By
Leo Tolstoy
After conquering Crime and Punishment in a
few months, I thought I'd tackle Anna next. It was certainly
not as fast nor as easy a read, but well worth it. The novel so beautifully
fleshes out the world of both high-society and Levin's farm that they
became completely real places for me.
Better yet, Tolstoy provides some of the best, most realized characters ever written. Tolstoy's magic is to convey great humanity - his characters are striking in their realism and our realization that they feel and act just as we might.
However, one drawback to me was Anna - she was nothing but annoying and I couldn't relate to her at all. Thankfully, every other character is much more likeable. Levin is the obvious favorite, and the protagonist for the most profound finale of any book I've ever read. A wonderful examination of skepticism and faith. There's a lot of book to get through to get to those last few pages, but it's worth it.
Note: I read this before Oprah picked it. Really!
Read December 2003