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What are readers saying about Anna Karenina (Oprah #5) (Oprah's Classics Book Club Selections)?
| Reviews of Anna Karenina (Oprah #5) (Oprah's Classics Book Club Selections) - Page 1 of 75 |
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-11-12 09:13:56.
(Language: English)
 
I just devoured the complete unabridged text and was in love with every major character (well, mainly males) - Levin, Anna, Vronsky, even Oblonsky, Karenin, and Kitty as a mother. While wondering why should the book, far more complex than Anna's love story, be titled as it was, I enjoy the discourse on Levin's farming and his search of faith greatly. I do not want to judge the morality/belief of the past by today's standards or my own values; I will only say that Tolstoy's enactment of these people is SUPERB - no one is perfect or responsibility-free, yet nor is he/she simply evil. Everyone has its own merit, flaws and struggles, and ultimately, we ourselves are responsible for who we choose to be.
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-05-21 07:00:37.
(Language: English)
being a classic, i felt that i had to have a read of this. very long! it took me 2 renewals to finally finish this book. if you are in to politics then this is for you. i was distracted by the amount of politics, unknown russians, and lahdidah classing. i did however enjoy the contrast between anna and levin - one has everything and loses it all, the other starts with little and gains a great deal (including what is life?). im glad i did persevere til the end...
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-12-19 07:38:16.
(Language: English)
After a couple of months, I finally finished reading this book. The story seems simple enough at face value but once you get started, you will find there are complex sub-themes that runs through the story. Unless you know a little bit about Russian history, it may be a little difficult to follow those sub-plots. Nevertheless, I find myself learning a little about Russian history, culture and society in the 1800's, just by reading 'Anna Karenina'. Considering that Tolstoy wrote realistic themes, much of his scenarios were based on his observations regarding people he knew, including himself. I felt it was a little hard to read in some places, but was satisfying in the end. The last chapter, Chapter 8 was my favourite because it was the chapter that Levin essentially discovered the 'meaning of life'.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-06-11 04:26:10.
(Language: English)
This has to be the best book I've ever read. I cannot believe I waited so long before reading Leo Tolstoy. This novel presents a vast and vivid panorama of Russian life in the middle of the 19th century. It is also an intense psychological thriller. Tolstoy is a very subtle writer getting right inside the minds of his main characters. He provides a wonderful insight into the human condition. The only trouble is -- I now have to read War and Peace which is even longer than Anna Karenina! But with a novel as expertly written as this, you don't notice its length. At the end I felt great satisfaction but also much sadness, as it was like parting company from a very close friend. I cannot recommend Anna Karenina highly enough.
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Angela posted a review at 2010-05-08 08:13:30.
(Language: English)
I have to agree with @Carl Weiser on this one-this book, although beautiful and clearly deserving of its status as a classic, is a monstrosity and needed a good chopping. It feels like Tolstoy is trying to tackle every aspect of life-love, religion, death, politics, race, class, agriculture, and the industrial revolution-all in one book. I completely lost interest in several sections where Tolstoy begins arguing points from every angle-such as the role of the working class people in society. At the heart of all the extraneous noise is the story of a woman, married for money, who falls in love and how her decision to follow her heart touches the lives of everyone she knows and loves-and leads to the destruction of others-and herself. If you can make your way through the mirky sections-you'll find a riveting story. My only other criticism is the ending, which is dull and completely anti-climatic. The book should have ended one chapter after Anna's suicide.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-04-05 02:27:28.
(Language: English)
Solomon had it right--there is nothing new under the sun. People are the same. They may live in a different locale during another time, speak a different language. The framework and culture within which they live may present unique obstacles or provide alternative situations, but as you read this book, no matter who you are or where you are from, you will recognize characters and identify familiar personalities. There is a lot of philosophy I don't pretend to have understood, but also a lot of spiritual exploration I knew by heart. It read like a soap opera, and I looked forward to each episode.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-01-13 03:09:54.
(Language: English)
I have to say that I went into reading this book with a little hesitation, especially since most of my previous experience with Russian novels was mostly Dostoevsky. And those are long and deep and just.. deep. And I had only read Tolstoy in short-story form. But, I knew it was a great book and thought I should read it. And I'm glad I did. It's a very entertaining read, and I found it quite a page-turner, to be honest. Most of the characters were really interesting and easy to read about. Maybe it was my particular translation, maybe it's Tolstoy, but I didn't find it difficult at all. I did find that I was feeling more for Levin and Kitty, especially Levin, than I did for Anna, the title character. I mean, she was just a bit boring after a while. And Levin had some interesting discussions and thoughts, mostly at the end of the novel. So I would totally recommend this for anyone, whether you're a fan of Russian lit. or classics or not. I think it's a very interesting character study, with all the characters. Totally worth it.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-06-01 08:28:21.
(Language: English)
I read this novel a couple of years ago with our book club. Just couldn't put it down. I had started it early since it's a long book but finished it before our next book. It's a wonderful story. I didn't like Anna or her lover much (especially him) but liked most of the other characters well, especially Kitty and Levin. The writing is so wonderful, you think those people are real. I also watched one of the mini series that was filmed a couple of years ago and had the same impression. Everyone in our book club, with one exception, I believe, loved it, as well. I liked it so much, I will definitely want to read a lot more of Tolstoi.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-05-19 05:05:22.
(Language: English)
The greatest book ever written? Seriously? Like most Oscar winning movies, this book is an overly acclaimed snooze-fest. A small percentage of it is well written and at times engrossing (for instance; the disastrous horse racing scene and the confrontation chapter between Anna and her husband immediately following). However, that alone couldn't justify the insipid tedium of the vast majority of Tolstoy's behemoth of boredom (Levin's endless fascination and involvement with nineteenth century Russian agriculture and long stale politics, I'm looking at you). If you've got a killer case of insomnia that needs solving, search no further. Otherwise, what a colossal waste of time!
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Lisa posted a review at 2011-05-19 09:21:22.
(Language: English)
Tolstoy- this man knew something about human nature and how to convey it in a way i am not sure I have ever read before. the story, the characters, the setting, all enchanted. love, its demise, family, class, the beauty of nature, russian aristrocratic high life, political and religious philosophy. and a liberal helping of the mores of the time: immense and casual anti-semitism, misogyny and religious judgment. a beautiful, transporting, educational, life-enhancing novel that is a classic for good reason.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-11-11 11:58:26.
(Language: English)
I have read many times that Anna Karenina is one of the best novels ever written ... like EVER. Now I can finally say from experience that, though I don't claim to be the most well-read human alive, I have yet to come across a book that trumps this Tolstoy masterpiece. I had never really delved into the world of Russian literature before; but I've always wanted to read War and Peace before I die. I was a little afraid to take the plunge, so I picked up Anna Karenina thinking it would be like Tolstoy with training wheels. At only 822 pages, it's shorter and less intimidating than War and Peace. Well, turns out, I thought it was so fantastic that I pre-ordered the paperback edition of the Pevear/Volokhonsky translation of War and Peace. Now I can't wait until it arrives! I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-06-17 04:46:00.
(Language: English)
I judge the classics pretty tough, so though it was written really well, I did not find it as invigorating as other stories I have read by the 19th century Russians. The story follows the plot of Anna Karenina, a woman looking for significance in romance and passion, and Konstantin Levin, a man looking for significance in the pursuit of truth in the context of the rural family. The entire novel was told in the setting of the Russian Aristocracy, a society that seems nauseating in its shallowness. Tolstoy brought his characters to life, and his narration of the details of each scene felt real. However, the details were almost too much. They distracted from the theme, and muddled the storyline at points. From a sociological standpoint, this is an extremely interesting novel, but from a moral one, half the story is amazing (Levin), half is a rapid descent into self inflicted suffering(Anna). Read this if you like long books of enormous detail.
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-08-14 09:53:52.
(Language: English)
Mr Tolstoy, I am sure you are a legendary writer and your works are among some of the most celebrated, but I failed to complete this excruciatingly detailed novel. You really could've let a lot things just go you know. A reader needn't be introduced to every single nuance of every single thing that every single character does. Oh Goodness! I could finish just half the novel in spite of skipping a few parts that ran into chapters, which I knew contained something superfluous for me. How much could I skip that way JUST to get to the end! That would be sheer injustice. Therefore, I decided to declare it as "unread owing to boredom". My Sincere apologies for making you stir in your grave Mr Tolstoy. Kindly R.I.P
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-03-22 01:59:46.
(Language: English)
In parts Chekhov for its humour,in parts Austen for its social criticism, Anna Karenina covers a lot of ground: from religion to politics to war to adultery to death to family. Um, and more. The joy of reading a novel like Anna Karenina, is that the reader gets to marinate in such a rich and long work; a work that deals with so many aspects of real life, that it eventually comes to life itself. But, arm yourself with patience as you approach it, because it IS plenty long. I love the play between the two love stories in the novel, that rarely meet in terms of plot but constantly resonate with each other throughout the work. As well as all of the other parallels that Tolstoy creates between ideas and characters: Vronsky vs. Levin, Anna vs. Kitty, Anna vs. Vronsky's mother, Levin vs. his brothers, Levin vs. Oblonsky, death vs. life, single life vs. family life, passion vs. obligation - the list goes on, and makes for aesthetically pleasing reading. At times, Tolstoy does get carried away. Levin's rhetoric about agriculture and peasantry in the middle of the novel almost lost me completely, and Part VIII seems somewhat tacked on (although I do understand that phillosophizing is often the result of death and change). Undeniably, one of the most incredible novels ever written. It is beautiful, intricately structured, gorgeous, luscious. A masterpiece. This is a novel that stays with you, even when you've closed the book.
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-12-08 10:46:56.
(Language: English)
Anna Karenina is all about perplexed people with their lives torn apart between tangled relationships. Tolstoy, a profound advocate of strong family ties, holds to his stand in this book as well. Anna, who is married to Karenin, a high ranking person in the contemporary Russian society, gets attracted toward Vronsky, a dashing Count. Vronsky pursue’s Anna into a relationship with him, and as this becomes public, the three lives jumble. He also speaks of the feminine dedication and generosity found in relationships with the character of Anna, as against the masculine feebleness in responding to it, reciprocating it by bringing in Vronsky. There is also the character of Karenin, who has grown decrepit of forgiving Anna time and again, but always takes her side, in her bad times. The societal attitude toward Anna, which is very much similar even today, gives the hint of insecurity faced by Anna, during her relationship with Vronsky. On the other hand, he also contrasts the perplexed and melancholy world of Anna and Vronsky with that of Levin and Kitty. Kitty, who too, was at first attracted by Vronsky, is later married to Levin, and finally devoted to him. This committed family represents, what in Tolstoy’s view as an ideal marriage. The author successfully brings in view, the paradoxes of life, with the help of these characters, depicting sex, love, romance on one hand, and virtue, faith, devotion which leads to a mutual association, and finally, societal affirmation . There also is a contrast shown, of an urban and a rural society, clearly marking the superiority of the rural counterpart, with the strong bonding amongst individuals in the rural society winning over that which exists in the urban society.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-07-01 08:32:44.
(Language: English)
A good medium through which to measure the genius of Tolstoy and his greatest work can be seen through scenarios like myself in my mid twenties in the twenty first century knowing nothing of neither Tolstoy nor society in an aristocrat Russia of the past , sitting upright in bed, at 3 am, wide eyed, clawing hungrily through page after page of a novel published and depicting 19th century Russia. Wincing at the obvious pain characters like Anna, the tortured Levin and the brilliant Vronsky face and feel, and celebrating the joys of particular characters triumphs. Alongside being an utterly compelling read of a land and time alien to me, it is a timeless story so engaging and touching that has the rare power of making us ask variety of questions of ourselves and of the characters moral standing and worth. For example: In a similar situation would I do the same as Anna in abandoning everything to stay true to my heart?Not an epic, much rather for me- THE EPIC. My favourite book of all time. I love this book.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-12-07 05:25:16.
(Language: English)
“…if it is true that there are as many minds as there are heads, then there are as many kinds of love as there are hearts.” Life is full of dilemmas that need decisions and Decisions, even the best ones, evoke regret after a while. A married woman fell in love, something that she had never experienced with her husband, she decided to follow her heart and a tragedy happened. This is not a new story and it is happened everyday for men and women. But there is another family in this story, Levin and kitty. They were a good example of typical happy families, but if you look carefully you can see that they were only pretending that they were happy but they were not satisfied in their heart, and what a massive tragedy happened when someone decided to tell lie to himself. I don’t know the answer of this very old question that if we are as human being should live in the present and stop thinking about future and suffering because of the past or we should be more cautious and respect social systems and live as most of people live?!!! But I agree with Tolstoy that: “There are times when one would give a whole month for a shilling and there are times when you would not give half an hour at any price.”
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-08-19 11:31:38.
(Language: English)
This is my second-favourite book of all time, second only to 1984. Followed at a very close third by The Idiot. I think the structure of this book is perhaps the most amazing thing about it. Anna's demise runs parallel to Levin's maturation, and when Anna and Levin meet, even though it is a fairly inconsequential meeting, their lives both take sharp turns in opposing directions. The book seems to end with Anna and Levin's roles mirrored exactly from what they were at the beginning of the book. While this is certainly an epic book spanning several years, it is often quite light and very entertaining, full of scandal and insight into the lives of the wealthy. The characters are well-written, lovable and very real. It is difficult to label any character as 'good' or 'bad'... just like when you know a person in real life, it is difficult to say if bad deeds make them a bad person, and vice versa. Hence, characters are never predictable and are always surprising. The book begins from the point of view of Steven Oblonsky, the fun-loving adulterer, and it ends from Levin's point of view, probably expounding some serious-slash-frivolous theory about life, and his place on earth. I would recommend this book to anyone. I do not think that the book's length is a problem; so long as you enjoy reading, it is never weighty in the same way that "Of Human Bondage" is, for example. I did not want this book to end; when it did, I felt like a large part of my life had ended.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-02-04 10:41:56.
(Language: English)
Hard call between this and "War and Peace" for the title of best novel ever. This novel is, without any question whatsoever, one of the best ever written. Like its predecessor ("War and Peace") it contains such a genuine account of human life that reading it cannot be less than a life changing experience, particularly if you haven't read Tolstoy before. It is a masterpiece, plain and simple, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. No novel in the world (with the possible exception of "War and Peace") offers greater rewards to a diligent reader. Questions, answers, and truths which took Tolstoy decades of careful thought to discover are laid bare here for all to consume, to take in hand and be freed thereby. As for critiquing it on a literary level, to do so would be presumptuous, so I'll refrain. As for all those out there who have said "Ugh! It's too long! I got bored!" That boredom does not reflect a weakness of the novel, (which, far from being boring, is full of the vivid, driving pulse of life,) but a weakness of their hearts and their own impatient nature. Read this book, and "War and Peace", I beg you all, and I swear you will not regret it.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-08-01 01:37:02.
(Language: English)
A beautifully enticing and engaging story of people - yes, of people - containing beautifully drawn characters, whose lives are interwoven so apparently effortlessly that their routines, realisations and revelatory experiences unfold as undramatically and dramatically as they do to in our own lives; we are with the characters, all of them, every step of the way, as far removed from our own material circumstances as their lives may be. There are no 'good' guys and there are no 'baddies', only people who doubt, and desire as we all do. Hence, we sympathise with each character while we are with them, and despise those who they despise. A true mark of genius to be able to do this with such an array of personalities. Superficially, a tale of love and relationships, but this novel details and reflects on the personal and political, and how the personal is political and vice-versa. The evocation of time, place and people is so fully realised that you cannot help but become part of it and, as with all classic works, transpose much or all of it to your own experience.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-10-18 07:51:50.
(Language: English)
For my first adventure into Russian literature, I enjoyed it very much. I would almost call Anna Karenina a Russian soap opera! It had all the drama of Days of Our Lives or General Hospital. Not a good endorsement, you say? Well, it also had wonderful references to life in Imperialist Russia! There was the use of their traditional names. Historical events and actual people were also eluded to! The detail into the main characters was deep and varied leaving any reader most likely able to identify with at least one of them. The themes of true love and meaning of life brought to life in the novel are as relevant today as they were back then. I also found it very intelligent with social issues of the time being explored from various different angles, and timeless as some could be equated with issues facing us today. Anyway, I highly recommend this intelligent novel, just don't expect it to be a quick read as it took me three months to complete it!
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-07-18 09:57:02.
(Language: English)
355 pages. That's it. That's as far as I'm going. I can't do anymore. At least Fitzgerald had sense enough to keep this kind of crap down to 200 pages! It's 19th century Russian GOSSIP GIRL! Why on earth would I want to read 900 hundreds pages of that!? This book has killed several months of my reading year. I cannot find a good motive to push through it. I pushed myself pretty far, and I NEVER give up on a book, but....that's enough. It's time to read books that offer more than lots words on a page about pretty people. Am I seriously the only person I know who didn't like this book!?
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-11-21 11:48:39.
(Language: English)
There are three aspects of this book that made me love it, and which make me think any of my friends ought to read it. 1. For all history buffs or people interested in historical culture, there are so many well written and matter of fact details into life in Russia in the late 1800s. 2. For psychologists and people watchers. He goes into incredible detail about the expressions, actions, motivations, and true desires of all the characters, and how they work together or problems they experience... basically an incredible work of interpersonal genious. 3. For those interested in politics or economics. There is a lot of discussion of especially agrarian land reforms but also political and social ideas. It is presented not necesarily in a manner of saying what is right or wrong but just in throughing out discussion and material for thought. Another great side note about this book is that (don't worry I won't give anything away) I already when BEGINNING the book I knew the ending. As I was getting into I hated knowing the ending, and still do hate that I couldn't expereince in order. However, when the ending did come, I was still as in shock, traumatized, and moved by the description and details as I think I would have been if I hadn't known what was coming. SUCH a dramatic scene. And plus, despite knowing the story of Anna from the get go, I found Levin to be much more intreguing and engaging of a character. I feel very drawn towards and affectionate of Levin, and loved the book just for the bits with him in it. Go find and read this book now!
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Yahia posted a review at 2009-11-15 01:48:43.
(Language: English)
SPOILER PLEASE DON'T READ UNLESS YOU HAVE READ THE BOOK, IT WOULD BE TOTALLY UNFAIR TO RUIN THE EXPERIENCE OF THE BOOK BY READING MY COMMENT. He is putting down the animals thoughts Sound effects; yawning and cocking gun When I start reading I feel like I am in a far alternative world other than this one, it's very captivating, like the butterfly effect movie. Has a very good sense of humor. One can't accuse him of exaggerating or underestimating the actions and reactions of human minds. I couldn't believe she really died till later in the chapters were everyone were either mourning or celebrating her death. The ending itself wasn't ingenious, however, there are many parts of the story were a disaster would ensue and would be a perfect location for an ending, but he chooses to adopt the principle of "Life goes on and so do everybody"
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-12-01 09:51:09.
(Language: English)
I love Tolstoy's character development: Levin, Kitty, Anna, Seryosha, Vronsky, Karenin, Oblonsky, and Dolly's, especially. He writes from each person's perspective truly as if he were that person ... it's spectacular, and absorbing. I also found Levin's observations of the Russian peasantry and agricultural system highly interesting, not to mention his thoughts on faith, religion, belief, and the church. I was saddened by his conversion at the end, honestly; it disappointed me. Seemed far too simple and sudden, like a quick-fix to thoughts and questions that, in my opinion, shouldn't have had any answers at all. Anna's end was the most heart-wrenching part of the book. To follow her story through the whole affair, divorce, and then her own death makes the reader sympathize with even the most "amoral" character in the book. I don't know why she earns the scarlet letter, though. To me, Vronsky seems just as guilty as her, if not more so.
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