Samantha’s Reviews > Anna Karenina > Status Update

I really love how realistic Anna and Vronsky’s fights are, even in a different language, 150 years after they first “happened.” Neither can stop themselves from saying stupid things out of hurt and anger, and we argue with our loved ones the same way today.

He ran “like” one distraught. But, you know, not actually distraught.

Aha! Anna has *spoiler* and the perfect teeth make a comeback, but now they hurt.

But seriously why doesn’t Anna want a divorce?

Veslovsky is literally *the woooooooooorst*

How does he keep showing up?

Bringing Veslovsky on a hunt is the equivalent of (maybe worse?) than bringing Tom Haverford. But Veslovsky and Stiva taking down Levin’s idiotic sophistry (that’s exactly exactly what it is) around his relationship as a landowner to the peasants is priceless.

This is your daily reminder, as I get one, that Vronsky has strong, white teeth. Good teeth. Fine teeth.

Is there even any question whether the Levin story is more romantic than the Anna story? Levin is crazy but we linger on his absurd proposal and his pre-wedding jitters and how lovely and sweet the ceremony is. Anna and Vronsky just meet up to chat about how screwed they are.

No one in history has had a face or eyes as expressive as Anna Karenina, according to the many adjectives Tolstoy has used to describe her. You can see everything you need to know to advance the plot just by looking at her face (unless you are her husband, in which case, you will ignore reality). Amazing!

Hot take: I like the Levin farming parts better than the “love story.” Anna and Vronsky are boring and superficial characters. Levin is totally nuts, but he has a lot more substance, and I enjoy hearing about his harebrained schemes and patronizing attitude toward the peasants which he thinks is so enlightened.

Also, the Maggie Gyllenhaal narration is fabulous.