It took me three months to complete Anna Karenina. I'm not sure why it took me so long, could have been because of time constraints, laziness, the length of the book or perhaps it was something else. It could have been because I didn't want to say goodbye to the characters or let go of the vivid landscapes or 19th century Russian culture that Tolstoy creates for his readers.
On the surface, Anna Karenina tells the story of an unhappily married high-society woman who falls in love with a young Count Vronsky. For various reasons, the love between Anna and Vronsky is doomed from the start and eventually ends in tragedy. But Anna's story, despite the title, is not the only, nor the most important, story within the pages of the book. Levin and Kitty, Dolly and Oblonsky and the countless other characters who drift into and out of the storyline are truly what make Anna Karenina such an exceptional novel.
For anyone searching for a story full of philosophy, morality, despair, hopelessness, forgiveness, joy, class divisions, history, travel and love lost, discovered, consumed, spoiled, rejected and found-Anna Karenina has it all.
Thank you to everyone for reading it. Looking for more insight into Tolstoy and his works? 'The Trouble with Tolstoy' film documentary is an excellent and very thorough examination of Tolstoy's life and environment.
What are your final thoughts on the book? Any favourite parts, excerpts, characters or memories of reading the book?
I couldn't finish it. Got several hundred pages into it, but just got tired of the soap opera feel. But at the same time loved the descriptive nature, the powerful character development, the way it brought you right into the setting whether a dark room or a bright morning at the marshes. A great writer indeed. Some day I will likely finish it.
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