And here I am, over with my I-don’t-know-how-many-times rereading of Anna Karenina. I’ve read it in Romanian, in Russian, in English and now in Norwegian. It still remains an absolutely grand book of all times.
Time stands still and yet never stops running. There are things which never change and things which make you realize how fantastic change can be. I suppose one of our biggest accomplishments so far has been our freedom. We have now the liberty of living life just the way we want it, comfort is the prerequisite of a good life.
Even though all characters in the book are representative of the Russian aristocracy of the 19th century, one can clearly see that conventionalities make up the basis of life. There were strict rules to be obeyed if one wanted to be part of the good society. It was especially hard for women, deprived of any freedom of action. I assume one of Tolstoy’s intentions was to illustrate how powerful the conformity with conventional thought and behavior was and how it contravened peoples’ inner feelings and predispositions towards determining their own fate.
It is a deep book, regarding life from all its various facets, asking questions, giving answers from a series of perspectives through each of its characters. It is also a book which makes you realize things you have and must be grateful for, things you do not have and must strive for.
It is indeed one of the greatest novels ever written.
Time stands still and yet never stops running. There are things which never change and things which make you realize how fantastic change can be. I suppose one of our biggest accomplishments so far has been our freedom. We have now the liberty of living life just the way we want it, comfort is the prerequisite of a good life.
Even though all characters in the book are representative of the Russian aristocracy of the 19th century, one can clearly see that conventionalities make up the basis of life. There were strict rules to be obeyed if one wanted to be part of the good society. It was especially hard for women, deprived of any freedom of action. I assume one of Tolstoy’s intentions was to illustrate how powerful the conformity with conventional thought and behavior was and how it contravened peoples’ inner feelings and predispositions towards determining their own fate.
It is a deep book, regarding life from all its various facets, asking questions, giving answers from a series of perspectives through each of its characters. It is also a book which makes you realize things you have and must be grateful for, things you do not have and must strive for.
It is indeed one of the greatest novels ever written.
