I had only a small idea of what I would be reading when I picked up Anna - her death is famous and constantly referenced. However, I had no idea of what would lead her to that point, and I didn't know any of the other names of the characters. Though the lengthy volume looked daunting, as soon as I began to read I was enthralled by every page of this translation.

I loved Tolstoy's characters. For existing in the 1800s, I was fascinated by how entirely real they seemed. I think there's something to be said for Tolstoy's knowledge of the human mind. I figured Anna would be the ultimate sympathetic protagonist here, and she was to a certain extent. Her first appearance in the novel, to the eyes of Vronsky, was undoubtedly great. She enters fresh-faced and jubilant, and devolves through the book into a paranoid and depressed woman (and most of it foreshadowed in that first encounter between her and Vronsky on that train). I'd have to say my favourite character was Levin; I loved his constantly-working mind, and his utter adoration for Kitty. I was so excited during that scene when he proposes to her. And the other characters - Oblonsky, Alexei Alexandrovich, Kitty, Dolly, Vronksy, etc. - all well-developed.

Tolstoy had a way with scenes as well - the ballroom scene through Kitty's eyes when she sees Anna and Vronsky; the horse race; Levin side-by-side with the workers on his farm; Anna's sickness after giving birth; the death of Levin's brother; the birth of Kitty and Levin's son, etc. I remember each of them as vividly as if he painted them.

There was only one part that I felt dragged, and that was in the very last section. I read nearly 800 pages without tiring of the novel, and then struggled to get through the few pages of political and religious commentary. Of course, these few pages didn't ruin the book in the least, but perhaps my exhaustive reading caught up with me. I enjoyed Levin's ending thoughts, for sure.

I honestly never thought I would enjoy this book as much as I did; the volume is quite lengthy and my experience with Tolstoy was always with his shorter works (though I loved them as well). I have to add Anna to my favourite books, it left such an impression on me that now I stare at it over on the bed and wish there was more of it to read. It took a long time (since February 1st!), and the book and its characters were my constant companions in my travels. I can't wait to read it again -- when a few years have passed!

I loved Elena Ferrante's My Brilliant Friend, but found myself the owner of this book before being able to continue with the Neopolitan series. I loved this novel, and more than My Brilliant Friend. It almost reads like an independent movie from the 70s... or perhaps that's just how I visualized what I was reading. It's bleak and angry and there were some moments on the edge of horror for Olga and her children in the months after her husband leaves her for another woman. I loved the visceral emotion and panic. Though translated, I loved the way it read. I now consider it one of my favorite books.

Reread Nov 2020: still a phenomenal book. Struck my different things this time around, but just as intense as I remembered.

Delicious, delectable, disgusting, bizarre, brutal, etc etc etc I LOVE IT.
Longer review to come...

Perhaps I delayed my review of this novel because it hasn't left my mind in the weeks since I completed it. It took only three days to read; I looked forward to every minute I could spare to continue the story. I've been recommending it left and right, but always became confounded when I tried to summarize what the book is about. Because I didn't want to give the wrong impression, to hang the subject of this novel on words like "post-apocalytpic" or "dystopian" because they connote scenes that aren't in this book. This book is about people, art, and hope. I'll just thrust it at you and say: read it.