Anna Karenina Audiobook

" this book is one of my favourite love tragic stories- unloved husband, beloved son, young and existing new love...how do you manage all this in a very conservative aristocratic society where divorce is not an option and you loose everything, including your good name, friends, if you dare not to obey the norms? She wasn't strong enough to face it all... Every character had a journey through their own stories and had to make difficult choice, show courage and forgiveness. "

" A great literary work of all time. A great classic schemed story about jealousy,hypocrisy,society,fidelity,adultery,marriage,faith and beliefs. It's so well written that I enjoyed each characters' role, which is ironic for me, especially on how it was focused on its protagonists namely Anne and Levin. I just love how they find their own life and happiness, though they foresee it in different ways. I just can't believe how each characters go beyond the bound of their own madness with love and just nailed them down to their own death, and how they won their good fights and find themselves drowning into the depths of torments, and just led their devil inside conquer their world. It's a reflection of love to us. This will stimulate those who felt or rather feeling envy and trying to suffocate and poison themselves. This will let you see the discrepancies on how we foresee and mislead the greatest love. "

" While dated in its morality, it's a powerfully written novel. "

" On face value it's the story of an extramarital affair. But it's so much more. It touches and discusses every topic under the sun, from religion to governance and planning. Also, Tolstoy creates characters that are truly life-like. Rather than focus on traits of a character, he develops them all around, gives you not just a peek into their lives, but lays out their lives before you. Tolstoy doesn't shy away from details, in fact he delves far deeper into them than most other authors "

" Tolstoy is not one to mince words. Goes on forever... and nothing happens. "

" oh my gosh...never was I so happy to have a book end! I can't believe I even finished it. What a bunch of tangents Tolstoy goes off on. There is very little actual plot about anything and a whole bunch of musings on everything. I read it, I did it, it's over...Thank God! "

" I like it so much . "

" This translation, done by husband and wife team Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky, was picked by Oprah for her Book Club several years ago. Since I had always struggled with it I decided to give it a try and it was wonderful. What a beautiful book!!! It was one of the most exciting, lyrical, tragic and romantic novels I have ever read. I was sorry to see that the movie tie-in was not this translation because I think it would have appealed more to the masses. But don't for a minute think the translators have in any way "dumbed down" the story or done a Cliff Notes version. "

" I can't believe that I finished this, and I am not sure I understood much about the Russian society. Anna never found love, and she met a tragic death. She deceives her husband and leaves her son. I can't believe that the book is named after her because the book is really about Levin. He finds his soul at the ending of the book. There are several good quotes throughout the book. "

" We all know that this novel, is one of the best novel for all time in the history of world literature ever. Leo Tolstoy as the author, is one of the best of 100 greatest authors all time. Anna Karenina was born as a reflection of the real life of a woman portrait of Russian society at that time, where Leo Tolstoy put the long-running conflict between the position of women in the family in the novel. "

" Tolstoy gets 5 stars. Pevear/Volokhonsky get 4.5. I was puzzled at times over their choice of words and idioms. "

" Watch the movie before read the book... "

" Saw the movie while I was in the middle of reading this. The movie was strange, especially the settings. The book was very long and so different from modern writing. There was too much "characters' thought" writing that didn't thicken the plot. "

" Long read for me, but great story. "

" After english translation the book is pretty boring unless one is all about old fashioned style. Nevertheless, book flows when one reads in russians. Of course, none of the books can be as good as they are in their native language. So, try to consider that translation uses heavy words, which slows down reader. But description seems very vivid as in Tale of two cities. "

" This is by far my most favorite book of all time. Absolutely amazing. "

" I think Tolstoy did a remarkable job depicting an accurate portrayal of a fallen woman and the personal troubles that come with the position in Anna Karenina. He didn't stop with just her characterization and problems but included many different personal struggles in the characters of this story - a loss of faith, a desire for faith but an inability to understand it, the political problems in Russia during the Serbian and Turkish war and conflict, and many more. I struggled to sympathize with Anna at many points but found the side story of Levin and Kitty to be a welcome relief from Anna's many issues. It's a long story worth your time. "

" So Long! I am happy I made it through. I learned a bit of Russian history as it went along. It was written as a serial like Dicken's books; consequently, the overwhelming length. "

" Such a great book! It shows lust and love in such spectacular ways! Heartbreaking and heart-pumping, it had every element that i love in a book. It is said that Leo actually fell in love with Anna while writing this novel and i see why. Through her struggles and misfortunes and moments of sheer stupidity, weakness and vulnerability you feel a real connection with her character. She was so real. This book is still relatable but the fact that its in a different time period in a different country is why i truly love this classic. "

" I rather liked and found Levin more interesting than Anna. "

" The fact that Tolstoy was able to keep Anna in perspective for the reader resonated with me and I found I had a love/hate relationship with the character. Yet he was able to help the reader understand her so well that each person who reads it will come away with a unique analysis of Anna based on their own life experiences and prejudices/morals. I think about tis book from time to time, which doesn't happen with many books for me. "

" This was my first novel by Leo Tolstoy. It definitely won't be the last. This story was not only everything I expected it to be, but so much more! A reread is up for consideration. "

" If you're willing to try Russian literature and aren't afraid of 1000 pages than Anna Karenina is a really good read. It's very dramatic and moving but historically interesting. "

" Very "wordy" and so heavy going ... me-thinks writers were paid by the word then! Interesting observation of the society of that time, though. Now I'll see the movie. :-) "

" This book was so fascinating! Leo Tolstoy is an excellent writer. You feel like you know every single character. "

" It's a good book but the story would never end. So I shelved it and watched the PBS movie. I know, bad me!! "

" The overall story is compelling by its very nature -- it has all the elements: lust, love, passion, betrayal, suspense, sorrow, loss, danger, etc. But Tolstoy's actual WRITING/PROSE? Pretty redundant and boring, actually. Or maybe I just had a bad translation. But honestly, both "War and Peace" and "Karenina", while excellent STORIES, seemed to blather on at many points where he could have just cut to the chase and knocked off a lot of the dragging repetition. But the tale itself is one that every person should experience at least once, whether in book form, or through one of the various movie or made-for-television versions... "

" Good thing it's such a page-turner, because there are a lot of pages to turn! I actually read my grandmother's copy of The Everyman's Library 1912 edition translated by Rochelle S. Townsend. "

" I didn't really like Anna Karenina (the character) but I really liked the parts of the book about Kitty and Levin! "

" I adore this book. Initially I read it in Russian a few years ago, but when the film was released I read it in English. Love it. "

" Depressing. Took me forever to read half way through it before I gave it up. "

" It's a marathon not a sprint. "

" One of my all-time top ten: the writing is superb, the historical background, and the love story carries it all along. "

" Loved this book!!!!! It should have been called Konstantin Levin though, seeing as it was much more about him. Enjoyed every minute of this, although I wasn't super interested in the class struggles and peasant talk. "

" This is a book I read about every 10 years, and at each stage of my life, I have a different prospective on the characters "

" It's taken me a really long time to read, but I did love the story. It's beautiful tragedy at its very best. "

" Loved it, heavy going initially but once into the story was smooth going. "

" Detailed descriptions. It will change the minds of anyone wanting the ability to read minds. Amazingly progressive for the time, sure. Did not keep me engaged. I was not prepared for a non-novel, novel. "

" Hard to put down, fascinating. "

" A classic novel....and loved every minute of reading it!!! "

" Many people say it's a little outdated but I loved it. It was way ahead of its times, for sure. "

" It was very long, but had a great story line. I just wish it hadn't been written by a man. "

" magnificent story-telling... i felt completely drawn in to make allegiances with different characters. Poor anna, with so little to do in the world due to her station in life. once even cosiety was closed to her she found it so hard to stay in the world. tragic star crossed lovers... "

" I expected a lot more from this one. I just couldn't like or love Anna with her issues. "

" Horribly boring but still a classic. "

" This was a tough read for me, so I listened to the audiobook (extended edition), and loved it!!! All 35 plus hours:) "

" I read it a couple of years ago and it was an wonderful book. A must read. "

" Good read just about 200 pages to long. "

" For someone who read this book at the age of fourteen, I loved it. Of course, some parts were somewhat boring at the beginning, because we're all used to action filled books and you need some time to get into Tolstoy's Russia, but once you do.. Gosh, it's magnificent. "

" This is one of those classic books that you feel you should read, and now I can say that I have! "

" Maybe it's because I knew the basic story, but I was much more interested in Kitty and Levin than Anna and Vronsky. Also the political-social commentary was much less interesting than War and Peace's. "

" Excellent book. It was hard to get started but then it was good. "

" Alright, so this is a classic and I've always wanted to read it; but honestly, I can't stand the snail pace of everything. The small talk dialogue and the second to second events which clearly are not necessary for the plot. I give up! Closing book and putting it away. "

" Stayed up all night for this. "

" This five-star novel engaged me with its characters(obviously, or I wouldn't have read such a tome) and the extensive footnotes offered a mini-history of 19th Century Russia. "

" Not much has changed about families since Tolstoy wrote this. Mainly, we seem to work longer hours, but that's about it! "

" I listened to the audiobook. I enjoyed this more than War and Peace, but my heart still belongs to Nabokov! "

" Profound understanding of human characters "

" Brilliantly explores the heavy questions of life that one tends to shy away from. It'll leave you feeling hopeless and hopeful, and changed. "

" I found this book almost unbearable. It's been called 'the greatest book ever written' but it was unfortunately lost on me. "

" If you're willing to try Russian literature and aren't afraid of 1000 pages than Anna Karenina is a really good read. It's very dramatic and moving but historically interesting. "

" Tolstoy, though very long-winded, is a brilliant writer. Too long and sometimes boring for 5* from me. "

" I couldn't even finish it. I don't remember the last time i didn't finish a book. It was so slow and boring that i just had to stop forcing myself to get through it. "

" I couldn't put it down. Especially this translation. I carried it around with me, reading it as I walked from the train to work. Actually bumped into someone and when they saw what I was reading -- it's a big book -- they looked apologetically and said, "Oh, no wonder." No wonder. "

" I really enjoyed this book. It was boring only a couple of times, but the short chapters made it easy to read. "

" An exemplary piece of Russian Literature. I enjoyed the entire book, but I found myself drawn more to the sub-plot of Levin than the plight of Anna and Vronsky. Levin's innocent persuit of Kitty, along with his search for a higher power made this read worthwhile for me. "

" Tolstoy really brings you in to this book. Enjoyed "

" Such a compelling work, loaded with character. I've read it three times and always come away with something new. "

" Love the novel, Tolstoy is one of my favourite Russian authors. I have read a better translated version though. "

" A tempest that quickly sweeps one away on a journey of various emotions. Beautifully written by a master of the Russian, nay, the universal pen. I have read it twice and shall return to it again. "

" Great book from my younger years. "

" The best novel ever written. So beautiful and clear, motivating and without judgement. what thoughts these characters possess! What wonderfully accurate descriptions. I get confused when people discuss it as a text because it hardly seems like a book-- it's so real, it could be life itself. "

" If this was only a story about Anna, I would not like it. It is in the contrast between her and Levin that there is beauty. I love seeing in Levin my same thoughts and struggles and joy and triumphs. Throughout all, Tolstoy is a master storyteller. "

" I enjoyed the intertwining storylines, as well as the style this book was written in. "

" Story of complicated love. A bit heavy on the politics and philosophy at times. A classic that I'd always wanted to read and am glad I did. Now to watch the Keira Knightly/Jude Law movie version. "

" One of the most fully drawn female characters in literature, right up there with Madam Bovary. Remarkable book, and every day that passes since reading it, I appreciate its mastery more and more. Definitely going to read more Tolstoy- very soon. "

" Loved the story, but wow, was it ever long! Very dramatic, but a little bit rambling in parts. "

" I liked it--I think Tolstoy is a genius with his insight into what a character would be thinking and his analysis of events and issues. This is also true in War and Peace, which I loved. "

" I read it long time ago so I don't remember much of it "

" Loved the story, but wow, was it ever long! Very dramatic, but a little bit rambling in parts. "

" No wonder they made a movie out of it. Shall be watching the movie with interest "

" Leo Tolstoys' long and complex tale actually is about several marriages and Russian society during the turn of the century. Because of the length of this book, there was quite a bit I missed but I did enjoy our Book Club discussion about the complexity of Russian life. "

" Awesome book. Trains are dangerous. "

" Tolstoy does not even compare with Dostoyevsky "

" I liked the book, but I wish that stories about women acting outside society's norms didn't die or get killed in the end. . . "

" it was my one smart college book "

" Perhaps the best book I have ever read! It was almost like reading a great work of poetry from start to finish. "

" Tolstoy is not one to mince words. Goes on forever... and nothing happens. "

" This book is sad and disturbing. I'm still trying to sort it out. "

" Forced to read it aged 17. Maybe I wasn't mature enough to appreciate it. If every run out of books I want to read I might give it a re-read. Not holding my breath on that... "

" I know this is a classic and everyone loves it, but I couldn't get into it and decided that I didn't want to finish reading it. Partly it's Tolstoy's style, partly the distasteful fact that it's about an adulterous relationship, but it's also that I just didn't care that much about the characters. "

" By far one of my favorite books of all time. A true classic. "

" I never imagined the end. Very nice story. "

" Certainly a LONG book. My husband and I read it together. It really added to the enjoyment of the experience. Lots to discuss. Just finished it last night. Very good. Very thought provoking. "

" I listened to this book on CD, and it was 27 CD's long! Some parts really dragged by. Some parts were captivating and interesting. I'm glad I made it through it. But it took me almost a year to do so (I kept having to turn it back in to the library). "

" Five stars for the book, but not this film version. I've read the book several times; it just may be my all time favorite. "

" I'm sorry I put off reading this book for so long, I thought it would be a really difficult read, but it wasn't, I read along with an audio version to help with the names. Can't wait to see the movie! "

" This is one of those classic books that you feel you should read, and now I can say that I have! "