/lit/ - Literature

[Anonymous No.18905859]

Just finished this.

Made a thread like a week ago when I was 1/3rd of the book sayinf it was rather boring except few scenes. However since then I got hooked into the book a lot and 90% of the scenes were really good.

I could see Anna's suicide but still did not wanna believe that.

Overall,sure it was imporant the difference of characters in general but the eternal struggle of man chasing his lusts to find happiness was really touching.

What do ya think about Anna Karenina?

[Anonymous No.18906971]

>>18905859
>the eternal struggle of man chasing his lusts to find happiness was really touching.

This is one of Tolstoï's key concept I think

[Anonymous No.18908136]

I liked this more than War and Peace.

I put it down for an extended period of time because the way Anna went from charming to a total bitch to her husband was very inorganically written, and it turned me off. It's not that it wasn't believable, just that there was no transition in her behavior with him--just abrupt harshness.

That aside, I do agree with that part about man chasing his lusts and I liked that Levin found his happiness in the simplicity of life and its virtues rather than in indulgence.

The nature porn scenes and the extolling of rural life were very pleasant. Just like War and Peace, it takes a while--a long while--before things pick up to a point where you're really invested in it.

Anna was a miserable person, and unfortunately she didn't realize that the domestic cage she was in was the one thing keeping her from spiraling out of control, which she eventually did. Her actions were understandable at first, but the contrast between her and Levin became more apparent as the book went on, with her always seeking happiness from fickle things such as signs of affection and people bending to her charms, whereas Levin sought happiness in truth and a life grounded in it. Anna refused to trust people, and because of it couldn't believe in the love they showed (particularly Vronski), leading to her despair; Levin strived after trust and interdependence with Kitty, and so they managed to overcome all marital struggles through communication and respect.

I do think that one little point that Tolstoy likes to emphasize in his work is that charm always falls second to virtue, and ultimately always fades.

[Anonymous No.18909113]

>>18908136
>
That aside, I do agree with that part about man chasing his lusts and I liked that Levin found his happiness in the simplicity of life and its virtues rather than in indulgence.

Isn't that a common thing in Tolstoï's books to have this type of character who has an epiphany and decide to drop it all?

[Anonymous No.18909160]

>>18909113

I've only read W&P and AK from Tolstoy, but from those two I would agree. Pierre experienced the same struggle as well, and it was obvious that he was something of a stand-in for the author.

[Anonymous No.18909557]

>>18908136
good take.

what I also liked was the contrast between Kitty and Anna.

Anna started as a mature woman always knowing what to do and ended up being an emotional wreck.

Kitty started as a naive girl and matured a lot in the end.

[Anonymous No.18909692]

>>18908136
>the way Anna went from charming to a total bitch to her husband was very inorganically written
Gotta disagree. Their relationship wasn't perfect to begin with and people get real defensive real quick when they're called out for doing something they know is wrong but don't want to stop doing

>Captcha APNM6

[Anonymous No.18909706]

>>18909113
>Isn't that a common thing in Tolstoï's books to have this type of character who has an epiphany and decide to drop it all?

Very common and becomes more religious in his later works. Tolstoy loves a self insert

[Anonymous No.18909970]

>>18908136
>I put it down for an extended period of time because the way Anna went from charming to a total bitch to her husband was very inorganically written, and it turned me off. It's not that it wasn't believable, just that there was no transition in her behavior with him--just abrupt harshness.

iirc there was a jump in time between when Anna succumbed to Vronsky and the next part (where she is bitchy to Karenin) I was fine with it, I don't think having this transition explicit would add much.

Also, I think the sex "scene" between Karenin and Anna sums up their relationship nicely - and makes Anna's harshness quite believable.

[Anonymous No.18910630]

>>18908136
>>18909970
It's been a little bit since I read it but I remember it feeling quite obvious why Anna's attitude changes so quickly.

She had, up until Vronsky, accepted by default the life that she was supposed to be living. She felt happy and in control in the confines of acceptable behaviour, and revelled in that control. Vronsky broke through the walls her societal position had built for her, and she spends a good while in the first part of the book deciding whether to put the bricks back, and whether she even can.

Once she decides to step past the wall and give in to her feelings for Vronsky it's impossible for her to accept the confines of the walls again. I think any abruptness to her change in behaviour is inevitable because of this. To her it feels like a veil lifting from her eyes. She's seen past acceptability into something she wants far, far more. She gives up her happy control for the chaotic buffeting of desire without any roads or paths for her to follow out in her new wilderness.

I think her whole arc is an admonishment both of the smallness of the world that constrains her newly discovered and true love, and for the dangers of abandoning that world.

[Anonymous No.18910863]

>>18905859
Does anyone have an explanation of her dream though?

[Anonymous No.18911217]

>>18910863
An explanation in what sense?

As far as the book goes, any relation the dreams have to reality are explained entirely by the fact that Tolstoy believes in God and that humans are therefore connected to the divine in at least some small way. It's a major theme of the book.

[Anonymous No.18911293]

>>18905859
I liked it because the scope of the book is so vast. The characters felt very real to me, it was very immersive.

[Anonymous No.18911333]

You know what's the most insane thing about this book, in terms of artistic mastery? How the style of each character's chapter reflects the inside of the mind, thought patterns and desires that are unique to the character. It is reflected in both style and structure of each chapter.
If you didn't notice this, go reread. I don't know how the madman did it. Only Proust comes so close in evoking the "how the fuck am I going to really write anything if I don't come even remotely close" feel that Virginia Woolf has described in her letters.
Like a beautiful painting, every part of it could be inspected and adored endlessly. Aestheticism at its peak.

[Anonymous No.18912358]

it's superb, better than W&P, which is written in a much simpler way - couldn't really finish that one, doesn't scratch the itch

[Anonymous No.18912704]

>>18905859
I think the whore should have controlled her dripping cunt a little bit by at least not banging Vronsky in their home. I'ts been a while since I've read it but doesnt Annas husband tell her at one point he knows about the affair but wants to keep the public image up so wont divorce her but tells her to NOT bring Vronsky back to their home, cause everyone is going to know their fucking again

just go into the city 'shopping' and stop off somewhere to bang. not that fucking hard. Anna was her own biggest problem.

I've been reading picrel and I absolutely love it! It's an emotional rollercoaster, you seriously feel bad when terrible things happen to people in this novel.

what kept me for years from reading Quiet Flows the Don was the confusion over finding a proper edition. All the common editions available have literally half the book cut out. I got to around 700 pages and would have been sorely disappointed if the story ended there. This book is begging to be re-released properly. Thankfully there is the 1996 Carroll-Graf edition that is wonderfully translated and uncut. expensive to get.

why would a publisher even sell such a shitty cut up copy of a classic book? There is no reason why not to publish the whole book. Its baffling to me really. I'd be super pissed buying the eng edition and not knowing im missing out on half the story.

[Anonymous No.18912720]

>>18908136
well put. ive read War and Peace a few times but Anna only once. I think ill give it another read when I finish Quiet Don

[Anonymous No.18913801]

>>18905859
Where'd you get this copy (with this particular cover image)?

[Anonymous No.18913822]

I remember back when I was a little kid, this book was horrible. As a little kid this was the most boring and horribly boring book that could exist. I truly hated it. This book taught me something. I was aware that Lev Tolstoi had passed away but I've never been able to express my feelings about it until now. Both Lev & his bro Nikolai were always an influence on me as a child & a teen. Wish sometimes I'd made some choices based on the advise in the narrative. LOL. But my prayer are always with his readers & I know he touched millions.

[Anonymous No.18914118]

My favorite part was the mowing.