Reviews - The Death of Ivan Ilych: Annotated

4.96k reviews for:

The Death of Ivan Ilych: Annotated

Leo Tolstoy

4.01 AVERAGE

ernaizen's review against another edition

4.25

dark reflective sad

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

ali3's review against another edition

3.5

dark reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

waterwalker's review against another edition

4.75

challenging dark reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

dshebib's review against another edition

3.25

mysterious reflective 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

fayzan's review against another edition

5.0

“Death is finished,” he said to himself. “It is no more!”
He drew in a breath, stopped in the midst of a sigh, stretched out, and died.

I haven't read Tolstoy before and wasn't aware of his writing and themes and ideas in his work. This is my first read of Leo Tolstoy. And I am amazed by his writing technique that he wrote a story in less than hundred pages which will take hundreds of pages to explain. I must say that this book is an impressive in style and technique and gripping in theme and idea.

Ilvan ilych and his death.

He was well reputed and high rank man in court. Doing his best for family. However, when novella opens we see Ilvan departed from the world. His suffering is narrrated in a way that we feel sitting beside him or more accurately we, too, suffering with him. The most beautiful line, in my opinion, is (paraphrase version).
"Mortal dies, but am I mortal".
His physical weaknesses causing him pain but what was causing him most agony is his mental health. We find Ilyan a over thinker. Who think about his family, his doctor, and his friends and servants. He assumes things on their behalf which makes and increases his suffering.

Overall, this is one of amazing and profound book that I've read this year. Going to read more Leo's works.

catsncrochet1's review against another edition

4.0

dark reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

heulynn's review against another edition

4.0

emotional sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

dushenka's review against another edition

4.0

Un libro excepcional que se devora de un tirón. Recomiendo disfrutarlo en una tarde de octubre, con la lluvia susurrando afuera, acurrucado en el sofá con tu pijama favorito y una manta cálida, acompañado de un matcha latte con leche de soja o avena (I’m just a girl). Yo lo leí con la música de Ed Maverick de fondo, y la experiencia fue simplemente perfecta.