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Emily May's Reviews > Anna Karenina
Anna Karenina
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This is a book that I was actually dreading reading for quite some time. It was on a list of books that I'd been working my way through and, after seeing the size of it and the fact that 'War And Peace' was voted #1 book to avoid reading, I was reluctant to ever get started. But am I glad that I did.
This is a surprisingly fast-moving, interesting and easy to read novel. The last of which I'd of never believed could be true before reading it, but you find yourself instantly engrossed in this kind of Russian soap opera, filled with weird and intriguing characters. The most notable theme is the way society overlooked mens' affairs but frowned on womens', this immediately created a bond between myself and Anna, who is an extremely likeable character.
I thought it had an amazing balance of important meaning and light-heartedness. Let's just say, it's given me some courage to maybe one day try out the dreaded 'War And Peace'.
This is a surprisingly fast-moving, interesting and easy to read novel. The last of which I'd of never believed could be true before reading it, but you find yourself instantly engrossed in this kind of Russian soap opera, filled with weird and intriguing characters. The most notable theme is the way society overlooked mens' affairs but frowned on womens', this immediately created a bond between myself and Anna, who is an extremely likeable character.
I thought it had an amazing balance of important meaning and light-heartedness. Let's just say, it's given me some courage to maybe one day try out the dreaded 'War And Peace'.
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Finished Reading
December 9, 2010
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Jenni
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rated it 5 stars
Sep 26, 2012 03:22PM
honestly, war and peace is much of the same. in war and peace it's less of a single story line and progresing arc, but more of a panoramic view of human nature. it DOES have the same affairs, troubled characters, loving families, all of that great stuff that makes classic literature. but it also has a more far-reaching aspect. i'm only halfway through war and peace now (i LOVED anna karenina) and it's one of my new favorites. i suggest you give it a try.
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I have already read War and Peace since writing this review. I wrote this a long time ago now, but I agree that War and Peace is pretty fabulous. Anna Karenina is still my favourite Tolstoy, though :)
Ahh I should have done my research better! Ahaha I'm glad that you enjoyed it. :)
This book is actually surprisingly easy to read. I was expecting something much harder.
Me too. I expected the same with War and Peace but found that was also very easy to read. I wonder if the language complexity is toned down in translations?
I too am surprised at how readable this book is! I was expecting really difficult to understand language and run-on sentences, but it could almost be a modern novel!I also really sympathize with Anna. I really feel bad for how society screwed her - her husband exonerating himself and withholding her child
Now the part that I find the most challenging to get through (and the most boring) are the sections about Levin, particularly when he waxes on and on about the aristocracy and peasantry. What did you think about this part of the story?
If I'm being honest, I don't even remember those parts that well - which probably shows what I thought of them! But I agree about Anna. Have you read War and Peace? I feel like that is very such the same in that it's highly readable and easy to follow. I am always very surprised when people consider it a challenging read, I know the length is a bit scary but I didn't find it difficult at all.
I have not read War and Peace (mostly evade of those fears - it's huge! It's unreadable! It's confusing!), but if it is like this book, I may have to give it a whirl. (Plus, I could brag about reading it LOL.)
Emily wrote: "[spoilers removed]"LOL!!
I completely understand your sentiment toward War & Peace. It's on my bucket list but it's so intimidating!
Tanya, since writing this review I actually managed to finish War and Peace! It's not as bad as I expected and I found some parts really enjoyable. You should go for it :)
I am so terrified to start reading this novel. Mostly because my copy is a Wordsworth classic, which means it is a 800+ pages, small font... On the other hand, It is considered as one of the greatest novels of all times and I've heard so many great reviews about it I can't not read it!
It's worth it! And honestly it's not as difficult as it looks :)
Currently reading this and your review is making me excited! This review could also apply to Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. I was nervous to read it because of the size but I read it in a week and a half, and it is now my favorite book.
I'm also finding this book surprisingly easy to read! My edition has like a thousand pages and is really heavy, but for some reason, I´m reading it considerably fast.
War and Peace is even better!
Natalie wrote: "War and Peace is even better!"I disagree, but only just! Both are excellent :)
Aren't there too many battle scenes in War and Peace?Actually,that's what scares me the most.I hate war and battle scenes in books and movies.Apart from this i love Tolstoi's writing and i really loved Anna Karenina which is one of my all time favorite books
"Easy to read" is something I'd never expected to hear this book described as...Maybe I'll have to think about reading it one day.
Jeni wrote: ""Easy to read" is something I'd never expected to hear this book described as...Maybe I'll have to think about reading it one day."It is! I swear :) It's long, but it's fun.
I had to make myself finish this book. It actually turned me off of classics for a while. I get so irritated by the long and unnecessary forays into politics.
Both Anna Karenina and War and Peace are some of my all time favorite books (even if I'd pick Anna Karenina over any other Tolstoy book every day). I don't really understand why so many people are reluctant to start reading Tolstoy. It seems to me that many people are talking about some books as "the ones you can't understand if you don't have at least three PhD" without ever having any interest in reading them - and in doing so, are scaring off many people like you who could have enjoyed those books earlier. Anyway, I'm glad you loved Anna Karenina, and I hope you'll also like War and Peace!
Catherine wrote: "Both Anna Karenina and War and Peace are some of my all time favorite books (even if I'd pick Anna Karenina over any other Tolstoy book every day). I don't really understand why so many people are ..."This is actually a really old review! Almost ten years... not sure why it got floated today, lol. I read both War and Peace and Anna Karenina a long time ago and I agree with you-- not sure why everyone assumes they're so challenging. They're really easy to read, at least in the English translation.
I'm glad that you pumped your rating when you re-read this book, I just recently finished it for the first time and I know that I will love and appreciate it more if I re-read it!
I've just added to my want to read list based on your review. I can't promise I'll get around to it anytime soon but I will definitely make the effort at some point in the future. Thank you.
Emily May wrote: "Catherine wrote: "Both Anna Karenina and War and Peace are some of my all time favorite books (even if I'd pick Anna Karenina over any other Tolstoy book every day). I don't really understand why s..."Ah yes, I didn't see the date when I saw it on my feed lol. I'm glad you've also read War and Peace since then! I've only read the French translation so far, but I've been curious to read it in English to compare both.
There are certain sentences and passages that I have read in this book that make me pause and just reread and revel in the beauty of it. This has had the unintended effect of me never finishing it. I always restart and I will finish it. Good to know that the rest of the story is going to be worth restarting it again.
The real meaning in Russian is War and World. Now it has been lost for Russians too.
Thank you fir this review Emily, it's comvincing me to give it a go! :D It's now on my to real list after 'Homo Deus'
If you haven't read War and Peace yet, I highly recommend! I think it's better but less satisfying.
I want to read it bc its mentioned in ASOUE. Ik that may sound ridiculous but its true XD. I sometimes have a hard time with classics either bc of the writing style like the scarlett letter or Idk what the point of the story is like the ild man and the sea. I tend to appreciate them but I don't always enjoy reading them except for uncle tom's cabin, and LotR, and farenheit 451 so far. Would you say that an average kid in high school would enjoy this?
Oh I also enjoyed Les Miserables
Great review. Do you think it would be a good audiobook to listen to?
Damn should I have this book a second chance? the first chapters was so harder to finish to me 😅😅😅
I too loved this singular masterpiece.I read it a few years back.An exeptional Russian classic with an amazing plot and characters too.
'Anna Karenina ' comes under the category of 'Constant Read Books ' and not the type you turn to once in a while,for you are sure to find it harder to relate if you try it that way.
I also found this book hard to put down. I found many of the underlying themes very current. The Russian backdrop was a bonus. It was like a modern story that was written in the late 19th century.Human nature doesn't change.
I actually really didn't like this one! I think this is a product of its times. The story is interesting and I thought the characters were surprisingly complex, but the pacing was hard to struggle through for me and I hated the ending. :|
Nenia ✨️ I yeet my books back and forth ✨️ wrote: "I actually really didn't like this one! I think this is a product of its times. The story is interesting and I thought the characters were surprisingly complex, but the pacing was hard to struggle ..."It's been forever since I read this, so who knows how I'd feel today? I do remember really enjoying it, though. I think I was reading a lot of classics around the same time and found many of the others slower and more dense than this one.
I loved reading Anna Karenina, and for some weird reason I liked Levin's story the best. I found it not boring at all, very slow paced, yes, but easy going and calming...
I preferred War and Peace
I think you would enjoy W&P. I read it as if it was three books - in fact the Evryman edition come sin 3 volumes. That made it less daunting - but it was also excellent - more involving than Anna K - and a really easy read.
Phil wrote: "I think you would enjoy W&P. I read it as if it was three books - in fact the Evryman edition come sin 3 volumes. That made it less daunting - but it was also excellent - more involving than Anna K..."Oh I loved War and Peace! Aside from the length I found it a really easy enjoyable read (this review is 12 years old 😆)
Ha ha - I did realise that - just as I pressed enter! Sorry 🙄
The names are so difficult tho😭I don’t get how to read them so I become confused on who’s who
War and peace is so good you will love it I love it so much the people in it are like going to a new world I love so much the war and peace
