Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy

11 reviews

theabee's review against another edition

challenging reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

A frank look at death and characters confronting it, the surface signs of success but an unsatisfying internal sense of mediocrity

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Terminal illness

Moderate: Toxic relationship

venusynth's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

A quick and somber read. It helped me realise the enigmatic nature of death, and nudged me to just appreciate the here and now. Not quite as impactful but I still enjoyed following Ivan to his death, as sadistic as that may sound, because I liked how Tolstoy wrote Ivan's disbelief, fear, and the myriad of emotions that come with realising that the only reason he is suffering is an impending death.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Terminal illness

Moderate: Toxic relationship

bethantg's review against another edition

dark inspiring reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness and Death

Moderate: Medical content and Toxic relationship

Minor: Pregnancy

ephemeral_remi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Drug use, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Terminal illness

greatexpectations77's review against another edition

reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

What you see is what you get here. A guy dies. The writing is interesting, but that's kind of what's goin' on.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness

Moderate: Classism, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Death, and Toxic relationship

luca_18's review against another edition

challenging dark inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Medical content, Medical trauma, and Toxic relationship

mme_carton's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Death, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Terminal illness

cadybooks's review against another edition

dark reflective sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, and Mental illness

Moderate: Medical content, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Fatphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Chronic illness, Misogyny, and Suicidal thoughts

unoriginalinspiration's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

He considered his duty to be what was so considered by those in authority.

"Why these sufferings?" And the voice answered, "For no reason - they are just so."  Beyond and besides this there was nothing. 

Review:
This is Mr. Tolstoy's existential and spiritual crisis in the form of a book. Don't get me wrong, I love myself some existentialism, and the author has so perfectly managed to capture the emotions of a man suddenly confronted with his mortality. A man, who has never before reflected on his thoughts and actions, faces his life laid out before him, dealing with his inevitable death and illness.
This book was the first piece of Russian Literature I read, and for anyone looking to start their own Russian lit journey, I would 100% recommend this as well! Its short and it gives you a beautiful look into the style of writing!
This is definitely going to be an amazing read for those who do not contemplate death regularly. Unlike some of us in the book community.
To me, the things laid out in this book, even though it is done so beautifully, do not seem new and thought provoking. Existential crises have evolved over time, have they not? We have so much more to take into consideration when we look at our lives, the technological and cultural growth is immense, the effect an individual has on the planet itself is shocking to take note of. I'm going to cut myself short before I write my own version of the book, but, you get what I mean! There is just a little more spice,(for the lack of a better word), we can add to our own contemplation these days.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Death, Grief, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Toxic relationship

ayamaro's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Terminal illness

Minor: Toxic relationship