Scan barcode
A review by mudder17
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
4.0
4-4.5
This was my first foray into Russian literature and I'm glad I started with this one. The Russian names were challenging for me, but Maggie Gyllenhaal is a wonderful reader and between her and the translation, I felt this book was very accessible. I think I might have gotten even more out of it if I had been reading it with someone and able to discuss it. Although this is called Anna Karenina, Kitty and Levin is what made the story for me. I loved Levin and his questioning of everything, and when he made socially awkward mistakes, I so felt for him because it was so relatable for me. Watching him come to grips with his own faith was inspiring and made me love him all the more. Poor Anna--I just watched her spiral downhill and felt so bad for her. In another time, things could have been so different. While I don't condone her affair, the fact is that she entered into a loveless marriage with a man who was 20 years older. I'd like to think that if she were living today, she could have legally and much more easily have obtained a divorce as well as access to her son. It was frustrating that there was such a double standard with men and women at the time, so that Vronsky could continue going out with friends, but she was basically isolated from everyone except for him. And he couldn't see it and only saw how much he gave up for her. Anyway, I did very much enjoy this book and will have to think about which classic tome I want to tackle next!
This was my first foray into Russian literature and I'm glad I started with this one. The Russian names were challenging for me, but Maggie Gyllenhaal is a wonderful reader and between her and the translation, I felt this book was very accessible. I think I might have gotten even more out of it if I had been reading it with someone and able to discuss it. Although this is called Anna Karenina, Kitty and Levin is what made the story for me. I loved Levin and his questioning of everything, and when he made socially awkward mistakes, I so felt for him because it was so relatable for me. Watching him come to grips with his own faith was inspiring and made me love him all the more. Poor Anna--I just watched her spiral downhill and felt so bad for her. In another time, things could have been so different. While I don't condone her affair, the fact is that she entered into a loveless marriage with a man who was 20 years older. I'd like to think that if she were living today, she could have legally and much more easily have obtained a divorce as well as access to her son. It was frustrating that there was such a double standard with men and women at the time, so that Vronsky could continue going out with friends, but she was basically isolated from everyone except for him. And he couldn't see it and only saw how much he gave up for her. Anyway, I did very much enjoy this book and will have to think about which classic tome I want to tackle next!