Anna Karenina

[markw]

Has anyone read Anna Karenina book? Is it good? Would you recommend it?
I have read Crime and Punishment and would like to read some more Russian Literature from that period.

[axon]

I would recommend it actually, it is not one of my favorites by Tolstoy, but still  a great book to read. I enjoyed "War and Peace" and "Ressurection" more though. Also, the short story "Death of Ivan Illytch" is a must read for Russian lit fans.

[maddie]

I just finished Anna Karenin and I loved it.  I found it to be an easy read. I read it in five days, i couldn't put it down. It is not as serious or thought provoking as C&P. There are definitely parallels between the two books, Anna can not live with herself  for having sacrificed her husband and beloved son, as Raskolnikov cannot forgive himself for his crime. Both characters would probably have had an easier conscience  if they had not hurt an innocent (Anna's son and Raskolnikov's Lisavetta) Anna Karenin gives you a great background of Russian society in the 19th century, making it easier to read  D. and other Russian authors. I would also reccomend Fathers and Sons by Turgenev, for the same reason.

[hillarjr]

I am about 2/3 of the way through Anna K.  I am sort of dragging it out since I am afraid that I will feel completely bereft when I finish it.  Unlike the reviewer who finished it in five days (!) it has taken me about five months.  Anyway, I enthusiastically recommend it, although I really prefer War and Peace.  I specifically recommend the translation by our old friends Pevear and Volkonsky.

[eternalgirlfriend1]

I love Anna Karenina!  It was the first book by a Russian author I ever read, and it's what led me to Dostoevsky.  The story is torrent, and the prose is very elequent and flowing.  I read it in only a few weeks at the end of my spring semester during exams--I loved it that much.  (Maybe it's because I'm a girl.)  If you have read Madame Bovary and you liked it, you will like Anna Karenina.

[eternalgirlfriend1]

I just remembered that Anna Karenina is where Al and Tipper Gore got the name for their daughter, Karena.  Tipper Gore read the novel while she was pregnant with her, and she loved it so much she named her daughter after Anna.  She just changed "Karenina" to "Karena" to make it sound more American.

[Norz]

Of course. But, do yourself a favor and don't read the last 200 pages or so.

[thewretch]

You know, I call myself a Tolstoy fan and I have yet to read this... I will definitely make it my next read!

[Hannah]

I have read half of Anna Karenina, and it was the first Russian book that I had ever started to read.  It took me about a month to get through half of it because I read it over the summer.  Once school started I didn't have time to finish it.  The story was a little bit heavy, but I would absolutely reccomend it and I hope that I will get a chance to finish it.  

[Nastasya]

I'm actually reading this book right now. It is very good, definetly a great love story

[kartachov]

I definetly recomend it. It is one of my favorite books. But if you liked Crime and Punishment, you should read more Dostoiévski. The Brothers Karamazov would be a good book to read, I find it even better than C and P, The characters are exceptionaly well built, and it is not as long as Anna Karenina (size can be a strong turn of when you are starting).
Some people get tired of Russian literature because they started of with the wrong books. Anna is very good, but if you don't feel like reading such a big book, don't read it right now, leave it for later and you'll enjoy it much more.

[Canerican]

I really, truly, loathed that book. I got half way through the second book and couldn't take it anymore. The only character that I liked was Levin. I never like to pick up a book without finnishing it, but this is one such case. The book is so unnecessarily wordy. Reminds me somewhat of Robert Penn Warren's All the King's Men. FYI: I couldn't finnish that book either. I don't enjoy books that are so wordy. I don't mind lenthy books, I loved C&P, but Dostoevsky tends to get right to the point, thats what I enjoy about him.

[deep-thinker]

I agree with kartachov; read more dostoyevsky. Tolstoy is obviously a completely different writer, but after the passion and youthfulness of dost. i found it difficult to appreciate the more subtle tones of tolstoy. Ah well its all good. If you're up for a big book i'd reccommend The Brothers Karamazov.

[tzar]

... It is not as serious or thought provoking as C&P...

in fact,  it's "thought provoking" all right.
it shows where disire for personal freedom may bring the one that doesn't realise - the freedom in itself has nothing to do with the comfort and is a great deal of resposibility in such aspects as the state, society, family, religion, traditions etc.
eventually, any 'freethinker' must consider first: if he/she is up for the challenge.
unfortunately, the world is full of anna kareninas and raskolnikovs who regect the opportunities of everyday life in favour of crushing the boundaries - just because of being SELFISH.
when will they ever learn!

[Canerican]

I got roughly 1/8 of the way through and was simply bored of the book. I'm sure going into the the book with what I know now I would be more satisfied. the problem is that I went to the bookstore and asked for something Dostoevsky-esque, the guy recommended AK. Either he never read much Russian literature and figured it is all the same, or else he never read D and enjoyed AK and just recommended it to me "just because". But after I am done Moby-Dick I will take a look at AK.