Anna Karenina is an interesting book. Not in itself. It is terribly dull book that meanders from meaningless moment to meaningless moment until its entirely unsatisfying conclusion. But in how it is rated by other people... I mean it is a classic with > 4 rating on Goodreads and I have to say I'm baffled.

If you cut 600 of its 938 pages it would be a meh book about the various relationships of several Russian aristocrats who live really tedious, and meaningless lives. A three out of ten for the few moments of true tension.

In reality, it is a sprawling mess that is desperate for the editor's pen. There are literally dozens of chapters where nothing interesting happens. Levin goes hunting. Levin does some farm work. Levin finds God, oh Jesus shoot me now why won't this book get to the bloody point!?

The main narrative of Anna and Vronsky is interesting for the most part but even that descends into farce by the end when both characters become such whiny idiots you stop caring if they live or die never mind if they make their relationship work.

Seriously, unless you have too much time on your hands or have some kind of masochistic love of reading about old Russian farming techniques avoid this like the plague. The fact one person has given this five stars never mind 300,000 people on Goodreads amazes me. I'm not sure if I got a different book to them but wow. All I can say is if you think this is five stars wait until you read literally any other book, you'll be blown away to discover character, plot and pacing...