u/Low_Butterscotch_594

*Please no spoilers as i'm still reading. For reference, I'm at the point where Steven has informed Anna that they are to stay married after she confesses her affair with Vronsky*

I posted about a week and half ago about reading Anna Karenina for the first time. I'm 300 pages in and it seems Levin is more of a main character than is Anna. I assume that changes throughout the rest of the book. That said, many people commented that the writing of Levin's farm life to be boring and hard to get through, but I have found it quite interesting and intriguing and spoke so fondly to Levin's character and his ability to turn negativity into being productive (he had just finished debating serfdom with his brother and got upset about the conversation). Not only his inner personal character, but the parallels it draws to Kitty as she struggles and overcomes the rejections of Levin and Vonsky at the watering place.

As for Tolstoy's brilliance, who else can write about mowing a field with a scythe and make it sound intriguing?! His description of the surroundings, Levin's "competitiveness" with the other serfs, his befriending and the respect he gains from them. Personally, I thought this part of the novel was so well written.

As for intrigue, when Levin breaks for breakfast and rides home, all I wanted to know was whether or not he would return to finish the field with the serfs. And then feeling excited when they finished the field in the evening and his pride at talking with his brother after. Anyway, that's all I came to say.)) Just brilliant writing from Tolstoy.