Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
An amazing meditation on death and living a life honest to the self. It is short but if you're open to it, it will make you cry a river.
“Ivan's life had been most simple, most ordinary and therefore most terrible.”
It has been some time since I’ve read Tolstoy. I cannot deny his genius, and, although the book was interesting and is carrying an important message, I found it little predictable.
The main character, Ivan Ilych, was an ordinary man — not in a sense of simpleness, but conformity. He did all he was supposed to do as an upper-middle-class man living in 19th century St. Petersbug — he chased money and power, married a respectable woman of status, bought a house and decorated it lavishly, raised couple kids. Faced with ill health and death, he realised the unpleasant reality under the beautiful image he spent his most life portraying.
Overall, the story can inspire you to evaluate how authentic your life is, and to have a courage to notice the falsehoods and delusions in your own life. Unfortunately, it did not leave a big impression on me.
It has been some time since I’ve read Tolstoy. I cannot deny his genius, and, although the book was interesting and is carrying an important message, I found it little predictable.
The main character, Ivan Ilych, was an ordinary man — not in a sense of simpleness, but conformity. He did all he was supposed to do as an upper-middle-class man living in 19th century St. Petersbug — he chased money and power, married a respectable woman of status, bought a house and decorated it lavishly, raised couple kids. Faced with ill health and death, he realised the unpleasant reality under the beautiful image he spent his most life portraying.
Overall, the story can inspire you to evaluate how authentic your life is, and to have a courage to notice the falsehoods and delusions in your own life. Unfortunately, it did not leave a big impression on me.
I picked this up on a complete whim but I am so glad I did. Tolstoy has packed a lot into this short story and created a character that you start off not really liking but in the end you feel his pain and sense of loss and regret as he is forced to face the reality of his life. This is a story that really makes you think without being preachy, judgemental or condescending. I am also once again amazed as to how readable Tolstoy's work is given his reputation and the subjects he writes about, especially given the subject matter in this story. A superb read.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A short but impactful read. This has left me thinking about death and how important living true to yourself is. I felt sorry for Ivan Ilych as he lived such a desperate life, which lead to him having a desperate death.
Tough read for me at this point in my life lol but love Tolstoy nonetheless
well that was depressing. really put me off the idea of dying.
reflective
sad
fast-paced
I'll never forget this book
emotional
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced