This can be a bit slow in parts, but the good parts are so, so amazing they make it worth it. The characters are vivid, real, complex, and distinct; Anna, Vronsky, Karenin, and Levin all have completely different worldviews, yet Tolstoy treats all with empathy and an understanding of the psychological origins of said beliefs. On top of all that, the resolutions for the two major protagonists (Anna's

mental breakdown and suicide

and Levin's spiritual epiphany) are two of my favourite pieces of writing from any author ever - I literally want to frame the entire second half of Part Eight when Levin has his epiphany because it transformed my individual perception of faith and spirituality so significantly.