Anna Karenina (Penguin Clothbound Classics)
Tolstoy's epic novel of love, destiny and self-destruction, in a gorgeous new clothbound edition from Penguin Classics. Anna Karenina seems to have everything - beauty, wealth, popularity and an adored son. But she feels that her life is empty until the moment she encounters the impetuous officer Count Vronsky. Their subsequent affair scandalizes society and family alike and soon brings jealously and bitterness in its wake. Contrasting with this tale of love and self-destruction is the vividly observed story of Levin, a man striving to find contentment and a meaning to his life - and also a self-portrait of Tolstoy himself. This acclaimed modern translation by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky won the PEN/ Book of the Month Club Translation Prize in 2001. Their translation is accompanied in this edition by an introduction by Richard Pevear and a preface by John Bayley 'The new and brilliantly witty translation by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky is a must' - Lisa Appignanesi, Independent, Books of the Year 'Pevear and Volokhonsky are at once scrupulous translators and vivid stylists of English, and their superb rendering allows us, as perhaps never before, to grasp the palpability of Tolstoy's "characters, acts, situations"' - James Wood, New Yorker
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Community Reviews
During the reading of Anna Karenina I found myself thoroughly bored during the moments with Vronsky and more drawn to Kitty and Levin's story over the main one.
Anna's descent into a form of madness could be due to the treatment she is going through via her husband and her belief that she is about to lose her lover as well. However I am getting elements of post partum depression as well.
I was glad of the fact Kitty refused Levin to start with as I believe they both needed to grow up to be with each other fully, however I thoroughly enjoyed the parallels between the two pairings.
My review of this could've ranged from 1 to 5 stars so probably safe I stay in the middle.
Positive:
Levin - only redeemable character in the book. I appreciated his philosophising, his critical thought, complexity and uncertainty. The last few chapters where he is grappling with the meaning of life and the existence of God was the only point in this book that I could actually say I enjoyed reading it.
Characterisation - Tolstoy's characters, like Levin, are all very complex. I was constantly trying to decide whether I liked them or not. And I think they were all trying to decide who they were. Even with Anna, who I found base and selfish, I had moments where I related to her thoughts and experiences. In that sense the book painted a realistic picture of humans, their flaws and their relationships.
Revolutionary - I assume for its time this was quite a controversial book. Anna's defiant and strong willed character breaks with many of the social expectations of the time. So you have to give respect to that!
Morality - despite only really having one redeemable character, Tolstoy does seem to offer comment on the relationships and morals of his characters. He doesn't try and justify their actions and I think ending on Levin's realisation is a powerful message. Through most of the book - especially with the conflict within the relationships - I think it also brings up the idea that not all love is "good".
Negative:
Awful, whingy, selfish, immoral, obssessive, jealous people!!! I would not like to meet most of these characters in real life. I find it really hard to enjoy a book when I hate the characters so this aspect was a real down point for me.
Hard going for most of it. There were few parts that really captured me and was definitely a book that I could put down.
But even after writing this review and digesting it all a little, I'm developing more of an appreciation of the book. I wouldn't say it's a good story, but in terms of characters and social commentary then yes it's rather brilliant. Fine!!! 4 stars..
Positive:
Levin - only redeemable character in the book. I appreciated his philosophising, his critical thought, complexity and uncertainty. The last few chapters where he is grappling with the meaning of life and the existence of God was the only point in this book that I could actually say I enjoyed reading it.
Characterisation - Tolstoy's characters, like Levin, are all very complex. I was constantly trying to decide whether I liked them or not. And I think they were all trying to decide who they were. Even with Anna, who I found base and selfish, I had moments where I related to her thoughts and experiences. In that sense the book painted a realistic picture of humans, their flaws and their relationships.
Revolutionary - I assume for its time this was quite a controversial book. Anna's defiant and strong willed character breaks with many of the social expectations of the time. So you have to give respect to that!
Morality - despite only really having one redeemable character, Tolstoy does seem to offer comment on the relationships and morals of his characters. He doesn't try and justify their actions and I think ending on Levin's realisation is a powerful message. Through most of the book - especially with the conflict within the relationships - I think it also brings up the idea that not all love is "good".
Negative:
Awful, whingy, selfish, immoral, obssessive, jealous people!!! I would not like to meet most of these characters in real life. I find it really hard to enjoy a book when I hate the characters so this aspect was a real down point for me.
Hard going for most of it. There were few parts that really captured me and was definitely a book that I could put down.
But even after writing this review and digesting it all a little, I'm developing more of an appreciation of the book. I wouldn't say it's a good story, but in terms of characters and social commentary then yes it's rather brilliant. Fine!!! 4 stars..
Anna karenina is very strange book, I wanted to read it after I read War and peace and it gave me a mixed feeling. But I was not attached to the characters to be honest. Anna character seems very selfish, people making excuses for her as if she was a child or teenager, she was an adult who made a decision. And I don't think that if karnin was more loving or affectionate it would change anything, her world would change when she meets voronsky anyway. I think she killed her self because she know Vronsky character very well and she know that killing herself that way will torture him and will not make him forget her forever. She become obsessed with him and the only identity she has now is his lover. Her identity as mother was left behind with her son and she had no feelings for her daughter, and I believe that if she didn't kill her self she would be jealous of her daughter if her father showed her affection or if she become prettier than her.
In the beginning of the book I found her character charming, but then she started to resemble Helen from War and peace. Specially when levin was introduced to her and she charmed him with her charisma, intelligence and beauty. I remember when Pierre was Was amazed at her deception of people with her pretended intelligence and charisma.
And I think karnin mistake wast marrying her when he was not interested in marriage or building a family.
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