Q: What’s the biggest book you’ve read recently?
(Feel free to think “big” as size, or as popularity, or in any other way you care to interpret.)
A:My most recent ‘big’ book was Anna Karenina which I read over Christmas time. It’s not that recent but at nearly 900 pages it was definitely BIG! With classic books I make an extra effort to get one with a lovely cover (in this case a 1970’s Folio Society edition) so that way I’ll have something special to keep if I love it.
And I did love it! From the very beginning I was absorbed by the vivid characters that Tolstoy describes and the emotional conflicts that they are engaged in. I was quite surprised at how it felt very modern especially the scene where Darya (“Dolly”) finds that her husband Prince Stepan Arkadyevitch Oblonsky has cheated on her. Unfortunately there were some chapters with long dicussions about farming in Russia which I found pretty boring. I might have been guilty of speed-reading those… slap on the wrist! I would say that this is one of my favourite books because of the beautiful way that it addresses human relationships and emotions. Anna herself is such a complex character – I found myself at once annoyed with her and then sympathetic to her.
I’m so happy when I find a long book that I like – it just means there’s more left to enjoy! What recent ‘big’ books have you read? Did you enjoy them?
Novel Insights 
I have Anna Karenina on audio but I haven’t listened to it yet, I hope I’ll enjoy it as much as you did 🙂
Here’s my recent biggest read.
I hope so too. Is it abridged? I Imagine full version would be days long!!
That’s on my to-read list for this year. I want to read either War and Peace or Anna Karenina. The downside with these is that you can’t really pop these into your bag and saunter off without breaking your back. Congrats on finishing!
So true…it took me a while to read partly because I just didn’t want to carry it around with me!! I’d like to read more Tolstoy, but I’m not sure about War and Peace (mainly because it has the word ‘war’ in the title – subject matter which normally sends me to sleep) perhaps I’ll give it a go anyway given how good Anna K was.
I read AK years ago but just downloaded it (for free 🙂 for my Kindle and hope to read it again. I love the Folio Society cover.
I’m glad you approve of the cover too – I liked the snowy wintery abstract-ness if that makes any sense. I think it’s one that I would like to revisit too some time in the future.
Wow, it’s great to find ‘new’ favourites, isn’t it?! Lovely cover btw.
Thank you. It is isn’t it? I love BTT for finding new favourites and sharing ideas!
Certainly a ‘big’ book, I have read other Tolstoy’s books but not this one yet. I will have to get to it soon.
Which ones have you read? I’ll take a look at your blog and perhaps I’ll find out there. Wondering whether to put another on the TBR list!
I haven’t read it yet, nor has it really been on my radar.
Is a “big” book though – I really should read more Tolstoy.
Well it’s definitely a time investment! But I thought it was worth it. A rich sort of book that you have to dive into with both feet first.
That is a beautiful cover 🙂 Here’s my BTT.
Thanking you! Sometimes it pays to be picky 🙂
Lovely choice! That’s one of my favorites.
I want to read this – just haven’t gotten around to it yet. That’s a beautiful book.
Anna Karenina is one of the best novels ever written. And worth rereading, as any great book is.
I suppose it does go without saying as it comes with such a classic status, but I was surprised at how accessible it was…
I really enjoyed this when I read it, although it was a few years ago now. Definitely one of those books that requires a big investment of time and effort, but is really worth it in the end.
Totally agree that it’s worth the effort!
900 pages?? yikes! I don’t know why this book isn’t on my list of classics to read. And I do really like that cover.
BTT
Oh I exaggerated a bit it’s more like 860 lol. Definitely you should put it on your list! I found it was a good Christmas read 🙂
I’ve just added it to my list. Christmas sounds like a great time to settle down with a 900-ish page book!
This is sitting on one of my shelves just waiting. It has always seemed so daunting. I will have to make the time. You can visit my read at
http://booktumbling.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/booking-through-thursday-09-03-09/
I know what you mean about it being daunting. I read it over the Christmas holiday as it’s a nice book to curl up with in the winter.