This is a classic I always wanted to read, especially after reading about Tolstoy and his wife in a previous book; so I was excited that our Russian literature group decided to read it over the summer. In some sections, because of the way he writes, I wanted to read on to the next section and had a hard time putting it down. In others, this book was a struggle to complete. It was originally written as a serial over several years and the last section wasn’t published because of its political overtones. I probably would have been obsessed with it in that form (I didn’t especially enjoy the last section). The population of Russia probably enjoyed the voyeuristic view into the aristocratic crowd through Anna’s story and noble attitude of Levin toward the peasants. I found it tedious after Anna’s suicide to finish. I also found Levin’s quest for spiritual truth hard to get into.
Tolstoy writes like a photograph, you feel like you have actually been there and witnessed the scene, but in this day and age of editors, I think this would have ended up at least three separate books instead of this one long epic. In scenes like the mowing with the peasants, and Nicholai’s death scene, I enjoyed the detail. Others went on a little long.
I’ve read the Cliff Notes for this book along with four studies I found on the internet. I really wanted to understand why this book has stood the test of time.
I also have come to the conclusion I probably would not have liked Tolstoy as a person. As a moralist, he not only wrote the novels, but passed judgment on the characters. His view of women seems to be that the only good ones are the perfect wives and mothers who do nothing that would question their morality. If they do anything questionable, he has to destroy them.

Depending on your attention span, you will either love this or think it's just OK. Found it much easier to read than the same translators' War & Peace, but still needed a crib sheet for characters and their relationships to one another. Helps to have some knowledge of Russian history as well. Great characters, amazing inner dialogue, and interesting insights into a society I knew nothing about before starting the book.

While Tolstoy’s prose is dull and annoying at times, Anna Karenina is rich with characterizations. Influenced by socio-cultural ethos or Zeitgeist, relevant reminders between then and now are needed to distinguish the archaic mores conspiring to destroy even the slightest character.

In my opinion, Tolstoy’s ruminations into Levin’s agricultural philosophy tends to interrupt the flow of the novel. I, therefore, cannot agree with Fyodor Dostoevsky that Anna Karenina is "flawless as a work of art." Perhaps a second read would be appropriate to decipher intricacies that eluded me in this reading. Regardless, I recommend reading and discussing Anna Karenina for any book club.

This is a truly magnificent book. Tolstoy is one of the great writers of all time. It should be required reading for all students.

Very good insight into the time period and Russian way of life then. I like the characters depicted and how some things never change when you make life choices.

Long, long book- definitely packed with some very interesting & colorful characters. Themes of mental illness, spiritual searching & political unrest are themes throughout the story. Even though the story is titled “Anna Karenina” leading one to focus on the character of Anna, I was much more drawn & endeared to Levin & his personal & spiritual struggles throughout the book.