So, one of my goals is to reread a lot of classics I read when I was in high school or even junior high. Because I can remember next to nothing about them and I'm sure I was too young to appreciate them! Anna Karenina was one of those books read too soon, so I've spent the last few weeks wading through this thing for the second time.I remembered this book as REALLY, REALLY good. So I was surprised to find that this time around, I just didn't like it all that much. I mean, it was a pretty good book. But it also seemed really preachy and heavy handed. And all of the female characters were super shallow, and they were always doing things with their "tiny hands" and "pretty heads." I know it is an old book, but c'mon. All of the interesting, three-dimensional characters are male. I did, however, think it was interesting that Tolstoy can use such measured, careful language to sort of whip you into a frenzy. That's art! Also, the whole time I was reading it, I kept thinking that it was sad to think that in a few decades all the descendents of these people would probably be murdered in the communist revolution. That gave it all an even more tragic feeling than it was meant to have.
-Kristin
1 comment:
I read it after you had to read it in high school. I read a lot of classics I hadn't read when you and Meg had to read them. Descriptions and words certainly change with the times.
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