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Anna Karenina

By Count Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy

(429)

| Others | 9781420933543

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Book Description

Perhaps one of the greatest novels ever written, "Anna Karenina" follows the self-destructive path of a beautiful, popular, and sensual Russian aristocrat.

17 Reviews

3 people find this helpful

I had many contrasting feelings for this book. At the beginning, I could do nothing but comparing Tolstoy and Dostoevsky and blaming the former for its unnecessary interventions (I am not necessarily talking about its alleged moralistic view of everything). Also, I have been complaining that Anna Ka ... (continue)

I had many contrasting feelings for this book. At the beginning, I could do nothing but comparing Tolstoy and Dostoevsky and blaming the former for its unnecessary interventions (I am not necessarily talking about its alleged moralistic view of everything). Also, I have been complaining that Anna Karenina's relationship with Count Vronsky is too cheesy and resembles a soap opera.
But then, the second half of the book is another story. I actually believe that Tolstoy's writing got better, though it might be that I got used to it. The pages about the cooling off of Anna and Vronsky's relationship are wonderful to me. So deep and effective.
However, this book is not only about the difficulty of maintaining a "criminal" relationship in the Russian high society of 19th century.
There is a parallel love story going on about Levin and Kitty, the positive heroes of the novel.
Through Levin's thoughts and discussions with other people, Tolstoy gives us a feeling about the hot questions of the time, the conditions of peasants in Russia, education reforms and religion. The book concludes with Levin's rediscovering of God, which comes to give meaning to his life. Levin's inner struggle is described so well as this is what Tolstoy was experiencing while writing the book.
I could not say whether to recommend this book or not, but for sure it's not wasted time.

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Sara said on Sep 15, 2010 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

1 person find this helpful

This is probably currently my favourite of all of the novels I have ever read. Can't think of any aspect of life not in it. And so much more concise than Proust!

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sid_rw said on Jun 30, 2008 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

Anna Karenina

Anna Karenina is an emotionally turbulent novel that explores the fascinating stories and struggles of both lucrative and unestablished members of 1870s Russian society. From the passionate Anna to the more rational but intrinsically complex Konstantin Levin, Tolstoy’s work is a heavy commentary on ... (continue)

Anna Karenina is an emotionally turbulent novel that explores the fascinating stories and struggles of both lucrative and unestablished members of 1870s Russian society. From the passionate Anna to the more rational but intrinsically complex Konstantin Levin, Tolstoy’s work is a heavy commentary on Russian life and hierarchy as well as an honest, realist exhibit of human nature.

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VJ Von Art said on Jan 25, 2012 about the Mass Market Paperback edition | Add your feedback

Complex, riveting, beautiful, flawless.

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angryKurt said on Sep 13, 2011 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

Anna's first description is so vivid that seems take life. And a lifeful character she is.

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Paola Celli said on Aug 16, 2010 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

FiveBooks Recommends Anna Karenina

Writer Kate Figes has chosen to discuss Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina on FiveBooks as one of the top five on her subject - Sex and Marriage, saying that:
"Anna gives up her position and her child for this powerful passion. Tolstoy describes the sexual repression and her need for passion but never pas ... (continue)

Writer Kate Figes has chosen to discuss Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina on FiveBooks as one of the top five on her subject - Sex and Marriage, saying that:
"Anna gives up her position and her child for this powerful passion. Tolstoy describes the sexual repression and her need for passion but never passes judgment."
The full interview is available here: http://five-books.com/interviews/kate-figes

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FiveBooks said on Mar 9, 2010 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback