book data
101 ratings, 3.38 average rating, 40 reviews
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published
August 12th 2008
by Touchstone
binding
Hardcover, 256 pages
setting
Unknown
isbn
1416558934
(isbn13: 9781416558934)
description
A mesmerizing debut novel that reimagines Tolstoy's classic tragedy, Anna Karenina, for our time
Vivacious thirty-seven-year-old...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 429)
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Read in August, 2008
Where to begin...I am an ardent fan of the original Anna Karenina, written by Tolstoy who can deftly balance tragedy and simple beauty without coming off as maudlin or overwrought. The idea of bringing Anna into modern day New York was very interesting to me, and I was excited to see how Irena did this. It turned out to be a cute book, a quick read, a good "book for the time being until something really good turned up". Not one of the characters were likeable, they were all horrible...more
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Read in June, 2008
I read this book primarily because it's being considered for a book fair. I'll admit, the cover page intrigued me. A tale of a young woman searching for love --all the good stuff. This book, based on the story of Anna Karenina by Tolstoy is set in modern day NYC with Anna K, a woman of 30-40ish years old. I have never read Tolstoy's story so I cannot compare the 2.
Although I enjoyed reading about the impact of immigration on Anna and her family, the daily lives of Russian immigrants, and so...more
Although I enjoyed reading about the impact of immigration on Anna and her family, the daily lives of Russian immigrants, and so...more
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Read in November, 2008
I really love Anna Karenina, and I'm eager to go back and re-read it now. I remember Tolstoy's characters being much more likeable, but I'm not sure if that's because they were written better or with more empathy ... or whether it's easier to sympathize with characters dealing with the constraints of their time.
Anna K in modern NYC has more liberation and, despite the trappings of culture (expectations for Russian-American Jews) and wealth (trying to live up to it), it's hard to like her. ...more
Anna K in modern NYC has more liberation and, despite the trappings of culture (expectations for Russian-American Jews) and wealth (trying to live up to it), it's hard to like her. ...more
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Read in December, 2008
I was excited to read this book, intrigued by the idea of Anna's character. Towards the middle of the book, I felt it drag. The only character I found remotely likeable was Katia, Anna's younger cousin, and only because I felt sorry for her being overshadowed by Anna. Overall, I found the characters dull and underdeveloped. I think we, as readers, are supposed to feel sorry for Anna, but I just kept getting annoyed by her and her stupid, selfish "choices". About the last third of ...more
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Read in September, 2008
recommended to Irene by:
Jeans
I've never read Anna Karenina. This novel is a modern twist on a character based on the Anna Karenina of Tolstoy's imagination. Here's what I liked.
The idea that the character can be placed anywere in time anywhere in the world and still be believable.
The milieu of the characters and the Russian Jewish immigrant community of the NY boroughs, of which I am a product.
The fact that not all readers of this novel will have an inkling of the "inside jokes" written herein. Thi...more
The idea that the character can be placed anywere in time anywhere in the world and still be believable.
The milieu of the characters and the Russian Jewish immigrant community of the NY boroughs, of which I am a product.
The fact that not all readers of this novel will have an inkling of the "inside jokes" written herein. Thi...more
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Read in September, 2008
This is a great spin on the Tolstoy classic. However Tolstoy's novel was about a society that lacked moral direction, Reyn's book is about depression and how it can isolate and destroy people. Her Anna K suffers from deep depression, she can't believe she is any good for her lover, and ironically cuts herself off for the person she dared everything for. This irony drives her character. This novel is about the wages of sin, and is a wonderful gloss on Tolstoy's novel.
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I've never read Anna Karenina, and I know this book is a modern day retelling of that classic tale. Still, I know enough about Tolstoy's story to know that this modern day retelling certainly follows Tolstoy's plot line. Purists who love the original may be upset over this retelling, but I enjoyed the story. I think the author did a good job writing the story, and I found the characters interesting and their decisions and morals (or lack of them?!) intriguing.
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Read in December, 2008
A modern day adaptation of Tolstoy's Anna Kerenina. I loved the original...this adaptation is taking a while to draw me in.
In the end it may have been more my mood than the book itself but I just couldn't get into this, even thought I really wanted to. :( The modern day version was less enthrawlling, not bad just not in the mood to get into it.
In the end it may have been more my mood than the book itself but I just couldn't get into this, even thought I really wanted to. :( The modern day version was less enthrawlling, not bad just not in the mood to get into it.
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Read in November, 2008
This was a fairly good book - I read it for a book club - nice twists and turns. Interesting though while is was a Russian American book it really kept up with same subplots as other books taking place in NYC - just shows you there isn't much difference in all people.
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I probably would have liked this more if I hadn't read the original Anna Karenina. Perhaps the story would have been more interesting if the author hadn't followed Tolstoy so closely.
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Read in December, 2008
Besides the entrancing story, this book was full of information about Eastern European Jews, and their culture (mostly as immigrants). Quite interesting!
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Modern retelling of Anna Karenina, written by a Russian-American, lovely writing. Interestingly, it made me think quite a lot about motherhood but I think other readers will find other themes more accessible. I highly recommend this one.
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Anna K. in the current world is less likable and far more distant and desparate than the original. My vote hands down is for the original by Leo Tolstoy.
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Read in October, 2008
This book is a modern remake of Tolstoy's Anna Karenina set in my neighborhood of Forest Hills. It is a somewhat tragic tale of people who are constantly trying to find something better in life and never satisfied juxtaposed with those that have accepted their fate in life and are at peace. I highly recommend this book as it is well written with characters that are deeply developed even if you find yourself unable to relate to them or even hate them. It was definitely a page turner and has ca...more
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Nice work my friend and fellow Benny grad:)
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Read in September, 2008
Like reading a train wreck. Even though I enjoyed reading it and didn't necessarily get bored, it was too...cosmopolitan, too glossy, too precocious. Too New York. There's a reason I live in rural, mountainous NC: I don't care for the glamorous lifestyle, pricetags, and pretention. I didn't like a single character. So why did I like it, I ask myself. Honestly, I don't know, but I kind of did. It was horrifying, but secretly gratifying to peer in at this mess.
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