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erikstl's review against another edition
5.0
It only took 6 weeks, but I finished it! Surprisingly good book.
vex97's review against another edition
3.0
Anna Karenina is piecewise a literary masterpiece, piecewise a complete, moralizing bore.
I'll start with what I didn't like: the Levin half of the story. I found Levin to be a neurotic and jealous hypocrite who was aware and guilty of his class privilege but abetted said privilege at every opportunity. Additionally, Levin was used as a vehicle for Tolstoy's patriarchal, pro-natalist, pro-marriage, pro-family, and pro-Christian views, all which I not only find disagreeable but also reprehensible to an extent. As a matter of fact, Tolstoy's outdated morals pervade throughout the text and renders female characters as nothing more than helpless and submissive. Take Kitty, for example. After her marriage to Levin, her character is relegated to a personality-less mother whose only role is to child rear. Another character who expressed Tolstoy's toxic views was Dolly. In her trip to see Anna at Vronsky's estate, Dolly realizes how terrible and suffering her life is because of her role as a submissive, child-rearing wife in charge of taking care of brats. But for whatever "spiritual" reason, she gets "her senses back" after her visit with Anna and accepts her role as a submissive wife. Indeed, you will never see a woman engaged in one of the many intellectual (and frankly boring) discussions dispersed throughout the book. And of course, one cannot ignore the elephant in the room—namely, throwing Anna "under the bus" for her decision to leave her unloving husband and pursue her own happiness. While I do agree with the lesson that the fulfillment of one's desires does not make one happy, I fail to see how Anna would be happier if she stuck with her dogmatic husband.
As to what I liked, the Anna and Vronsky part of the story is sublime. For more than a century, people have sung the praises of Tolstoy's story-telling for a reason. I won't go into too much people as others have expressed more clearly what exactly makes Tolstoy a great writer.
I'll start with what I didn't like: the Levin half of the story. I found Levin to be a neurotic and jealous hypocrite who was aware and guilty of his class privilege but abetted said privilege at every opportunity. Additionally, Levin was used as a vehicle for Tolstoy's patriarchal, pro-natalist, pro-marriage, pro-family, and pro-Christian views, all which I not only find disagreeable but also reprehensible to an extent. As a matter of fact, Tolstoy's outdated morals pervade throughout the text and renders female characters as nothing more than helpless and submissive. Take Kitty, for example. After her marriage to Levin, her character is relegated to a personality-less mother whose only role is to child rear. Another character who expressed Tolstoy's toxic views was Dolly. In her trip to see Anna at Vronsky's estate, Dolly realizes how terrible and suffering her life is because of her role as a submissive, child-rearing wife in charge of taking care of brats. But for whatever "spiritual" reason, she gets "her senses back" after her visit with Anna and accepts her role as a submissive wife. Indeed, you will never see a woman engaged in one of the many intellectual (and frankly boring) discussions dispersed throughout the book. And of course, one cannot ignore the elephant in the room—namely, throwing Anna "under the bus" for her decision to leave her unloving husband and pursue her own happiness. While I do agree with the lesson that the fulfillment of one's desires does not make one happy, I fail to see how Anna would be happier if she stuck with her dogmatic husband.
As to what I liked, the Anna and Vronsky part of the story is sublime. For more than a century, people have sung the praises of Tolstoy's story-telling for a reason. I won't go into too much people as others have expressed more clearly what exactly makes Tolstoy a great writer.
karinajperez's review against another edition
4.0
“I think...if it is true that there are as many minds as there are heads, then there are as many kinds of love as there are hearts.”
Tolstoy wrote for the masses<3
Tolstoy wrote for the masses<3
falchionm's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Toxic relationship, Death, War, Infidelity, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, Grief, and Emotional abuse
haroonsherjan's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
clemencybelle's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
relaxing
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
emiliaharmuth's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
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
4.25
r0sem4rie's review against another edition
5.0
Reading Anna Karenina feels like looking at a renaissance painting. A painting enveloped in a veil of beauty and tragedy. Anna Karenina is written in such eloquent language, so rich in detail and profound depth.
I feel like I’ve lived an entire life with these characters and I am so deeply attached and have so much love for so many of them, all Tolstoy’s characters are so insanely well written. I especially fell in love with Anna, Dolly and Varenka. I loved the friendship between Kitty and Varenka and I wish Varenka featured more throughout the book.
Tolstoy's nuanced portrayal of his characters makes them feel incredibly real and human — making it very hard not to sympathise with them, even when they make silly silly decisions.
Anna’s story is so sad and I am never recovering from the ending of part 7. Her story will forever be my favourite. She’s such a complex character and despite all her faults I can’t help but love her.
“All the variety, all the charm, all the beauty of life is made up of light and shadow.”
She is one of the best characters I’ve ever encountered and I think of her daily. I think she might even be my favourite character of all time. I want to reread this entire book again and again just for her and Dolly.
This book has been constantly on my mind ever since I finished it. Beautifully written, so stunning. This is simply a beautiful beautiful book.
“He looked at her as a man might look at a faded flower he had plucked, in which it was difficult for him to trace the beauty that had made him pick and so destroy it.”
I feel like I’ve lived an entire life with these characters and I am so deeply attached and have so much love for so many of them, all Tolstoy’s characters are so insanely well written. I especially fell in love with Anna, Dolly and Varenka. I loved the friendship between Kitty and Varenka and I wish Varenka featured more throughout the book.
Tolstoy's nuanced portrayal of his characters makes them feel incredibly real and human — making it very hard not to sympathise with them, even when they make silly silly decisions.
Anna’s story is so sad and I am never recovering from the ending of part 7. Her story will forever be my favourite. She’s such a complex character and despite all her faults I can’t help but love her.
“All the variety, all the charm, all the beauty of life is made up of light and shadow.”
She is one of the best characters I’ve ever encountered and I think of her daily. I think she might even be my favourite character of all time. I want to reread this entire book again and again just for her and Dolly.
This book has been constantly on my mind ever since I finished it. Beautifully written, so stunning. This is simply a beautiful beautiful book.
“He looked at her as a man might look at a faded flower he had plucked, in which it was difficult for him to trace the beauty that had made him pick and so destroy it.”
francesca_eli's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
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