Anna Karenina

I can't say anything about this masterpiece that hasn't already been said. My thoughts are my own. First, this was the perfect book to read during a pandemic as it had nothing to do with what was going on in the world right now and I needed the escape. I spent 2 hours researching paper knives because I had never heard of one before.
Second, it reads like a textbook for how to live life, and that's the first time I've really experienced that in a novel. I loved Levin, even though he could be a bit of a downer because he was so thoughtful. I loved his ideas, I was even enthralled with the discussion of the peasant and the idea that they may own some of the lands.
Now, Anna. I think the problem here was not that Anna did not love Vronsky (and vice versa). It had everything to do with the fact that Anna lost Anna. She had no place outside of society and was no longer a parent to her son (I understand why she saw her daughter as a symbol of her old life, but I can't excuse it). A relationship needs two complete people. Vronsky had a life, a home, and Anna. Anna had Vronsky. If she were alive today, this may have been a completely different story, but maybe not. She chose to obsess over him. The death scene was heartbreaking.
My favorite part was when Levin was working in the fields and came up with his idea of a”working cure”. I too love to lose myself in mindless tasks, such as raking leaves. I always feel better physically afterward and my mind has the freedom to wander while my arms do the work.
The only part that really dragged for me was the voting in of the new marshall. I just felt that went on forever.
I'm so glad I can cross this one off the TBR. It was a great read.