Even though I've just finished reading this book I feel like it's one that I'll need to read again. I've often been told Anna Karenina is a book you should read every 10 years and I understand why now.
I didn't like Anna's story. I spent the first half of the book disliking her and the second half feeling bad for her. I find that she is very polarizing and both easy to like and hate. I find that at some points she can be emotionally immature, while in others she seems to be the character that is most firmly grounded. She goes through many drastic changes throughout the novel which is why she is such a compelling character. I like her better now that I'm done and have had time to think that I did when she was initially introduced.
Her husband, although easy to sympathise with, isn't a great person; cold, manipulating, emotionally detached, adding more complexity to Anna's story. His never ending want for revenge seems somewhat out of character at times as it is often noted that he doesn't deal with emotions very well.
Vronsky is, perhaps, the character that I dislike the most. He seems to live in his own world for most of the novel where his actions don't have consequences. He's not a great communicator, especially with Anna who needs clear communication, and does not pick up well on social queues. I also didn't like how he treated Kitty. An imperfect character. Very believable.
Levin is by far my favourite character and I greatly enjoyed his more philosophical musings in the last two parts. I found his reaction to childbirth very interesting and his resulting feelings towards his child. I also think that his and Kitty's love is one of the best stories in the whole novel. I also found it very interesting that he wanted t revolutionise labour but was very firm that he was not a communist and wish that Tolstoy had elaborated further on why it was important to Levin that he not be seen as one, though I'm sure it has something to do with him being a Nobel hanging out with other Nobeles.
I rate this book a 9 out of 10 Overall a good book. Left me feeling accomplished. I feel that I might be a bit young to get everything out of it and that it might be better suited to people in their thirties and forties who have more life experience.
Below the pictures will be a short review of the movie.
So, the movie was pretty great. As far as a book-to-screen translation I feel that it does a really good job at taking all the really important parts from the book. I did regret that there wasn't more about Levin in the movie as he is my favourite character, but understand that they only have so much time and the book is called Anna Karenina and not Konstantin Levin. I give it four stars.
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