Posts about: Anna Karenina
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
We’re going to talk about something cheery in literature today; adultery. As I continue to add new books to my TBR and glance at some of the titles on my shelves, I’m increasingly surprised (and fascinated) that so many novels are centered around unfaithful spouses. More specifically, I’m interested in this theme from books written between the mid-1800s to around 1970.
My interest was initially piqued after I finished reading Anna Karenina, because I noticed similarities between Anna and Emma in Madam Bovary. These narratives were written by men and what happens to these characters because of their adultery is extreme. Would a woman have written this way? How do men and women write about adultery? How are men written about who are also unfaithful?
There is so much that can be analyzed here about how women are punished more harshly for the same deeds of men, morality, ethics, loyalty and faithfulness in marriage, trust in relationships, the fragility of the family structure, the impact of adultery etc. Most people would go on and agree that committing adultery is wrong and I agree. I think one reason it is such a prominent theme in literature is because its not uncommon and unhappy marriages are not an anamoly.
Another book I’m reminded of is Stoner by, John Williams. The husband steps outside of his marriage and commits adultery and his live unravels; so the emphasis is not just on women. I plan to re-read Stoner next year because it is an excellent book. I will read Someone at a Distance by, Dorothy Whipple this year; another story about a husband who breaks his vows. Honestly, if I listed all the books I’ve added to my TBR dealing with this topic, I would bore you all to tears. Two in particular I have my eyes on are The Weather in the Streets by, Rosamund Lehmann and Heartburn by, Nora Ephron. Heartburn in particular is supposed to be rather comical, as the heavily pregnant wife copes with her husband’s infidelity through cooking; I believe there are even recipes in this novel!
As I continue to read more novels regarding adultery, I’m excited to keep you all posted on what I discover and the analysis I pull together. I have enough reading on the topic to last years.
What is topic in literature that you are fascinated by, even if it is a bit…challenging? Have you read any of the titles I mention here?
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Anna Karenina by, Leo Tolstoy: ISBN 978-1-784-87195-6
Madam Bovary by, Gustave Flaubert: ISBN: 0978-0-141-39467-1
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Also pictured here:
- Chanel No. 5 because Emma and Anna are definitely Chanel No. 5 women!
- Drinking: Copper Cow Coffee
Saturday, March 14, 2020
“I believe that to understand love, one must first make a mistake and then correct it.”
- Anna Karenina by, Leo Tolstoy.
I finally finished this 963 page novel. This review is going to be a challenge, not only because of this book’s size, but because of its content. There is no way I’ll be able to express everything, without writing a 50-page thesis.
When I first started Anna Karenina, I thought it would mainly focus on Anna and her adulterous relationship with Count Vronsky. That is a significant part of the plot, BUT it’s so much more than that. Anna’s story is actually paralleled with Levin’s, and one could argue that this book could easily be titled “Constantine DmÃtrich Levin.” There is a massive cast of characters (I’ll spare you...), who are all intertwined in some way. There is so much commentary about the state of Russia, both politically and socially, religion, the education system, family and relationships.
However, for the sake of space, if I had to sum up this book in one theme it would be, What is the Purpose of Life? Yes, that’s horribly cliché, but, that’s what Tolstoy is expressing here. You have Anna and Levin grapple with this concept the whole book. When they obtain what they’ve been seeking, that satisfaction still does not make the soul content. Both of these characters are unhappy and they are striving after fleeting happiness without understanding how to obtain deeper contentment and peace. Without spoiling anything, one grasps this concept and the other doesn’t.
Tolstoy does an excellent job writing about the human experience. There are characters that I didn’t initially like and then warmed up to, for example Anna’s husband, Karenin. I adored Kitty the whole novel; she has such a sweet and innocent temperament. My favorite is Levin, though he was very frustrating, his heart is in the right place. I didn’t like Anna at all; her desire to be with Vronsky, at the expense of her child, irritated me.
If you have the slightest desire to read Anna Karenina, go for it. It’s a commitment, but well worth the effort. I would consider this novel to be a masterpiece. If you like Madam Bovary, you may like this one as well; there are definitely similarities. I really feel my review hasn’t done Tolstoy’s work any justice, but needless to say, I really, really, really enjoyed Anna Karenina, and I can’t wait to dive into more Russian classics.
Rating: 5/5.
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Also pictured here:
- Tea: Earl Grey
- Handmade knit hats by yours truly.
- Diptyque Eau Duelle, one of my favorite fragrances. Spicy, vanilla and exotic.
- These epic leather gloves that I forgot I had in my drawer.
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