Madeline
As someone who enjoys books of all types of genres, classic books, including those of wealthy Russians in the 1800s, are always on my list. I do have some hesitancies though as they tend to be long, irrelevant to my experiences, and not always in a straightforward language. Having some background in the topic does help these situations and I was happy to have done some very high level and basic research on Russian nobility around this time.
Premise of Anna Karenina
Anna Karenina is not a light, easy, or short book. It starts with a contently married women of a rich and powerful man who goes to visit her cousin only to meet the love of her life and begin an affair. This affair is the scandal of all of Saint Petersburg’s elite and wealthy Russians in the 1800s. This story is interwoven with other stories of the multiple major characters in this book but keeps coming back to this of betrayal and the search for happiness.
What To Know Before Diving Into This Story Of Wealthy Russians in the 1800s
Reading Anna Karenina is not a short book. Like Les Miserables, before diving in, preparation for a long journey ahead is to be expected. The book does not follow one simple storyline but nearly a dozen storylines that are interwoven. Many of the characters have similar names that can make the story a bit confusing to follow. I found myself Googling the characters on more than one occasion in order to keep them all straight. Basically, a word of warning before picking up this long tale.
Final Thoughts
This is a classic book that requires some preparation before diving right in. Knowing what to expect and knowing that this book will take time and patience is important. But in the end you will be rewarded with… the knowledge that you finished Anna Karenina.
