Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
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Book Reviews of Anna Karenina
Book Review: An Entirely Readable Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
Finally, an interesting, timeless and understandable classic that has at least one character that will appeal and bring recognition to every reader, Tolstoy is a master at storytelling and this epic novel is absolutely exquisite.
The title character, Anna Karenina, is the essence of selfishness and seduction, living life as a married and wealthy woman who abhors her older husband she finds another truth. In parallel another searching soul, Konstantin Levin, finds a different truth following a deep and abiding heart. Tolstoy mastered the ability to include two stories into one with this novel almost giving his readers a choice between living life right and choosing to live life wrong. The results convey the consequences of each character's actions. Interestingly enough the two main characters never directly connect until the novel comes towards its end although Anna and Levin have been remotely connected through other characters throughout the book. The story is complex but certainly far from cumbersome.
As for the tragic romance of the character Anna Karenina I found her to be unkind at best. She may be extraordinarily beautiful and capable of seducing the charms of any man but she never fooled me. As a woman I began by feeling sorry for her desperation and her confusion over loving security versus passion. But I soon realized that she is a grown woman, spoiled and pampered but most importantly a mother and I felt her choices should have been more responsible. Her life reflects her inability to make mature decisions and I often thought back to the exuberance and silliness of youth as I read her tale. By the end of the novel I was not surprised to find her ultimate choice completely wrapped up in herself and in disregard for anyone she ever "loved." Tolstoy clearly captured all the excess of a life lived for oneself and the self-absorption of the beautiful in his title character.
I found my heart following Konstantin Levin in his liberal pursuit of happiness and connection to the world. He turns away from the profanities of wealth and becomes a hands-on farmer with an understanding for the poor muzhiks who sow his fields by his side. Levin represents the hard working class and he gives voice to his servants rather than abusing them as the rich tend to do. He is a man tortured by questions regarding his faith and if God in fact exists. This exploration by Tolstoy is mind opening and something to read often. Levin is a character who knows about love, both unrequited and committed and this character is a man after my heart! His strength is in his being and his richness in his soul while the rest of society insists on finding their wealth superficially he maintains an integrity not found in other characters. I will be forever perplexed as to why this classic tale did not carry Levin's name rather than Anna's.
I recommend this novel to everyone! Despite its length and the intimidation of being a classic written by a Russian it is an easy and absorbing read. The complexities of each character are well thought out and explained in many ways by Tolstoy. This novel is worthy of its classic status because it is timeless. All of the triumphs and tragedies of life and love in this 1870's novel apply strangely enough today and it is completely relatable. My favorite line from this immense novel is, "If good has a cause, it is no longer the good; if it has a consequence - a reward - it is also not the good. Therefore the good is outside the chain of cause and effect." Tolstoy not only writes brilliantly but he teaches with great enlightenment as well. The wealth in this novel is not with Anna Karenina but in Tolstoy's constant message to live life well and to seek personal fulfillment outside of the inhibitions of love.
Book Review: A deeply human book that repays many re-readings
Summary: 5 Stars
Why on earth would anyone bother to write another review of so famous and exhaustively-studied a book as "Anna Karenina"?
The world has changed immensely since the book was written in the late 19th century.
Reviews have probably also changed over the years, reflecting the times in which they were written - and the changing nature of reviews themselves. In fact, it would be an interesting academic exercise to read how reviews of the book have changed since its publication.
Each new review provides new interpretations, new insights to add to those of former times.
Sometimes we are put off from reading classic writers such as Tolstoy because we think their works must be too intellectual, too boring, - or set in social and political contexts that have long-vanished and become difficult for modern readers to empathise with.
I have often felt that way myself, and have put off reading "Anna Karenina" until now. Yet I can say, after reading Tolstoy's masterpiece, that the book is enjoyable and accessible to modern readers.
Of course, only the greatest of literature survives the passage of time. The world of pre-revolutionary Russia has been swept away, but "Anna Karenina" tells us of fundamental human drives that will always engage the human spirit and imagination.
Tolstoy's human portraits and his psychological insights are the outstanding features of this book. One of the pleasures of such excellent characterisations lies in reflecting on one's own life and motivations, one's dreams and failures.
Tolstoy's characters also remind us of people we know - and of ourselves. It is very pleasant to slide into reflections of this nature as one reads passages in the book. The book becomes a trigger for our own reveries. It is a deeply human book.
Not only is Tolstoy an excellent depicter of character, he is also gifted in his descriptions of country life, farming and nature. Passages describing cutting hay and the rural life of Russian peasants are simply beautiful.
There is a wonderful episode in which Levin finally gets a "Yes" from the girl he loves (but had tried to ignore following an earlier rejection). Levin goes about in a daze, all is wonderful in the world, everyone he meets is intelligent and kind, even strangers seem to know all about his acceptance (so he thinks in his fog of joy) and he feels they vie with one another to be kind to him! Every man who has ever loved deeply and won his lady will instantly empathise with the situation that Tolstoy describes so well and wittily.
There are wonderful portrayals of family life. Not in a cloying, saccharine sense, but in a very natural and moving way and in a deeply human sense, as true today as in Tolstoy's time.
There are so many beautiful scenes in this book. Every reader will have their own favourites. Some can be read many times with equal enjoyment.
For the philosophical and spiritual reader, there are many passages that have an almost religious significance, as if this were a holy book and not a work of fiction.
Time is not explicitly spelt out and one has no precise idea of the exact timescale of the book while one is reading. Durations and periods of elapsed time are given, but there is a certain timelessness and agelessness about the book that is very apt.
Read this book. You will not be disappointed and will find much to love.
Book Review: Anna, sweet Anna
Summary: 5 Stars
"Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." That line opens and sets the tone of "Anna Karenina," a tangled and tragic tale of nineteenth century Russia. Tolstoy's story of lovers and family is interlaced with razor-sharp social commentary and odd moments that are almost transcendent. In other words, this is a masterpiece.
When Stepan Oblonsky has an affair with the governess, his wife says that she's leaving him, and now the family is about to disintegrate. Stepan's sister Anna arrives to smooth over their marital problems, and consoles his wife Dolly until she agrees to stay. But on the train there, she met the outspoken Countess Vronsky, and the countess's dashing son, who is semi-engaged to Dolly's sister Kitty.
Anna and Vronsky start to fall in love -- despite the fact that Anna has been married for ten years, to a wealthy husband she doesn't care about, and has a young son. Even so, Anna rejects her loveless marriage and becomes the center of scandal and public hypocrisy, and even becomes pregnany by Vronsky. As she prepares to jump ship and get a divorce, Anna becomes a victim of her own passions...
That isn't the entire story, actually -- Tolstoy weaves in other plots, about disintegrating families, new marriages, and the melancholy Levin's constant search for God, truth, and goodness. Despite the grim storyline about adultery, and the social commentary, there's an almost transcendent quality to some of Tolstoy's writing. It's the most optimistic tragic book I've ever read.
For some reason, Tolstoy called this his "first novel," even though he had already written some before that. Perhaps it's because "Anna Karenina" tackles so many questions and themes, and does so without ever dropping the ball. No wonder it's so long and imposing -- Tolstoy covered a lot of ground in here.
And while "Anna Karenina" was not the first book he wrote, it is probably the deepest and most moving. Tolstoy steeps the book in social commentary, and his personal philosophies. It's also one of those books that takes a very long time to move itself forward -- Tolstoy's writing is slow and ponderous, with a lot of serious discussion about religion and relationships. But his intense, slightly rough writing is worth it.
In some tragic books, you get the feeling that the author really despises his characters, and doesn't really care what happens to them. Tolstoy never gives you that feeling -- no matter how annoying his characters are, they always have something interesting or endearing. No caricatures at all -- even Anna's irritating, arrogant brother is given some quirks to make him seem real.
Oddly enough, the most moving character here is not Anna, but Konstantin Levin -- the tortured, passionate landowner is so earnest that it's difficult not to care about him. Apparently he was Tolstoy's alter ego, which explains his depth. But Anna and Vronsky are strong leads, a passionate pair who are both selfish and seductive, but never boring.
A beautiful look at living right vs. living wrong, "Anna Karenina" is a truly magnificent book. This book is undoubtedly Tolstoy's opus, and a stunning look at human nature.
Book Review: Exquisite Art
Summary: 5 Stars
This superb novel presents readers with Anna Karenina, the trapped and bored wife of a Russian gentleman who, despite her staid and comfortable life, chooses to toss everything out the window in pursuit of a foppish count. Modern readers may admire her spunk and independence, but in Tolstoy's world, shallow behavior brings consequences, not least in the eyes of high society.
Tolstoy also sketches a vivid portrait of nineteenth-century Russia, which is expertly conveyed by translators Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky; many times during the novel I almost felt I'd walked straight into the scenery. The author does a splendid job of exploring the vicissitudes of landowner culture, too, but by no means does he dwell on related polemics. Tolstoy's a lot like Levin, the somewhat autobiographical character: more interested in hunting with his bird dog than in dealing with the more disappointing and materialist world of people. One of my favorite passages entails Tolstoy's elaborate description of the heroine, not as a person, but as a painting. It's as if here, in art, Tolstoy finds true beauty and transcendence.
The lady's also a bit of a mystery: that is, Tolstoy adroitly (and wisely) refuses to define her motives precisely. Why does she behave in this callous, maddening and self-destructive way? Doesn't she care about the effect on her family? Her vows? Her God? Although Tolstoy does explore ontological themes like God versus rationalism and man versus nature, he shrouds his protagonist in grey. She's well-developed, and the novel hints at her upbringing and rationale, but like Scarlett O'Hara in Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind, we're ultimately left throwing up our hands in exasperation as Karenina melts into the bile of her own mistakes.
At 838 pages, this novel's a whopper: we 21st century folk don't always have (or take) the time to savor something this vast, and for those who'd love to but can't, I recommend checking out Anna Karenina: In Half the Time (Compact Editions). But this translation is a PEN/Book of the Month Club prize winner for a reason, and if you can spare a chapter a day or thereabouts and set your expectations accordingly, you'll be rewarded with a fine literary experience.
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Book Review: A beautiful mosaic of interlinked stories ...
Summary: 5 Stars
"Anna Karenina" (1873-7) is a book that could be compared to a beautiful mosaic of interlinked stories. Thanks to Tolstoy's book, we get to know characters who sometimes seem so real that we cannot help but living with them the series of events that are recounted in this book.Who are the main characters?. Well, we might begin by telling something about Anna Karenina, the woman who gives this book its title. Anna is someone who has found some satisfaction in a marriage to a husband she doesn't love. Her life isn't exciting, but she is comfortable, and has a son that means everything to her. Her world will be shaken when a nobleman, Count Vronsky, falls in love with her. He pursuits Anna until he convinces her to become his lover, indulging in an adulterous affair. But... will he go on loving her, even after she risks all for him?. And did she do the right thing, by following her heart without thinking about the consequences of her actions?.
There are many more characters, but I would like to highlight one of them: Levin. Levin is a rather eccentric gentleman farmer, who worries about things like the meaning of life, and allows the reader to share with him the kind of doubts that many have had, but few voice. He ends up finding happiness, but his path is not easy, especially because he is prone to reflect on issues that cause him anguish. His story is linked at the beginning of the book to that of Anna and Vronsky because the woman he loves, Kitty Shcherbatskaya, thinks she loves Vronsky. However, as the story advances, you will probably end up comparing Anna and Vronsky's relationship to that of Kitty and Levin. One is all drama, and passion; the other, calm and contentment. Which one is better?. And according to whom?.
I want to point out how well Tolstoy depicted 19th century Russian society, especially the differences between social classes and how much hypocrisy permeated the moral codes of polite society. If you pay close attention you will notice that several themes also to be found in other classics are recurrent in "Anna Karenina". One of them is fate, and some of the others are the omnipresence of death, the meaning of life, and the power of faith. There are many more things I would like to say about this book, but I think you will do better if you start to read "Anna Karenina" right now, instead of spending more of your time reading a long review such as this one :)
On the whole, I highly recommend this book. It is one of those few books that don't allow you to remain indifferent. You might hate it or love it, but it will necessarily make you think about several important subjects, whilst reading a good story.
Belen Alcat