Family Happiness, Leo Tolstoy

5 stars
This novella (just under 80 pages) is a must read for anyone thinking about marriage. It needs to be read in the honeymoon stage as well as in that season when the love is deep in a whole other way. Tolstoy masterfully depicts the inner-workings of human affection and distancing. And I think he paints a rather common though at times bleak reality that manifests itself in many marriages. This is an intriguing and insightful read. I came away with a renewed desire to foster a holy curiosity in my own marriage while guarding myself from the subtle tragedy that unfolds in Tolstoy's characters.