I know that at some point I should cease to be amazed by the changes in my reading life--insights, perceptions, reactions--but I can't help it. The latest incident comes from re-reading a favorite that I read five years ago--Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy.
I started and stopped this book a number of times before finally pushing through to the end, which I vowed to do by my 21st birthday. I succeeded in finishing a couple of days ahead of schedule. I loved the book. I became so totally engrossed by the ending that I felt what Anna K felt--I understood her desperation and her fear and all the emotions. There were, to be sure, long speeches on government and politics that I glossed over. But I finished the book.
Now, just before I turn 26 next week, I am re-reading Anna K. I didn't do it on purpose. I just felt that yearning to read something fabulous and Russian that would make me feel...everything.
So I picked up a copy, in a different translation (for Russian authors, I always favor the Pevear and Volohonsky translation) because that was all the local pseudo-bookstore had available and I just had to get my hot little hands on a copy immediately. I've been interacting with the text, underlining, bracketing, writing questions/thoughts/reactions in the margins and marking things to come back to, which was something I did not do on the first go. I think this was because I was too swept up in what Tolstoy was doing and also reading so furiously that I just could not stop.
The main thing is that I am also looking at things from different angles this time. I got this idea from Amanda at Dead White Guys, who has written a few times about Anna K, but this mention of the book in a Top Ten Tuesday and this review of her re-read are my favorites. The first link gave me the idea of re-reading the book and focusing on Levin, who is supposed to be a semi-autobiographical representation of Tolstoy. The second reminded me of the grandeur of the book.
I have to say, I am thoroughly enjoying this re-reading. I am getting sucked into the book in ways that I didn't the first time (does this happen to anyone else? Maybe I should read everything twice!). I find myself thinking of the characters and the plot and the words even after I have set aside my copy for the time being. I would love to take off work and real life for the next week so I can just finish. But maybe have to read in fits and starts is helping it soak in more than if I just indulged in my impulse to immerse myself. Maybe coming up for breaks is helping me digest it better.
And in thinking about the overall book, I can see why Levin is in many more ways the hero and the point of the story. Anna might be a cautionary tale; but Levin is the ultimate message. At 20, I just sort of figured that the book was named after the character for a reason, so that was where I focused. Not necessarily, my friends.
I am super excited to be reading this. Granted, I always go into any reading experience whole hog and then it peters out (usually). But I don't see that happening this time. I am too intrigued by what I am noticing as I read and the characters that I notice and am thoroughly enjoying. So fun!
Has anyone else ever tried re-reading a favorite from a different perspective? How did that work for you?
I started and stopped this book a number of times before finally pushing through to the end, which I vowed to do by my 21st birthday. I succeeded in finishing a couple of days ahead of schedule. I loved the book. I became so totally engrossed by the ending that I felt what Anna K felt--I understood her desperation and her fear and all the emotions. There were, to be sure, long speeches on government and politics that I glossed over. But I finished the book.
Now, just before I turn 26 next week, I am re-reading Anna K. I didn't do it on purpose. I just felt that yearning to read something fabulous and Russian that would make me feel...everything.
So I picked up a copy, in a different translation (for Russian authors, I always favor the Pevear and Volohonsky translation) because that was all the local pseudo-bookstore had available and I just had to get my hot little hands on a copy immediately. I've been interacting with the text, underlining, bracketing, writing questions/thoughts/reactions in the margins and marking things to come back to, which was something I did not do on the first go. I think this was because I was too swept up in what Tolstoy was doing and also reading so furiously that I just could not stop.
The main thing is that I am also looking at things from different angles this time. I got this idea from Amanda at Dead White Guys, who has written a few times about Anna K, but this mention of the book in a Top Ten Tuesday and this review of her re-read are my favorites. The first link gave me the idea of re-reading the book and focusing on Levin, who is supposed to be a semi-autobiographical representation of Tolstoy. The second reminded me of the grandeur of the book.
I have to say, I am thoroughly enjoying this re-reading. I am getting sucked into the book in ways that I didn't the first time (does this happen to anyone else? Maybe I should read everything twice!). I find myself thinking of the characters and the plot and the words even after I have set aside my copy for the time being. I would love to take off work and real life for the next week so I can just finish. But maybe have to read in fits and starts is helping it soak in more than if I just indulged in my impulse to immerse myself. Maybe coming up for breaks is helping me digest it better.
And in thinking about the overall book, I can see why Levin is in many more ways the hero and the point of the story. Anna might be a cautionary tale; but Levin is the ultimate message. At 20, I just sort of figured that the book was named after the character for a reason, so that was where I focused. Not necessarily, my friends.
I am super excited to be reading this. Granted, I always go into any reading experience whole hog and then it peters out (usually). But I don't see that happening this time. I am too intrigued by what I am noticing as I read and the characters that I notice and am thoroughly enjoying. So fun!
Has anyone else ever tried re-reading a favorite from a different perspective? How did that work for you?
