Anna Karenina Readalong, 2023

@Piggywaspushed yes, definitely Bojo/Eton vibes! although to be fair to Stiva he's painted as attractive, well attired, and smelling nice...not attributes I've ever given to Johnson.

The akwardness of Levin is painful.

I would like to join!

I have been listening to it for a while nw and am delighted to find you. I really want to read it so will get a kindle version.

Can add about Stephan and Dolly - he writes Dolly brilliantly I think. Her understanding of how Stephan regards her and her rejection of role assigned to her by her husband, the shift in the relationship.

Part 1, Chapter 5

•	We find out that Oblonsky got his job through a family connection (his sister Anna's husband). Even if that job hadn't been available, someone else would have helped him out, because he's well-connected.

•	Apparently, Oblonsky knows half of Moscow and St. Petersburg. He's a great guy and everyone likes him. And besides, that's just how things work in 1870s Russian society: cronyism everywhere.

•	Everyone, everywhere, likes Prince Oblonsky, primarily for three reasons: 1) since he knows his own faults, he's extremely willing to forgive everyone else for theirs; 2) he behaves in an egalitarian fashion, meaning that he treats everyone the same, and 3) he never gets excited about his job and he never makes mistakes.

•	During his council meeting, there is activity at the door.

•	Oblonsky wants to know who's there.

•	The doorkeeper points out a big man with a curly beard and a sheepskin hat, whom Oblonsky greets with great affection.

•	The man turns out to be Constantine Levin (keep your eye on this character—he's one of the major protagonists).
•	

Oblonsky and Levin are childhood friends who took different paths in life. Oblonsky is urbane and self-assured, while Levin lives in the country and is socially awkward and shy.
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A characteristically awkward social encounter occurs when Levin is introduced to Oblonsky's colleagues, Philip Nikitin and Michael Grinevich.
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• Levin is described as a member of District Council, a cattle breeder, and a hunter. He is also introduced as Sergius Koznyshev's brother. (Sergius Koznyshev is a well-known writer.) Levin isn't too pleased about this last bit, because he hates being known as the "brother of Sergius Koznyshev."
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Also, it turns out that he has quit the District Council.
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Levin blushes furiously when Oblonsky notes that Levin is wearing a new French suit. Levin then insists that the two of them have a private chat.
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After Oblonsky suggests dinner, Levin demurs, arguing that he doesn't have that much to say.
• So Oblonsky tells Levin to say what he needs to say.
• Levin becomes shy, and then finally asks what the Shcherbatskys (those are Oblonsky's in-laws) are up to.
• Oblonsky knows that Levin is in love with Kitty, the youngest Shcherbatsky girl, (who also happens to be Dolly's younger sister.)
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• Oblonsky tells Levin that he can't give a short answer to the question.
• They agree to talk later. Levin blushes a lot.
• Oblonsky tells Levin to go to the zoo where Kitty skates. Oblonsky will pick Levin up for dinner there.
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Levin dashes out, realizing later that he forgot to say good-bye to Oblonsky's colleagues.
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We also find out that Levin owns six thousand acres of land in the Karazin District.

Just read today's chapter. I am getting very strong Boris Johnson vibes...

Definitely Magentax, it makes you slow down and take more notice. Yes, a longer chapter today. I though the dialogue between Stepan and Levin was a bit disjointed. I had to read over it again.

The continuation of Tolstoy's obsession with hands! Levin focusing on Grinevich's long slender hands this time.

Today's chapter was quite a bit longer wasn't it, very interesting detail of Russian civil service and a start to understanding the way nepotism and rank plays such a huge role.

This is the type of chapter I would probably have breezed past if I was reading the book "normally" - but instead I really paid attention to the details. It's a completely new way of reading for me!

Ha, ha, yes! I read it when I was 18 when I definitely had more tolerance for feckless men.

I am also enjoying reading this slowly, I am concentrating on the characters and text far more than usual! In ch 4 it states that Dolly has 5 children but only 2 are named/have appeared. Is this correct?

I don't remember feeling this cross with Oblonsky when I read it before, that was probably 20 years ago. Reading through a different lens now, I guess! Poor Dolly is trapped, in spite of her feelings.

I also liked Dolly, she clearly loves her husband (God knows why) but isn't letting him off the hook!

You're welcome Arabel. There's also a website called GradeSaver but that only does summaries and analysis for each Part of this book rather than by chapter so I'll post those at the appropriate time.

Can I join? This has been on my TBR pile for a while.

I'd never heard of Shmoop and looked it up. I must pass that link on. I love the summaries @DesdamonasHandkerchief

I'm also a late joiner signing to the thread, but I've been reading. I did read AK some years ago, but am enjoying the revisit.

Me too! Listening on audible

Welcome! No, not too late. The chapters are quite short. You could easily catch up :)

Oh I'm keen to join if not too late?

Part 1 Chapter 4

Dolly is in the middle of packing, but she loves her husband and considers it impossible to leave him.

•	Dolly is angry, sad, and stressed. Her husband, on the other hand, appears cheerful, healthy, and happy.

•	Oblonsky keeps asking her to forgive him, but Dolly realizes that he pities her and doesn't truly love her.
•	
•	This angers her and she tells him to scram.

•	Oblonsky leaves the house, and Dolly busies herself by taking care of the children's clothes and figuring out where to get fresh milk.

I agree. I like Dolly so far. She seems smart and clued in. Stepan comes across as emotionally immature.
He did not understand that his pity for her exasperated her. In him, she saw pity for herself, but no love.

I also think I'm going to like Dolly - she knows she should kick Stepan to the kerb and never look back but is also realistic about her place in 19th Century Russia where, let's be honest, she is unlikely to be able to start again...

She at least has fire in her belly for now and who knows, maybe that'll bring Stepan back?

I am enjoying this slow read along - it really makes me think about the characters.
I think Tolstoy has done a great job in setting up the characterisation - and the comments on this thread indicate his writing has given us all something to think about and dislike in Stepan.
I had considered the governess to be pregnant, otherwise why the fuss about infidelity?
I’m liking Dolly, although there’s only been snippets about her so far but I’m hoping she carries through on leaving.

Part 1 Chapter 3

•	Oblonsky reads his letters and his newspaper. We find out that he's a liberal, because all the people around him are liberals.

•	Then he hangs out with his kids, Grisha and Tanya (who is his favorite). He gives Tanya chocolates.

•	Oblonsky deals with some official business, and then thinks that it's unavoidable to go see his wife, who's been hiding in her bedroom.

What a great choice of book! It's years since I read this, can't even recall what happens!

I downloaded the Kindle sample of the Pevear and Volokhonsky edition, but I don't love it, so I'm going to try the Bartlett version instead. I loved the Briggs translation of W&P so was disappointed to see that he hasn't translated this one.

Gosh, isn't Stepan a charmer eh? I can see why the servants want them to stay together, as presumably they're worried they'd be out of their jobs/home if the marriage fails. I had totally missed the bit about the governess being pregnant too. Must concentrate more when reading! Although I find these threads great for pointing out the bits I miss

Oops, New Year name change. Was FunnyWonder😅