Tolstoy himself, so that made more sense.
The book was long. Very long. Might be the longest novel I've read (600+ pages). But it rarely felt dull or tedious, even through the long ponderings of Levin about the farming system. That's a testament to Tolstoy's writing skill if even that kept me interested. I also learned a lot about Russian politics and way of life during that time. Fascinating book.
desdemona003's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bibliomaniac33's review against another edition
5.0
I won't provide a summary, as there are thousands of those to be found if you like. I will simply say,
that this was one of the most profound reads of my life. I am glad I didn't read it earlier, as I think much would have been lost upon me. I am also reading a lot of CS Lewis, Pieper and Sayers right now, and the ideas all seemed to coalesce for me in the ending chapters of the book. It is a stunning story, and Tolstoy's character development and insight in the minds and hearts of men and women is second to none.
It is not an easy read, but easy reads rarely leave one with much to ponder afterwards. If you are considering reading this book, I can only say do so. Read it slowly. I was told by someone much wiser and better spoken that I, that all persons considering marriage would do well to read this book. I could not agree more, although my initial assumptions of why he made that recommendation were significantly changed after reading it, from what I assumed in the initial chapters. This is not a book about a fallen woman. It is a book about finding meaning outside of ourselves or others. About finding meaning in something greater. I do believe this is a book I will return to again in a year or so, as there is so much to be gained from it. Words fail me at the impact this story has had. Read it.
that this was one of the most profound reads of my life. I am glad I didn't read it earlier, as I think much would have been lost upon me. I am also reading a lot of CS Lewis, Pieper and Sayers right now, and the ideas all seemed to coalesce for me in the ending chapters of the book. It is a stunning story, and Tolstoy's character development and insight in the minds and hearts of men and women is second to none.
It is not an easy read, but easy reads rarely leave one with much to ponder afterwards. If you are considering reading this book, I can only say do so. Read it slowly. I was told by someone much wiser and better spoken that I, that all persons considering marriage would do well to read this book. I could not agree more, although my initial assumptions of why he made that recommendation were significantly changed after reading it, from what I assumed in the initial chapters. This is not a book about a fallen woman. It is a book about finding meaning outside of ourselves or others. About finding meaning in something greater. I do believe this is a book I will return to again in a year or so, as there is so much to be gained from it. Words fail me at the impact this story has had. Read it.
arae0311's review against another edition
5.0
Despite how much I dunk on Tolstoy irl, the two novels of his I've read (this being second) have blown me away. I dare say I even preferred Anna Karenina to War and Peace. Maybe I was just projecting as someone who grew up in my own fair share of family drama, but still.
Regardless, this book had me crying at points (which is extremely rare for me), and up all night thinking. Take that as a good or bad thing.
This book does have a lot of Tolstoy's weaker points in it (repetition, weird philosophical tangents and whatever Levin's spiritual awakening was) BUT it's made up for by the brilliant narrative and realistic, although not sympathetic, characters.
Regardless, this book had me crying at points (which is extremely rare for me), and up all night thinking. Take that as a good or bad thing.
This book does have a lot of Tolstoy's weaker points in it (repetition, weird philosophical tangents and whatever Levin's spiritual awakening was) BUT it's made up for by the brilliant narrative and realistic, although not sympathetic, characters.
tamara_mousa's review against another edition
5.0
There is a summary about it in my blog - https://www.tamarayousefmousa.com/
elif1oner's review against another edition
5.0
Before I began reading Anna Karenina (and well, after seeing Anna Karenina the film, which left me disappointed and depressed, yet also provoked me to read the book), I knew it would be life-changing for me. What I didn't know was how much I would relate to Levin, a character I ignored while watching the film, and how much his story would move me.
Anna Karenina, surprisingly not only about Anna Karenina herself but rather about pretty much everything that has to do with life, also ended with the very conclusion that I had struggled to come to terms with ever since I started looking for answers to 'meaning' of life.
Anna Karenina might not end up being the life-changing book that initially expected it to be, the journey it took me on gave me all the thoughts and emotions I, turns out, needed from it. Therefore, I guess I am indeed happy to conclude it together with Levin.
And, yes. This is is the best novel ever written.
Anna Karenina, surprisingly not only about Anna Karenina herself but rather about pretty much everything that has to do with life, also ended with the very conclusion that I had struggled to come to terms with ever since I started looking for answers to 'meaning' of life.
Anna Karenina might not end up being the life-changing book that initially expected it to be, the journey it took me on gave me all the thoughts and emotions I, turns out, needed from it. Therefore, I guess I am indeed happy to conclude it together with Levin.
And, yes. This is is the best novel ever written.
kcoccia's review against another edition
1.0
Finally! Thank God that book is over! Seriously if I had to actually read this it would never have happened but since there was a free audio book on YouTube I couldn't really talk myself out of it. Let me tell you.. I hate this book... And I hate everyone in it. They're all so annoying and whiny and dramatic and good God...shut up! I read a review earlier from someone else who hates this book and I couldnt have said it better myself:
"I never imagined that I would become a book burner. That all changed the day Anna Karenina, that insufferable, whiny, pathetic, pain in the ass, finally jumped off the platform and killed herself" -Brad
Be my best friend please! Now I wont burn the book...cause its pretty... but seriously...awful!
"I never imagined that I would become a book burner. That all changed the day Anna Karenina, that insufferable, whiny, pathetic, pain in the ass, finally jumped off the platform and killed herself" -Brad
Be my best friend please! Now I wont burn the book...cause its pretty... but seriously...awful!
ghoulishtoast's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.0