Anna Karenina in Around the World in 80 Books

Dec 18, 2008 Sera rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: literary-fiction, favorites, 1001-books, own, classics

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This classic by Tolstoy is a work of art in its own right. Although some critics disagree since so much of the book is based upon Tolstoy's first-hand experiences so that it cannot be art, I disagree. The book is timeless in not only how it portrays the meaning of love and life, as exhibted by Anna and Levin respectively, but also in its ability to capture the historical ongoings in pre-revolutionary Russia.

The stories of Anna and Levin occur simultaneously, and in around Part VI of the book, I This classic by Tolstoy is a work of art in its own right. Although some critics disagree since so much of the book is based upon Tolstoy's first-hand experiences so that it cannot be art, I disagree. The book is timeless in not only how it portrays the meaning of love and life, as exhibted by Anna and Levin respectively, but also in its ability to capture the historical ongoings in pre-revolutionary Russia.

The stories of Anna and Levin occur simultaneously, and in around Part VI of the book, I realized it's because the two characters have a number of parallels in regard to their existence. There is Vronsky, the man whom Kitty and Anna both fall in love. For Kitty, he almost ruins her life, but fortunately, Levin is there to help her bring her back and to live a fairly fulfilled life. Unfortunately, for Anna, Vronksy is the reason for her unraveling. I'm sure that some who read this book find Anna to been a whiny and somewhat loathsome character, whose insecurities as they relate to her realtionship with Vronsky to be grating. Yet, I attempted to put myself in the shoes of Anna so as to emphasize with her feelings, and once I did so, I could completely understand how she felt. This woman gave up everything for love, and what did she get in return? The loss of her son, alientation from society and the constant fear that she had made the wrong decision. I believe that the reason that Anna constantly needed assurance from Vronsky was because she wanted some type of confirmation that she had made the right choice.

Interestingly, after Anna leaves her husband for Vronsky, his life seems to take off, while her seems to stand still. Vronsky gains both economic and societal statuture, while she is left waiting in the wings. Is this Tolstoy's way of treating women differently from men for the same actions? I hate to think that, but it sure seems that way. Anna enjoys none of the benefits of her decision that Vronsky does, even though they both participated in the same indiscretion.

Levin is written to reflect Tolstoy the man. Tolstoy tells his political inclinations through this character, and although he is prone to have the same fate as Anna, he does not. In fact, he evolves and overcomes any limitations that he might have had. Again, are Tolstoy's views toward men more forgiving than women? The more that I think about this book, the more that I think that Tolstoy may have been somewhat of a sexist.

Nevertheless, this a fantastic read, well-written with expertly drawn characters that fully show all of their flaws and set in a context that provides a context of a nation that was about to come in the midst of great change.

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Sep 01, 2017 Mansir rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jul 18, 2008 Jessica rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: russia, classic, 1001

Tolstoy certainly bit off a lot here, and it's interesting to me to think about just how much he would not have been allowed to get away with this today - I can picture huge swaths of this book with an editor's red line through it. Some of the minutia here is tough slugging and the characters can be frustrating in their clear need for that newfangled psychoanalysis, but it's still probably one of the best depictions of the era in Russia. ...more

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Dec 20, 2007 Kelly rated it liked it · review of another edition

started this book so long ago that when i went back to it, i bought the clifnotes to remind myself where i was . . . it still rests unfinished, though i still have every intention

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