Loved this book! Story full with passion and very rich characters. Perfect sneak peak into late XIX century Russia.

This book completely shook me emotionally. I was angry, sad, shocked and moved, sometimes all at once. That’s exactly what makes it so strong. What hit me most is the mix of religion, society’s opinion and male power. Together they create a system that blocks a living, human life. And the scary thing is that so much of it is still relevant today. The double standards are obvious. If men cheat, it’s treated like “well, it happens”. If a woman does, she’s fallen and everyone turns against her. It's really frustrating that not much has changed. Anna completely tore me apart. On one hand, she’s a victim of a society that gives her no dignified way out. On the other, she starts destroying herself. Her jealousy grows and grows. She thinks Vronsky doesn’t love her anymore, reads betrayal into the smallest things, and at times even wants him to suffer. That’s not love anymore, it’s fear and dependency. You can see her losing her grip and getting more and more tangled in her own thoughts. And still, I couldn’t just judge her. She loses her son, her place in the world, and eventually her entire balance. Surprisingly, I also felt sorry for Vronsky. He tries to take responsibility, but Anna’s emotional outbursts are a constant pressure. Their relationship turns into a cycle of insecurity and pain, of love and mutual exhaustion. Then there’s Levin. His thoughts about meaning, faith and doubt really touched me. He realises that you don’t have to prove or understand everything. Maybe in the end it’s just about being grateful for what you have, living consciously, and trying to do the right thing. That was very personal for me because it’s exactly how I think sometimes about life. Why are we here? What is the point? And then he comes to this simple conclusion: appreciate life and do good. This book is far more than a love tragedy. It’s a timeless exploration of morality, power, human fragility, jealousy, double standards, and society. Over 150 years ago, and yet so little has changed. I will definitely be thinking about it for weeks.

Look, if I was younger and more idealistic (than I am now), I would have loved this novel. I read Levin's parts and think, 'yes, that's you in grade ten.' I experienced a lot of mental, moral, and emotional turmoil amidst this novel, and for that, I commend it.

I would jump in front of a train too after 1204 pages