The Literary Affairs of Ast & Christi

|  ru·mi·nate |

(v.)  to go over in the mind repeatedly and often casually or slowly

|  un·moor |

(v.)  to loosen from or as if from moorings

| e·phem·er·al |

(adj.)  lasting for a very short time

| suc·cor |

(n.)  something that furnishes relief

Finally! I’ve finished reading Anna Karenina. It has been a long journey. It only took me the whole summer and then some. I first started reading this book in the summer of 2014. I made it to page 290 and stopped reading. It wasn’t that the book was boring, but in my mind it wasn’t a summer read. I put it down and planned to pick it up in the fall. I never did. Honestly, the size of the book intimidated me. Why was the book 800+ pages?! In my opinion, after 300 pages I’d understood enough of the story. What more could happen to make the book go on for another 500 pages. Obviously, a lot. I still believe that the book could’ve achieved the same things if it was shorter. 

Nevertheless, I am glad that I finished the book. It is now the longest book I’ve read.

If you do decide to read Anna Karenina, here are 5 things you should know before you start:

You may not feel connected to the characters. I didn’t which is why it felt like I could stop reading the book at any point.

Although the text is translated form Russian, foreign language is sill peppered throughout the book.

It is helpful to understand Russian culture, but it is not a necessity. 

Not only are A LOT of characters, the main ones have many names and some of the characters have the same names.

The title of this book is misleading, for the book is greater than Anna’s story.

| mag·na·nim·i·ty |

(n.)  the loftiness of spirit enabling one to bear trouble calmly, to disdain meanness and pettiness, and to display a noble generosity

| iras·ci·ble |

(adj.)  marked by hot temper and easily provoked anger

| nāv |

(n.)  a dishonest or unscrupulous man

(v.) to force another to accept especially by stealth or deceit