It all seems so perfect now that we are half way through the book. Tolstoy has presented us with disasters and near death but now all is well and the two couples intent on their happiness. The second half is going to be so good, can't wait.
I particularly liked the wedding scene and the gossiping, the bitchiness, the comments, Tolstoy is so good at describing these extraordinary scenes. The build-up, will Levin arrive at the church or not? all because of the shirt problem, so good.
I am so enjoying this book. Thank you so much Henry!
I found the little snippets referring back to Dolly and Anna's weddings interesting, now that we know how they turned out. In one instance, it's the husband who's unfaithful and, in the other, the wife. I feel that with Levin and Kitty there's no danger of infidelity and it's placed in the middle of the novel as a sort of fulcrum.
I had a similar thought about the nostalgia of the two earlier weddings but did not make the connection of Levin & Kitty's wedding as the fulcrum. Nice!
LT has managed something that I didn’t expect before reading the book: I'm rooting for Vronsky! I expected him to be shallow, vain and - to go all Victorian - a bit of a cad. Instead, he seems to have genuine emotions about Anna. He is, of course, hot-headed - making him do things that are ill-advised - but he is thinking of others, he's just not thinking things through.
Karenin is difficult to fathom. I'm still in two minds about whether his concern for Anna is genuine or whether he simply wants to appear noble. (Ed: why not both?)
To go from that to the Kitty and Levin plot is such a change. We go from high drama to drawing room comedy, but there's still seriousness u depending it. Unlike Vronsky (who doesn't think), Levin overthinks. Instead of feeling lucky, he looks for problems.
I suspect many weddings, Russian or not, have similar stories of lost shirts (or lost rings) and total chaos. I felt this sequence could have quite easily been dropped into a Jeeves and Wooster story.
I loved the chatter at the wedding. Kitty and Levin think it's all about them, but the congregation is just gossiping about each other.
I thought the ends of the two sections were a great contrast: Kitty and Levin can go back to their home as man and wife but Anna and Vronsky have to leave the country to be united. It's a stark difference.
Late, late, late! I loved the awkward and noisy wedding so much! If it had gone off without a hitch, what would we and all the little ancilliary characters have to talk about? It reminded me of the Music Man song, Pick a little, Talk a Little: "Pick pick pick, talk a lot, pick a little more!" Gossip is the same all over.
I'm so invested in Kitty and Levin at this point it's hard for me to turn to Vronsky and Anna again. I should be taken with the drama, I know, but I really worry for them. Mostly for Anna. Who has the children? Where will they end up?
I'll say this, Tolstoy knew where to end his installments.
It’s so true! I’m finding it really rewarding reading the instalments. I find it fascinating that when he came to publish the novel as a single book, he disguised the original breaks and split it into eight parts . . . It feels like we’re rediscovering a way of reading the novel!
Yes! This part is definitely like two opposite sides of a love story. How tormentous is Annas and Vronsky's life and thoughts, and how beautiful is the moment that Levin and Kitty are living. Reading the wedding part was so delightful, and, as you say, Henry, the images that Tosltoy use are fantastic: you could hear the wax drops falling. And the way he describes their feelings is impressive; you could see them, feel them. I was almost emotional! There was, however, a moment of tension for our overthinker friend Levin, having a moment of doubt and jealousy again. It's like having a "Vronsky shadow" hovering over the nice part of the story, but fortunately, it was cleared on time. Thanks, Henry, for your comments, very insightful as always.
Thanks, Henry! I’m really enjoying the story, especially the relief Levin’s and Kitty’s story brings in between the drama that is Anna’s and Vronsky’s story. And of course, my romantic heart loves the kiss 🥰
This section flew by. I could hardly put it down. I was stunned Anna & Vronksky fled, and I am very concerned - did they take the baby with them??? It's unclear. Help me quell my anxiety here.
I had the same worry. Tolstoy ignores that poor baby both before and after her birth! But if you’ve started the reading for next month, that question is answered pretty quickly.
Oh, thank goodness. I haven't started yet, but you've provided the relief I needed.
Yes, what does that say about Tolstoy, if anything? Earlier, he showed Levin playing with Dolly's kids (and even helping with a bit of care work, if I remember correctly), so it's not like Tolstoy thinks it's all women's work and just ignores the baby because of that. Perhaps he's intending to amplify the anxiety the reader already feels about Anna & Vronksy? Some other reason entirely that I'm not seeing? What do you think?
Maybe it's a reflection of Anna's own feelings about the children? One of the problems I have with Anna's character is that doing what's best for her children never seems to enter into her decision-making at all. She worries about abandoning her son because of the guilt that she will have to "suffer" (a favorite word of Anna's) and how it will look to others, not because of how it will affect the boy. Her pregnancy was a big problem for her -- she had to make some sort of decision about the future, but being Anna, she put that off and probably chose to think about the pregnancy as little as possible. Even after the baby was born, we don't see much interaction there. I'm not suggesting that Anna doesn't love her children, but contrast that with, of all people, Karenin, who is said to be attached to "the children" and who doesn't want divorce because "he would lose his last tie to the lives of the children he loved." How odd is it that he seems more attached to Anna's child with Vronsky than she is herself at this point?
Interesting observations! Yes, Anna has not factored in her son's wellbeing. But also, that's a new thing we do. I'm a millennial, and my mother didn't factor me in to her decision-making (where is my laugh / cry emoji?).
Fascinating notes on the Russian wedding ceremony ! There is solemnity and weight attached to every ritual and I love the idea of how each pair are sovereign in their units - wearing crowns to signify the importance and responsibility of their union. I too like Cams found it interesting that Dolly thinks about Ana and herself during this ceremony - Tolstoy to me seems to be hinting that each wedding carried a weight and significance and the couple felt it at the time, but then everything dissipates and decays - time has a funny way of fading urgency/ promise /responsibility. In fact Dolly is not the only one reminiscing, there was another guest having a similar reaction to the ceremonies.
Tolstoy’s depiction of the wedding was wonderful. I especially loved the description of the church itself—it seemed to come alive in the golden glow of candlelight. It is a testament to Tolstoy’s writing —for me anyway—that I was immediately transported back to my own Greek Orthodox wedding (similar, but not identical to the Russian service) 30-plus years ago, in a very vivid way! I can attest to Tolstoy’s accurateness!
It’s interesting that Tolstoy positions the climax of Kitty and Lenin’s love story (so far) in the middle of the novel. Having read W & P last year, this worries me a bit. Tolstoy is capable of anything, and I’m hoping for the best…
Did anyone notice all the references to hands in this section—the characters all seemed to be kissing hands, studying hands, holding hands, etc?
You’re right! The description is fabulous – and how wonderful that it reminded you of your own orthodox wedding! Great observation about the hands too . . .
Hi Ted – thanks so much for asking – I’m afraid I’m not planning to read Anna Karenina again next year, but all our posts and conversations will be freely available here: https://henryeliot.substack.com/s/anna-karenina So I hope they might be a useful accompaniment. You’ll love it! It’s fabulous – especially as a comparison and contrast to War and Peace. All best, Henry
This is such a great section. I love the wedding: it seems SO modern- the gossip, the outfits, the “ladies” trying to get in and be part of it; and SO brilliantly contrasted with the Anna/Vronsky parts. Both relationships feel so real- the domestic and the dramatic hang so perfectly in the balance at this midpoint. Thanks, Henry!
It all seems so perfect now that we are half way through the book. Tolstoy has presented us with disasters and near death but now all is well and the two couples intent on their happiness. The second half is going to be so good, can't wait.
I particularly liked the wedding scene and the gossiping, the bitchiness, the comments, Tolstoy is so good at describing these extraordinary scenes. The build-up, will Levin arrive at the church or not? all because of the shirt problem, so good.
I am so enjoying this book. Thank you so much Henry!
Totally agree Rosalind, Tolstoy is so good at that. It feels like you are there, listening, watching, living the wedding with them.
I completely agree – he’s so good at constructing the whole wedding episode.
I found the little snippets referring back to Dolly and Anna's weddings interesting, now that we know how they turned out. In one instance, it's the husband who's unfaithful and, in the other, the wife. I feel that with Levin and Kitty there's no danger of infidelity and it's placed in the middle of the novel as a sort of fulcrum.
I had a similar thought about the nostalgia of the two earlier weddings but did not make the connection of Levin & Kitty's wedding as the fulcrum. Nice!
LT has managed something that I didn’t expect before reading the book: I'm rooting for Vronsky! I expected him to be shallow, vain and - to go all Victorian - a bit of a cad. Instead, he seems to have genuine emotions about Anna. He is, of course, hot-headed - making him do things that are ill-advised - but he is thinking of others, he's just not thinking things through.
Karenin is difficult to fathom. I'm still in two minds about whether his concern for Anna is genuine or whether he simply wants to appear noble. (Ed: why not both?)
To go from that to the Kitty and Levin plot is such a change. We go from high drama to drawing room comedy, but there's still seriousness u depending it. Unlike Vronsky (who doesn't think), Levin overthinks. Instead of feeling lucky, he looks for problems.
I suspect many weddings, Russian or not, have similar stories of lost shirts (or lost rings) and total chaos. I felt this sequence could have quite easily been dropped into a Jeeves and Wooster story.
I loved the chatter at the wedding. Kitty and Levin think it's all about them, but the congregation is just gossiping about each other.
I thought the ends of the two sections were a great contrast: Kitty and Levin can go back to their home as man and wife but Anna and Vronsky have to leave the country to be united. It's a stark difference.
I sometimes shout at Levin in my head, "Omg just do it already!".
Fabulous thoughts Bren – and I know exactly what you mean about Vronsky!
Late, late, late! I loved the awkward and noisy wedding so much! If it had gone off without a hitch, what would we and all the little ancilliary characters have to talk about? It reminded me of the Music Man song, Pick a little, Talk a Little: "Pick pick pick, talk a lot, pick a little more!" Gossip is the same all over.
I'm so invested in Kitty and Levin at this point it's hard for me to turn to Vronsky and Anna again. I should be taken with the drama, I know, but I really worry for them. Mostly for Anna. Who has the children? Where will they end up?
I'll say this, Tolstoy knew where to end his installments.
It’s so true! I’m finding it really rewarding reading the instalments. I find it fascinating that when he came to publish the novel as a single book, he disguised the original breaks and split it into eight parts . . . It feels like we’re rediscovering a way of reading the novel!
So many cliffhangers! Excellent parallel to The Music Man!
Yes! This part is definitely like two opposite sides of a love story. How tormentous is Annas and Vronsky's life and thoughts, and how beautiful is the moment that Levin and Kitty are living. Reading the wedding part was so delightful, and, as you say, Henry, the images that Tosltoy use are fantastic: you could hear the wax drops falling. And the way he describes their feelings is impressive; you could see them, feel them. I was almost emotional! There was, however, a moment of tension for our overthinker friend Levin, having a moment of doubt and jealousy again. It's like having a "Vronsky shadow" hovering over the nice part of the story, but fortunately, it was cleared on time. Thanks, Henry, for your comments, very insightful as always.
so true Claudia, Levin overthinks absolutely everything!
Thanks, Henry! I’m really enjoying the story, especially the relief Levin’s and Kitty’s story brings in between the drama that is Anna’s and Vronsky’s story. And of course, my romantic heart loves the kiss 🥰
This section flew by. I could hardly put it down. I was stunned Anna & Vronksky fled, and I am very concerned - did they take the baby with them??? It's unclear. Help me quell my anxiety here.
I had the same worry. Tolstoy ignores that poor baby both before and after her birth! But if you’ve started the reading for next month, that question is answered pretty quickly.
Oh, thank goodness. I haven't started yet, but you've provided the relief I needed.
Yes, what does that say about Tolstoy, if anything? Earlier, he showed Levin playing with Dolly's kids (and even helping with a bit of care work, if I remember correctly), so it's not like Tolstoy thinks it's all women's work and just ignores the baby because of that. Perhaps he's intending to amplify the anxiety the reader already feels about Anna & Vronksy? Some other reason entirely that I'm not seeing? What do you think?
Maybe it's a reflection of Anna's own feelings about the children? One of the problems I have with Anna's character is that doing what's best for her children never seems to enter into her decision-making at all. She worries about abandoning her son because of the guilt that she will have to "suffer" (a favorite word of Anna's) and how it will look to others, not because of how it will affect the boy. Her pregnancy was a big problem for her -- she had to make some sort of decision about the future, but being Anna, she put that off and probably chose to think about the pregnancy as little as possible. Even after the baby was born, we don't see much interaction there. I'm not suggesting that Anna doesn't love her children, but contrast that with, of all people, Karenin, who is said to be attached to "the children" and who doesn't want divorce because "he would lose his last tie to the lives of the children he loved." How odd is it that he seems more attached to Anna's child with Vronsky than she is herself at this point?
Interesting observations! Yes, Anna has not factored in her son's wellbeing. But also, that's a new thing we do. I'm a millennial, and my mother didn't factor me in to her decision-making (where is my laugh / cry emoji?).
I think Anna’s so self centered and in her own head that she doesn’t see how her actions affect other people at all.
Ha! You may be right!
Great point! Tolstoy is quite good at forgetting to update us on baby Anna . . .
Fascinating notes on the Russian wedding ceremony ! There is solemnity and weight attached to every ritual and I love the idea of how each pair are sovereign in their units - wearing crowns to signify the importance and responsibility of their union. I too like Cams found it interesting that Dolly thinks about Ana and herself during this ceremony - Tolstoy to me seems to be hinting that each wedding carried a weight and significance and the couple felt it at the time, but then everything dissipates and decays - time has a funny way of fading urgency/ promise /responsibility. In fact Dolly is not the only one reminiscing, there was another guest having a similar reaction to the ceremonies.
Tolstoy’s depiction of the wedding was wonderful. I especially loved the description of the church itself—it seemed to come alive in the golden glow of candlelight. It is a testament to Tolstoy’s writing —for me anyway—that I was immediately transported back to my own Greek Orthodox wedding (similar, but not identical to the Russian service) 30-plus years ago, in a very vivid way! I can attest to Tolstoy’s accurateness!
It’s interesting that Tolstoy positions the climax of Kitty and Lenin’s love story (so far) in the middle of the novel. Having read W & P last year, this worries me a bit. Tolstoy is capable of anything, and I’m hoping for the best…
Did anyone notice all the references to hands in this section—the characters all seemed to be kissing hands, studying hands, holding hands, etc?
You’re right! The description is fabulous – and how wonderful that it reminded you of your own orthodox wedding! Great observation about the hands too . . .
I am doing Simon Haisell’s War and Peace in 2025 but would like to read Anna Karenina next. Will you be offering it again?
Hi Ted – thanks so much for asking – I’m afraid I’m not planning to read Anna Karenina again next year, but all our posts and conversations will be freely available here: https://henryeliot.substack.com/s/anna-karenina So I hope they might be a useful accompaniment. You’ll love it! It’s fabulous – especially as a comparison and contrast to War and Peace. All best, Henry
This is such a great section. I love the wedding: it seems SO modern- the gossip, the outfits, the “ladies” trying to get in and be part of it; and SO brilliantly contrasted with the Anna/Vronsky parts. Both relationships feel so real- the domestic and the dramatic hang so perfectly in the balance at this midpoint. Thanks, Henry!
I am doing Simon Haisell’s War and Peace in 2025 but would like to read Anna Karenina next. Will you be offering it again?