Reviews tagging 'Death'

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

70 reviews

molly_greenshields's review against another edition

challenging 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

She's only gone and completed one of her biggest literary goals of the year! After all, isn't Anna Karenina one of the greatest works of literature of all time? And although I went into this 800+ page beast... slightly daunted to say the least, I actually ended up having a lot of fun! I was living for the sheer drama and scandal of Russian Society (fair warning: Anna Karenina is just the tip of the iceberg), and Tolstoy's prose was just stunning (it's true that he actually had me laughing aloud from time to time) Loved, loved, loved.

I will readily admit, however, that I did skim over Levin's musings on scythes and agriculture...

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infidelity, and Suicide

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting

saroreen's review against another edition

reflective sad slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Moderate: Alcoholism and Toxic relationship

Minor: Addiction and Violence

natgoe's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Death

yolanda_h's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Death and Pregnancy

julygiu's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

thewrongalice's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Xenophobia and War

anna_catherine73's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

I absolutely adored this book, Anna and Vronsky’s tragedy was captivating. However I found most of Levin’s passages (particularly about farming) very mundane and dull - its a pity Tolstoy did not have an editor!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

madsness's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

One of my favorite books I read this fall. I truly think if you are going to choose a longer Tolstoy work that this is the one to go with. It's all about love, god, and truly one of the most insane breakdowns I've ever seen in my life. While the farming parts are oh-so-slow, I have to admit they are masterfully done. Take your time and try to chunk it out!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Infidelity, Violence, and War

Minor: Racism, Xenophobia, and Antisemitism

bookish_bry's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

Overall I enjoyed Anna Karenina. It had a lot of interesting and complex characters. I found each of them being my favorite at different points in the novel (except Vronsky whom I did not particularly like) and I found myself annoyed with them at different times. 

The foreshadowing was done great. I especially liked how

trains were constantly mentioned throughout the book foreshadowing Anna's eventual suicide. The horse metaphor was also pretty well done.

 

It did drag in some places, though really what can you expect from a book of this length, and while I understood the strategy behind the last part

after Anna's suicide, Levin's revelation wasn't particularly interesting to me. I actually disagree with the choice to not share his spiritual thoughts with Kitty and think that could have been a more satisfying ending to me personally.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Grief and Classism

Minor: Sexism, Antisemitism, and War

Most of this book revolves around adultery and suicidal thoughts and actions.

edwardian_girl_next_door's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Drug abuse, Medical content, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment