Good and sad but nothing extraordinary

“Anna Karenina”, by Leo Tolstoy (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition) - translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky

I did listen to the audiobook as I read the physical book.

The novel was fully published in 1877.
It was initially released in serial installments from 1875 to 1877, all but the last part appearing in the periodical The Russian Messenger

Lately I’ve been in the mood for reading the classics and this is my 6th one in this month of March. I picked Anna Karenina because it is considered one of the best Russian’s literature and acclaimed by many as the world's greatest novel.

As this book is a work of translation I can’t judge the author’s writing but I can praise the good work by the duo noted above. The language was very easy and full of passion, hence my ratings.

I thought the beginning was very strong and interesting but after awhile I was wondering why this book received so many high praises, so I stopped reading and watched the 2012 movie adaptation directed by Joe Wright and screenplay written by Tom Stoppard, which production was astonishing. The screenplay was not bad but the book is much better (no surprise here, after all the book requires at least 14 hours (fast readers) and up to 35 hours to be read). But the movie did help me to enjoy the book a lot more, especially with the visualization.

Anyways… back to the book.

The storyline is very good, very dramatic and very descriptive.

The story centers on an extramarital affair between Anna and Count Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky.

The Russian society in the 19th century has been presented with great precision. The majority of the characters live in luxury and are part of the high society.

Unfortunately not one single character is likable and I really did not care whatever happens to them, but I did appreciate their perspectives, and that is what saves the book (in my opinion).

The dialogues are excellent and some situations are interesting and sometimes overly dramatic.

All these people were so hungry for love and attention and at the same time were oblivious to what they already had.

Anna Karenina became a bit pathetic and annoying with her obsession with the count. I did not think that love was involved at all, but lust. Such a powerful lust. It was kind of fascinating and sad at the same time.

Overall, although well written, I did not find the story that gripping or extraordinary, but I liked how the author looked at class, cultural and societal norms, and the emotional toll of expectations by family and friends.

I wished that I could have felt some sorry for these privileged characters.

Paperback: 838 pages, 348k words - divided into 8 parts and 240 chapters (most of the chapters are short)

E- book (Penguin Deluxe Edition): 1275 pages (default)

Audiobook (Penguin Edition) Narrated by Miranda Pleasence: 36 hrs 59 min (normal speed)

PS. First time ever I heard of prune soup. I did google for some recipes. Apparently it’s a Polish dish.

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a classic for a reason

I remember telling myself I would never read this, that I had no interest in classic literature, especially Russian lit. Over the last 2 years—maybe as a consequence of getting older, of being frustrated with the world we live in, or even just a natural consequence of the human condition—I find myself looking furiously and insatiably for answers to a question, a question so infuriating in its simplicity : how to live?

The movie adaptation of this novel lead me to believe this was a story of a gorgeous socialite defiled by lust and the sin of adultery. Now, having read the novel, I feel as though this is not only a cheap distillation but completely off the mark. Anna Karenina isn't only a story about adultery; Anna's sin wasn't that she cheated on her husband, her sin was that she thought she could play God. Anna Karenina is Tolstoy's answer to the question 'what is the meaning of life?'. The parallels and opposing directions of Levin and Anna's storylines force the reader to assess for themselves how to go about leading a moral life. For Tolstoy, that answer lies in the nuclear family, in faith, and in recognizing that reason and pride mislead us in this pursuit.

You'd think that a novel so heavy in philosophical undertones would be a bore to get through and, although I can agree that this book does require some extra research to fully grasp its beauty, the act of reading it felt effortless. The plot was enjoyable, certain moments even clever and funny. I'm happy I picked this as my first Russian classic because, despite its length, it was relatively easy to get through.


I understand why this is one of the greatest novels ever written.
I am so glad I challenged myself to give it a try. (less)

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Brilliant

How is it that in my 70+ years, no one ever told me of the sheer greatness of this work? At once monumental and magnificent. And Miranda Pleasance is simply pitch perfect in her reading. One of the most pleasurable reading and listening experiences I’ve had. Ever.

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a white boletus and a birch boletus

All bad narrations are alike; each brilliant narration is illuminating in its own way.

Tolstoy needs no review, nor does Anna Karenina-at this juncture neither should translators Larissa Volokhonsky-Russian born with with a degree in mathematical linguistics from Leningrad State University married to American born Distinguished Professor of Comparative Literature Richard Pevear. A husband and wife duo, native speakers in both the origin language and the translation language respectively who have won two PEN translation prizes, have invigorated Russian classics for the 21st century.

It is the performance that is newly striking. I listened to Maggie Gyllenhaal's valiant, dramatic interpretation. Yet, this one by Miranda Pleasence is far better; both less striking and more powerful, it lures you in with its subtlety, letting Tolstoy's world and characters take centre stage. As you drift deeper and deeper into this world you forget the author, the translator, the narrator, the 200 year distance with all its subsequent wars, revolutions, famines, and persecutions.

All that is left is everything a novel should be: characters, questions: the struggle for meaning in an empty unforgiving world full of beauty and hope.

It's gorgeous. It's worth your time. listen to it.
You won't regret it.
You might even listen to it again.
and maybe, even
again.

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