A review by klingcooper
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A story rich in texture and beautiful writing especially when detailing the countryside and the mundane aspects of day to day life. I admit that I got lost a bit in the political turmoils and cared very little about the political plots that the men dealt with in their careers, but there was much humor in it as well. I often felt so repulsed and frustrated with the actions and thoughts and hypocrisies of various characters but I suppose it really is a fantastic portrait of the human condition; to love and to suffer and to hope and to dream and to fear. I appreciate much of the richness in inner dialogue that I find to be consistent in late 19th century Russian lit (I personally loved Dostoevsky’s The Idiot). I cared very little for Vronsky and Anna’s storyline to be honest but could not help feeling much pity for the titular character, even at times when I felt like she (and Vronsky and Karenin) acted as a coward lacking insight. Perhaps I am being harsh. I definitely resonated with the complex feelings of jealousy and insecurity as was dealt with by so many of the characters.

Having just finished this book a mere five minutes ago, I do look back at the journey with fondness, and I especially appreciated the final chapters of Levin’s internal reckoning with spiritual mysticism.
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