last week and I got pretty close but somehow the last 10-15 pages were really hard for me to finish. There was a new niece born and a sister-in-law moving in with me so it was not subject matter so much as trying to find time. Although the subject matter may be partially to blame as I can usually make time for a book that really pulls me in.This section wasn't awful but it was a bit drier than the first section and seemed to drag on a bit.I thought this section would be fairly interesting as this is where the affair between Anna and Vronsky heats up but I'm just not feeling it for them. She talks about her love for him but I'm just not buying it. There's no heat between them. Yes, it's a much older book and I'm not expecting anything really steamy but you'd expect to believe that there is some sort of passion there and I don't. I mean you can feel the tension between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett in Pride & Prejudice
, which is slightly older. So, I don't think it's a time period thing maybe it's a Russian thing? Either way I'm having a hard time caring about their romance or getting emotionally invested when I don't really feel it. The closest you get to seeing the passion is at a horse race when Vronsky falls and Anna freaks out a bit in front of her husband and everything. So there is a glimmer of hope that this romance will pick up a little speed. Then we also deal a lot with Levin and Kitty in this part and these two I just want to smack around a little. Both are sort of running away from their problems and wallowing in self pity. Honestly, these two are perfect for each other. They can run away and wallow together, though I don't think Levin would be wallowing anymore in that instance.
Anyways, maybe I'm just reading through this in the wrong state of mind. I don't hate it, it's just a little dry like I said. I have six more parts for it to pick up a little more steam so we'll continue onward and hopefully I can get through it on time from now on.
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2 comments:
Having read this book a few times, I think I can say with confidence that Anna and Vronksy's relationship is supposed to feel that way to you. It pretty much runs flat there near the end. Levin and Kitty, on the other hand, are supposed to be the "good guys." I don't really buy this though ... Kitty seems a bit spineless to me. But apparently that's how Tolstoy liked his women.
Ok, that's helpful. Now I won't wonder if I'm just completely missing something or if I'm just not 'getting' it. I do like Levin, despite his sulking, so I can see how he's a good guy but you're right about Kitty so far.
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