Jessica’s
Comments
(group member since Jan 02, 2013)
Jessica’s
comments
from the Classics Without All the Class group.
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Pandora
Kgwhitehurst wrote: "Jessica wrote: "Alana wrote: "Is it called Anna Karenina in the original Russian title? Or is it that way in the English version because traditionally women have taken their husband's last name, an..."I thought it mentions how Anna was raised later in the novel...It's only in a paragraph not 3 pages worth. But I thought I remembered reading it.
sunglasses
I wanted to get you guys' opinion on something I noticed.Would any of you consider Ender's Game a classic? I noticed on goodreads and other places some do consider it one. What are your thoughts on this?
over
Alana wrote: "Is it called Anna Karenina in the original Russian title? Or is it that way in the English version because traditionally women have taken their husband's last name, and it would have been confusing..."I looked around online to see what I could find. This is an image of the 1878 publication. It would be Anna Karenina in it's translation.
https://www.google.com/search?q=anna+...
I would assume readers during that time would have been able to figure out that Arkadyevna was her maiden name. I think it is noted as such in the book.
@Daniel I believe so. I read some cliff notes and that is one of Tolstoy's themes. the importance of family at a time when it was not top priority in the Russian household at this time continues throughout the novel. I never made the connection about her maiden name being used. You brought it all together for me. Good connection.
I, finally, started watching Hannibal. It is pretty daaaaaang fantastic! Madds is an awesome Hannibal. Downside to watching this show is I want delicious 5 star food and a bottle of wine.
I have done pretty good. I am 18/30 right now I am predicting to exceed my original. Always better to shoot low so you can get excited when you go beyond. I have been reading a lot more classics, which was my other goal. This has made me branch out in the genres I read too. All around its looking to be a good reading year. Success!
When I began this book, I had no idea what to expect. I knew adultery was involved and that Anna dies in the end. I prepared myself for an epic tragedy and a lengthy read. I found something more inside of it though. For me, it was a story about how women see themselves. Every woman, at some point, has the negative picture of herself pop into her head. It is hard image to recreate positively, once the negativity has seeded itself. This image is even more difficult to move past when one is faced with societal views. While this was written in the 19th century Russian society, it is something every woman continues to deal with throughout our history. From the single girl who thinks she will never marry because she ruined her chance, to the mother who stays with the adulterous husband because it is better for the children, to the unhappy unloved woman who finds happiness and love in the words/actions of other men giving her the attention she craves at home. The inner monologues Tolstoy writes invokes sympathy from the reader (I believe I had this emotion for every character except Stiva). While the ending of Anna's life is extremely tragic. It didn't really phase me like I thought it would. I feel so insensitive saying that, but it's true...What can you do? I didn't feel terribly sorry for her in the end. Maybe it was all the foreshadowing or maybe it was just that her paranoia became overwhelming even for me, the reader. However, Levin's ending made me smile. He finds love in his son and happiness/understanding of where is faith lies.
I am glad I read such a monster of a book. It has given me the confidence to read more of them. Atlas Shrugged and Les Miserables do not look so intimidating now. Granted, it will be a while before I pick another one up, but I will do it.
Susan wrote: "Jessica wrote: "There was quite a climax of emotions in this part. Although I new what Anna's fate was, I think it is clear that this is her only way out early on. I don't think she was able to be ..."I thought the meeting was fabulous. I wish I could have watched it rather than read it...which makes me want to grab the movie now. I did a little bit of reading through sparknotes and such and found that Levin and Anna are like mirrors of each other. However Anna chooses one route with her nature and happiness and Levin another. I didn't realize, until I read some cliffnotes, that I was actually anticipating their meeting throughout the book. I wanted them to come face to face with each other. Levin is captivated by Anna like every other man. He fell for the smile, radiance, and passion just like everyone else. But where most men were seduced by this he seemed more interested in her. Does that make sense? As if he wanted to study her like he does everything else.
I thought it was interesting how Levin compares the portrait of Anna to herself. It goes in line with Tolstoy's theme of how the men in this novel see the women vs. how the woman actually sees herself. I love that he was able to do that and bring all together in the end with the two of them.
Wordly Wise
This section was the slowest for me. It took a while for me to get through it just because I kept getting impatient. The "big event" already happened in Part VII so...I sadly, got bored. I did find it interesting how Leving kept trying to rationalize something like religion/God/faith, which to a lot of people is irrational and cannot really be explained. It is more about emotion that explanation. The honey farm kept making me want to eat biscuits and honey (southern tasty treat if you haven't had it). I was happy with Levin's ending though. he finds the prideful, loving emotion every father should have for his son. In that love, he also finds his emotional connection to God and his faith. Oh, I also have to say that I am happy Dolly and her kids have found a happy home with Kitty and Levin. Glad to know someone ends up helping take care of her. She deserves that. I still want to punch Stepan in the face.
In terms of Vronsky's love for Anna, I am of the opinion he didn't really know what he had until she was gone. I believe he does, truly, miss her. But I do not think he, actually realizes how deeply he cared/loved her until after her suicide. It was touching to hear his mom describe the events following Anna's death. It made believe there was love present. I was saddened to find that he could not keep Annie...so sad. I think that would have at least helped give him some peace.
LaLaLa Laura wrote: "oh nice Cassie! Angie and I are going to do a book/movie comparison on the CWAtC blog next month! don't give up!! :)"
I will be listening/looking for that. I have fallen behind on myCWAtC podcasts thanks to AK. Going to check that out now lol.
I have not watched the movie yet. I am hoping to find a girlfriend to watch it with. Too bad I don't live close to some you girls! @Cassie, please, let us know what you think about the two.
I finished on Friday! Woohoo!
Part II, Chapter 6:"...There's a fable of Grimm's about a man without a shadow, a man who's lost his shadow. And that's the punishment for something. ...But a woman must dislike being without a shadow."
"Yes, but women with a shadow usually come to a bad end," said Anna's friend.
Is this a reference to John in Jane Eyre? The coincidences are too much for my mind not to have gone to Jane Eyre. Part II, Chapter 7Princes Betsy is discussing her visit to Countess Lidia when she mentions Sir John. Followed by this:
"Oh, that's the missionary?"
"Yes, he told us about the life in India, most interesting of things."
I love this quote so much. It sums up, to me, what being a sister is. There are moments of explosive emotion, but you understand each other in a way no one else can so you forgive and move on.Part II, Chapter 3: "As though tears were the indispensable oil, without which the machinery of mutual confidence could not run smoothly between two sisters, the sisters after their tears talked, not of what was uppermost in their minds, but, though they talked of outside matters, they understood each other." ~ reference to Kitty and Dolly
Part I, Chapter 28 "Every heart has its own skeleton, as the English say." ~Anna
