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It's been a slow start to reading, mostly because the 3rd story (The Cossacks) in the collection of Tolstoy's short stories did not capture my interest at all. Also because I started on another web novel series (Embers Ad Infinitum) after strong recommendations of another player on Immortal Taoist (the way he talks reminds me a lot of an RF friend heh). 

But I did enjoy the 1st short story (Happy Ever After) a lot, perhaps because it's a topic that I've been consistently thinking about. Two quotations that I'm hoping to remember:

I loved him as much as ever, and was as happy as ever in his love; but my love, instead of growing, had come to a standstill, and a new sensation of restlessness gradually invaded my spirit. Loving was not enough for me after the happiness I had known in falling in love. I longed for activity, instead of an even flow of existence. I wanted excitement and danger and the chance to renounce self for the sake of my love.

'Don't let us try to repeat life,' he went on. 'Don't let us deceive ourselves. And if the old heartaches and emotions no longer exist - well thank God for that! The excitement and anxiety of searching is over for us: our quest is done and happiness enough has fallen to our lot.

In other news, I'm not sure if I'll ever finish Anna Karenina 😅