Reviews

The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Confession, by Leo Tolstoy

dobs407's review against another edition

challenging emotional slow-paced

3.75

camstipated's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

yak_attak's review against another edition

5.0

Every one of these stories is a vivid, gripping painting of life, death and class in turn of the century Russia - Any one could be an all time classic honestly. Tolstoy's writing (or Sater's translation thereof) is very easy, approachable, and modern, making these some of the most easy to read classics I've come across. But that ease doesn't at all come with simplistic stories, every one of these carrying with them deep, captivating themes - all culminating in the absolutely horrifically real Death of Ivan Ilyich.... It's easy to see why Tolstoy is considered a master.

This version contained the following stories:
- Two Old Men - 5
- How Much Land Does a Man Need? - 4
- The Forged Coupon - 5
- Master and Workman - 5
- Alyosha Pot - 2
- The Death of Ivan Ilyich - 5

novelvoyages's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

jaxcky's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

kq5's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

sunset22's review against another edition

4.0

Explaining it badly- All four stories contained objectively a pathetic man both hating and lusting after women, with some differences-one is from POV of the wife (admitting how "silly and hate-able she has turned out to be), one takes a turn and additionally deals with the closeness of death and feelings of a dying man (he still hates his wife, just multitasking), the mad lad in train and the "throw your life away and blame the woman" one. All in all good, interesting, the madness was portrayed craftfully, and the historical context must be considered etc. but not my favourite choice of Tolstoy and by personal preference didn't speak to me as much.

alexa_gee's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Not a five star because I didn’t enjoy the first few short stories, but once I hit “God sees the truth but waits” I was hooked in by these

sau_d_ade's review against another edition

3.0

La morte di Ivan Il’ič 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Camminate nella luce finché avete la luce 2/5 ⭐️⭐️
Karma 3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Il diavolo 2.5/5⭐️⭐️✨

sjgochenour's review against another edition

3.0

Grim. Did not appreciate the spoilers in the introduction.