Anna Karenina - Page 2

[Owen'nZoe]

Thoughts svo far? I've read as far as the first ball, so three storylines are going: Stiva and Darya, Levin / Kitty / Vronsky, and Anna and Vronsky. I'm finding I have a lot less sympathy for Stiva as I read this time around than when I last read in college. I think it must be because with my post childbirth body, I identify with Darya more. ;)

There is also this terrific little detail from the ball that I want to share, if you all have read that far. Let me know!

[Motivated Mama]

So, I've read to the ball, but I'm all confused, think I may have missed some pages, messed up my bookmark or something when I was really tired. I'm in the part where Levin is dealing with his farming duties and more has happened between Anna and Vronsky. What, about the ball, are you referring to?

[Owen'nZoe]

Originally Posted by Motivated Mama 
 What, about the ball, are you referring to?

Unfortunately, I've reread the part I wanted to discuss in the Penguin edition, and the part that I loved so much must have been a translation error, because it isn't in this edition. What a bummer. :(

In general, though, I love how he builds complexity in the characters by playing them off one another - When Anna's talking to Dolly, and trying to get her to forgive Stiva, Anna tells Dolly how Stiva feels -- but it isn't at all how Stiva feels, it is how Anna herself will feel later in the book after she has deceived her husband. And Levin thinks of himself as someone who works with his hands, isn't an aristocrat, isn't an intellectual. Yet, it's clear when he is with the Oblonskys and the Scherbatskys and all of their circle that he isn't that much of an outsider. And when we see him with people who think of themselves as intellectuals (like his brother Sergei's professor friend), we get to see that he is actually quite intellectual.

What is everyone else thinking of the book?

[Owen'nZoe]

Based on all the replies, I'm thinking no one is liking it very much!

[Motivated Mama]

Sorry. I've been so busy with studying for the MCAT, work, kids, exercise, etc. I just really haven't picked it up in awhile. It just doesn't have that "can't put it down" appeal although I have enjoyed the story. I keep reading it when I'm tired though and I miss a lot, then I find myself re-reading it 100 times. I can't just FOCUS.

[Owen'nZoe]

Originally Posted by Motivated Mama 

Sorry. I've been so busy with studying for the MCAT, work, kids, exercise, etc. I just really haven't picked it up in awhile. It just doesn't have that "can't put it down" appeal although I have enjoyed the story. I keep reading it when I'm tired though and I miss a lot, then I find myself re-reading it 100 times. I can't just FOCUS.

Good luck with the MCAT studying. Wow! That is impressive!

 No apologies necessary! :) I totally get it. Actually, it is quite funny - my degree is in Russian Lit, and when DH saw me reading AK again (for the first time in at least 10 years, mind you), what was his response? "Why in the world are you doing that to yourself again?!?"  Anyway, I agree - it is a great book, but not really a page turner.